I prefer authentic NEW Mexico Mexican cooking. I’ll accept authentic Arizona Mexican or Texas Mexican. Most of the Left Coast Mexican...well, I’d have to visit California or Washington state, and WA state is fine once you get 150 miles inland, but still...no rice in my burrito, and if I have to tell you that, I don’t want to eat there.
Authentic Mexican Mexican? Don’t know. Don’t care. If it is close to NEW Mexico Mexican, then OK.
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“I prefer authentic NEW Mexico Mexican cooking.”
Absolutely! When I was younger I used to travel all around Mexico, traveling as cheaply as I could to make the stay last longer. I’ve now called New Mexico home for a quarter century and the distinct native cuisine here is something I wouldn’t want to live without. There’s a single question that will be asked when placing your order that truly signifies an ‘authentic’ New Mexican restaurant and it is “Red or Green?” The chile grown in and around Hatch NM (in the southwestern part of the state, where I’m at) is globally renown for its distinctive flavor, and the question arises from wether a person wants the green chile sauce, or the red chile sauce made from the more mature fruits.
If you ever happen to make it to Silver City NM, there’s a restaurant called “Jalisco’s” that has some of what I consider to be the very best New Mexico has to offer. They start you out by bringing hot, freshly made corn tortilla chips along with your drinks, and a homemade salsa that is to die for! I always look at everything on the menu, but usually wind up getting the large combination plate since everything looks so good. It consists of a couple rolled enchiladas, a couple tacos of either shredded beef or chicken, a chile rellano, a scoop of spanish rice, refried beans, and a sopapilla with honey for dessert. When I’m asked “Red or Green?”, I usually say “red” and then ask for a side of green so I can have the best of both worlds. They’re always packed at lunch as well as for dinner on the weekend, but worth the wait. One other non-food related appeal is that they have a sign on the door stating “we welcome concealed carry!”