| Say, "Mexican Food" and most people | | | | there's Flan (the ultimate Mexican style custard |
| automatically begin to salivate. Whether you mean | | | | dessert) - comparable to Crème Brule in the |
| Mexican, Southwestern Cuisine, or Tex-Mex, the | | | | finest restaurants. |
| favorite adjective is always "delicious". From the | | | | 3) If you have a Margarita or a glass of wine with |
| smallest towns in America to the busiest bustling | | | | your dinner, you will experience the perfect dining |
| cities all across this country, foods of the great | | | | experience. Even special Mexican beers will |
| Southwest and south of the border rank right up | | | | complement the meal, much as fine wine |
| at the top of preferred dining lists. | | | | accompanies the most elegant menu. Would you |
| There's a difference, of course, between Mexican | | | | order wine at the Chinese restaurant in the strip |
| and Southwestern foods even though we often | | | | mall down the street? It just doesn't seem "to |
| lump them together and say "Let's go Mexican". | | | | go". But wine, beer, or margaritas are not only |
| The difference is in the use of jalapeno peppers | | | | available, they are part of the charm of the |
| or green or red chili peppers. And then there's | | | | Mexican style/southwestern culinary adventure. |
| Tex-Mex that tends to be hotter than Mexican. | | | | You can even find a restaurant that offers Wine |
| And Santa Fe style is usually the hottest of all | | | | Night Specials. |
| because they use more and hotter chili peppers. | | | | 4) The latest trend in Mexican style dining is |
| Travelling in the Southwestern part of the | | | | Catered Events. Some Mexican style restaurants |
| country? Be prepared to answer "Red or Green?" | | | | are now offering catering services for our special |
| Order your sauce on the side if you think it will be | | | | American celebrations, birthday parties, family |
| too spicy. Want to sound like an expert? Answer, | | | | reunions, and yes - even weddings! You choose |
| "Christmas" (both red and green). | | | | the place and they will bring all that delicious food |
| We all know that pizza remains a mainstay in the | | | | to you, lay it out, and serve it with flair. What a |
| American diet and "Let's get Chinese" is a | | | | great party that can be. Mexican style food is the |
| repeated refrain across the country in millions of | | | | same as having a Celebration in the minds of |
| households, but "Let's go Mexican tonight" remains | | | | many and though the celebration table will be |
| a choice that's a cut above the rest - considered | | | | laden with a huge variety of delectable selections, |
| a special selection - a little more adventuresome - | | | | the cost is happily bound to be much less than |
| a bit more celebratory. There are great reasons | | | | any other catering service you can find. |
| for the feeling that dining out at a good Mexican | | | | 5) Special Events. Cinco de Mayo is not the only |
| restaurant is something special, whether it's | | | | event you will see advertised at your local |
| Southwestern, Tex-Mex, Santa Fe - or just plain | | | | Mexican style restaurant. Some establishments |
| Mexican. For our purposes, let's call it "Mexican | | | | feature Mariachi Bands that appear on a regular |
| Style". | | | | basis (kids love em'). Or you may find a Margarita |
| 1) First of all, most Mexican style restaurants in | | | | special night. Or Wine Night Specials that include |
| our country remain in the reasonably priced range. | | | | dinner. One Mexican restaurant in Fairfax, Virginia |
| You know that places like the Grille and Cantina | | | | even celebrates St. Patrick's Day! It pays to |
| near to your home are not going to cost an arm | | | | check out the special events offered by your |
| and a leg and the reward will be great value and | | | | local restaurateur. These events make dining truly |
| great taste. In these days of a struggling | | | | special, something you will not find when you go |
| economy and the need to save, ordering Mexican | | | | for pizza or Chinese. |
| food for dinner is a wise choice. You can even | | | | 6) Patio Dining beneath the stars. When the |
| enjoy a selection of appetizers - and leave | | | | weather's fine, some Mexican establishments |
| completely satisfied for almost "small change". And | | | | offer patio dining, either covered or uncovered. |
| the highest price item on the menu comes at a | | | | Talk about ambience! The atmosphere is positively |
| surprisingly low cost. | | | | balmy and relaxing while music floats outside to lull |
| 2) Most Mexican style menus are enormously | | | | diners into a state of euphoria. Good food, a |
| varied and feature a wide array of seemingly | | | | happy celebration, and the nighttime lights and |
| endless options. There is usually something on | | | | music can make this dining experience something |
| those big menus of most Mexican restaurants | | | | you will return to again and again. |
| that will suit the most discriminating palate. | | | | 7) To top it all off, Mexican food is healthy! Fresh |
| Menu offerings range from Carnitas (chunks of | | | | veggies for the salads and side dishes (and we all |
| tender pork, slow roasted with chilies and onions), | | | | know about the value of vegetables), avocado |
| to Quesadillas (large flour tortillas stuffed with | | | | for the guacamole dip (high in everything!), beans |
| optional cheese, chicken, etc.). Ever tried Chicken | | | | for the refries (for fiber), and lots of protein. |
| Diabla (a sauteed chicken breast with zucchini, | | | | Delicious and healthy too - the perfect |
| yellow squash, red onion and diced tomatoes in a | | | | combination. |
| chipotle cream sauce)? Delicious! And of course | | | | |