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.
And here we are!
You know it has to be good
when the Hawthornes drive over 400 miles for dinner.
Hot chips and cold salsa.
Why can't I have chips like these at home?
Today's specials.
The menu.
Appetizers and Vegetarian fare.
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.
Mr. Hawthorne ordered #9 -
Enchilada, chile relleno, and shredded beef taco.
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.
The taco.
The chile relleno.
Loved the fresh pineapple in the salsa.
And the ooey gooey melted cheese inside.
The enchilada.
I believe it was stuffed with a masa harina mixture.
Different and good.
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.
Extremely flavorful beef
in sauteed onions, peppers, and carrots.
Salsa.
Salsa verde.
Or is that the cactus relish?
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.
Rice.
Guacamole and sour cream.
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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