We left the Outer Banks Sunday morning about 9:30.
414 miles later, we arrived in Marion, NC, around 5:00.
One of my readers, Deb, in West Palm Beach,
emailed me some time ago:
Next time you are on a field trip to Western North Carolina try the Jalapeno Grill in Marion, NC. The owner/chef is named Ernesto and is wonderful and it is the best Mexican food I have ever tasted. He used to be a chef at the Mexican embassy.
Upon Deb's recommendation
,
we went to
Jalapeno Grill,
back in May, 2010.
And I've been looking forward to coming back ever since.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT91T5GNqNBmVYRtaNhlqWcUJZjwCl9TxOa5ExpjPmJ8CLN2C30j8H34KXkt8mEPoFSyLMOMmZzFAJwU_knRyte3I8YGPfUmut9hIv1q8p3BZk9s1csvOj_CWM74KrpnAsepioE6ZIs8O/s400/134.JPG)
And here we are!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTTG9i6LU24891eSrDI5QQUgLdkU5U900kDab_TJkBVPVHxMC_S1zW7nKimhDmCWlFzhWQu3EDdaYiTgbD1FeV7vO_I2E2clQ51UlAPXzr_1gtNcuDTQseMKCVU6LhdEoZy6W_Tbl3hHc/s400/135.JPG)
You know it has to be good
when the Hawthornes drive over 400 miles for dinner.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JawjzYo3_el41d0qzRH-Pnk4D99WGyQ67UsTItxTSOXASLCNQbtNyPafKsFWBnP2oxiJut40VEaI7wez39Yubs1mGQoQfq48eVa-oZ64J3j9nMxdV07MyWUBfNbfrCj4XBTzpdBbIe_z/s400/138.JPG)
Hot chips and cold salsa.
Why can't I have chips like these at home?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oi2lwMExcdCvILoPNl-S_Ndr37a5Ze1fhuaoEZrVhnZsn_mrV6S_eY9p0WgSVBdIweRL3UQoWzCrKazY1UbYJ9K5RiU5-A3ppxC0W1ibAfGN566TbWkyPvp9o5FYLdk2w19ARilXeSjG/s400/137.JPG)
Today's specials.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyHTxLj7v5KXI-gu-4EfQQ1ChayDnRgCerAhlZETNYqN62GtXDqb59qrqcURnd_b_9nzJ219iMDUJuShBd4gFbzriq3OQ6vkfua8jT32TSpSgurnmLahN6387ga_d8WN3QnTqxBsEof3n/s400/140.JPG)
The menu.
Appetizers and Vegetarian fare.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiju2XtuGp00CoiuppHv9Eh0l-sAMS4tko5R4jc4YGmxuFhAG9jadycMDs_3lVALSm_OzZKJNwcOuuujLrcqKn3BDz7iCJ7L7B4ur-JJ4rR4n9LkItxY-BUdIkrbg7STOq1U_WQCCxWvjv/s400/142.JPG)
Seafood and Platillos Tradicionales.
I chose the Guadalajara Molcajete Taco Platter -
a traditional Mexican plate served with
molcajete sauce, sauteed onions and peppers,
guacamole, cactus relish, olla beans, and rice.
With steak.
I looked up molcajete salsa
which is simply a traditional salsa
made in a molcajete, which is a stone bowl.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC4ZcFEzJZFRMfq-qUx0NeObkJlf0c2fnqbFltBjPGi5qN7nEKPc2eATrveTP5dtXJXIdQA-yJEH4h4UzH093kE2iyQ5K_9CdeMn9DR28O8iBEl-YtVSsmK_EQQ060ldqd-w3Ma6FCKeP/s400/145.JPG)
Mr. Hawthorne ordered #9 -
Enchilada, chile relleno, and shredded beef taco.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgFc-yL-Z0wpMypgaS7pC7UOQXLUXzNH1ygH9TXd9UJGzYXtIYEx-XWOwrsKF2kY9UHvU1vLvFcVNbYS8wUDxX1kGLYQc0rGl8gzR5axPBbmLieT0cAZrWM92wbnrp9TGP6LkAqcr4s4i/s400/149.JPG)
This is Mr. Hawthorne's #9.
I didn't have any of the taco,
but I did have some of the chile relleno,
stuffed with cheese and topped with a fresh pineapple salsa,
and some of the enchilada.
Both were excellent.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Cogq8t9lzsHSHvBEadU9WIUiO2NfKQ7J3fgxMIjjrGGdm90atRHlWpjcvzANhZL86ZtBh7vRTgfmPoL9lcdhxuR6zsstV8aKDlzKBGGaJG7xPbduyq4XNSynSWRGJvCQh0M2Z8XVJ4SM/s400/150.JPG)
The taco.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnIzphyphenhyphenQmQhGjDBHfD8XtAZK9mojUpeiWkmwgHWAF_GFT6qVIXPtHJmJOAXRt0IyawyBKaScU-Mv3NqCipDRJuDJ_QGwMZ3xjPgAPgoO0thRdSkbKGM4XFB_nNKV5kHp65O4MQtW247Kk/s400/151.JPG)
The chile relleno.
Loved the fresh pineapple in the salsa.
And the ooey gooey melted cheese inside.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtcrhxWbBAYe-MRa2t0nBkabev19L-YGery2ZmaJfWJ68S427Qse1xS-F1yeiub_BsG7teXWSQrq_ZiVvogmP9YdG9fMm0UZYp9xlV0dfNMv7eg677DYb8QU58W8Ix1hCVZuCN5efzXYD/s400/152.JPG)
The enchilada.
I believe it was stuffed with a masa harina mixture.
Different and good.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKuAVb3q89un4FDJTuOQ80r9nncHSo2ESw7vRld2dnq2sS8ZxriPL9wMSTctHdl3gp6VN0pMdmW0uwE516OStOHefA8QnSkZ1LeLiIc8PYKxewAzBaIuWEzGOuiLMmxDeuUX6rW-fCPdI/s400/154.JPG)
And here's my plate.
Sorry it's blurred.
But can you believe all this food?
The two of us could have split this
and we'd still have leftovers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVusWHsFN4853OK96g2OIYx62mdQI4MYGDSNBK8BBini35XZYGogwEKRZljO1fzMa4ZdXax0lJtdRpSXNsz8GhloTOatxMVBFHdDGeJDI90wyzsPYxk-TtDe34G8kAZUaPURlloZYgFiE/s400/155.JPG)
Extremely flavorful beef
in sauteed onions, peppers, and carrots.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdDWmzRDuifQzFyv8uJt_X26HJSbSU1pRDGQTk_H4U_Vj5Jic0J5D5MvIoDQ9GJREh5WtDbJa65zstsnWUutosrADvWH2MqWVejIkPzmNddC5Iuo7ACbw-EuGuV4ObJWy9fkQprXdAGvn/s400/156.JPG)
Salsa.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicxbMyQGLT98iQjpE9Zmana9dtkEobHRVgXr85QEQ9rpGmm24r2vJ-bXuZM0TrPxZeftfiUQNhN8D5YEUitm7CS_QkwHlaph0LUBn8_EiUYbsx5RRv1p2jTEfmbzoFZ_zm5DBWzMMrA3D/s400/157.JPG)
Salsa verde.
Or is that the cactus relish?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLnWVBhxuHLagjILsOwVzb_u7CHX1PwV8iix4eZwX2lyBepPj0BW3kiEpVlZbCLpBIZMrhYKJ0j9tXFZa2HbHo__oozFIo_4wGLi-n_FPu8NeL23KCbU1aoXW-2ZBwyfwhu_bF9TeBEbU/s400/158.JPG)
I love these beans.
Olla beans or beans in a pot.
Slow-cooked, creamy, and full of flavor.
And the melted cheese is divine in this.
I'm going to have to make this at home.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRNPrz_wPLP7Qr32mvq7qawi5WTRJuoV4PwLQAjfRumZaVwLhoUvBGd2Jo7fOSg7wSMZtfMnYRaVcrW_NSh-Dh9j7fzpFDqMjG7bEUaHMfUEBRmjisC-PsRSoztqQg3PFpr4KIiPWLARA/s400/159.JPG)
Rice.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggp-D_0ZuuU7O85eSt9cMCYf9qUAq6uT5mUnJhUvE3dJmF7mBdtkT0EpvP1ejZE8aggsheblwDhShZv8Wdu3YMsrtfS6B7DgZgcK3IwCD_ZRW8blPqIl1QUniZPwVxWD0biBAappB0_gcn/s400/160.JPG)
Guacamole and sour cream.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HJRr-Rr9n-71pwV78xLFydHdxVfdktA1am7djmIxkzpIhhOkt2iqZc1hAn6ff6Z7lcUdoUdxsIcFFLZ8Xnb4ZiE6vFB-hC6rgSTdFV4eaNg0KK5gG_4eDcoPiBevdBX6jW2gbZaPtzAB/s400/153.JPG)
I don't know how they make these corn balls,
but they're terrific.
Almost pudding-like.
Thanks again, Deb,
for recommending Jalapeno Fresh Grill.
It's superb.
Happy Columbus Day everyone!
3 comments:
That there looks seriously good, I can almost taste it.
ZZZadig, there are few eateries I'll drive 400 miles to get to. This is one.
Now, if I can only figger out the recipe for the masa harina in the enchilada. Why don't you work on that for me. It was almost tamale-ish.
Zzz, and while you're at it, reconstruct the corn-ball too.
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