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