Plaza Garibaldi

Plaza Garibaldi was actually my first Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia. A friend of mine, from Puebla, Mexico, brought me here because it is one of her favorite restaurants that prepares the dishes that remind her of home. The decor evokes a kind of 70's Mexican vibe with tables covered in sarapes and sombreros hanging from the half-mirrored half-wood-panelled wall. Let's face it, you don't really visit Garibaldi's for the decor. When you enter, you can seat yourself wherever you please. The servers promptly bring you red and green salsas and tortilla chips to hold you over while you salivate over the menu-and (sigh) there are too many delicious options to choose from. On this particular occasion, I went with my mom and my sister. The former, a typical immigrant-fabulous-cook-and-very-picky-person makes me anxious wherever I take her.

My sister ordered the Fajitas de Res which came sizzling in a cast iron skillet accompanied by fresh tortillas, guacamole, rice, and refried beans. The meat was well seasoned and full of spice without being hot. The vegetables were sauteed just enough to take out the raw bite but were still crisp and not like limp wet noodles. Let me just mention that this huge portion (that was heavy on the meat) was only $12.00. While, I wasn't in the mood for a fajita, I was envious of the smell emanating from her sizzling platter.

My mom ordered the Enchipocladas which were 3 chicken enchiladas (again stuffed with meat and only $12.00!) smothered in a spicy-and I mean spicy- chipotle sauce, topped with cheese and creamy avocado, and served with rice, pico de gallo, and refried beans. This is one of my husband's favorites and...wait for it...my mom loved it! She appreciated that they did not dumb down the spiciness of the dish and could not get over the value.

I decided on the Enchiladas De Mole which were 3 tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken, dripping with mole sauce, topped with cheese, and served with rice, pico de gallo, and refried beans for the bargain basement price of $11.00! The chicken was perfectly cooked, not dry. The mole was complex, tangy, and sweet. Actually, my mother and I shared our enchiladas and it was nice to go back and forth between the mole and the chipotle sauces.

Just to reiterate, this place is a steal. The portions are huge (we all had leftovers) and every item on the menu is less than $15.00. I always leave Plaza Garibaldi stuffed and satisfied and looking forward to my walk home to digest. The ladies are always sweet and smiling. Even if the decor is a little outdated, it is definitely cozy. This is a great place to have a casual, authentic Mexican meal with friends or family. Speaking of family, as we were leaving, my mom turned to me and said, "Next time I'm getting the shrimp fajitas. Did you see how big those shrimp were! And how many you get!" It puts a smile on my face just knowing that she's already planning a 'next time.' You know it must be good.

Overall: A-

Plaza Garibaldi

935 Washington Ave.

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 922-2370

Franklin Fountain

Whenever I'm having dinner in Old City, I usually head over to The Franklin Fountain for dessert. Although the design is based on and old soda shop, most people visit the for the ice cream. On any given summer evening the line stretches far onto the sidewalk meandering past tables, chairs, and the passersby. It gives you just enough time to decide, or debate, what you should get. I'm a big fan of the "College Ice" where you can choose one scoop and one topping. But realistically there's no choice for the topping because the hot fudge is the chocolaty-est, gooey-est, most delicious item on the menu. Once you've had it, you won't consider any other options. If I'm on the mood for a walk, a cone is the way to go. After all, what says summer better than strolling around aimlessly with an ice cream cone as you try to strategically slurp it all up before it drips down to your elbow.

But sometimes, my husband and I will split a sundae-usually a Mt. Vesuvius. If you ask, they'll let you choose two flavors instead of the standard chocolate and vanilla (we like hydrox cookie and rocky road). The generous sundae comes in a bowl spilling over with brownie chunks, malt powder, whipped cream and the piece de resistance-hot fudge. Excuse my cheesiness but it does make you want to erupt with joy. And while the sundaes may seem pricey at $8-$10, they are a bargain considering the heaping portion, that is probably enough for 4 people but, sigh, somehow we manage to devour it with only two of us. We are troopers. If this doesn't make you drool then, I'm sorry, but there is no hope for you.

Overall: A-

The Franklin Fountain

116 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

215-627-1899

http://franklinfountainphilly.blogspot.com/2009/03/energy-and-persistence-conquer-all.html

Taqueria La Veracruzana

As I continue my search for authentic Mexican food (without actually having to travel to Mexico) I thought I'd try the place where Jose Garces supposedly goes to get his taco fix-Taqueria La Veracruzana. The first thing I noticed upon entering was that the decor was a bit better than the average taco joint. I then took the liberty of standing awkwardly in the doorway for a full 2 minutes waiting for some sign of what the "system" was here. Should I seat myself? Wait for a server? Order at the counter and then sit down? I also couldn't tell which tables were really even available because many of the vacant ones hadn't been cleared yet. I went to the window, asked if I could just sit anywhere (which seemed like the system? I'm still not sure) grabbed some menus and we were on our way.

The server was really sweet, although she was overwhelmed with the million things she had to do at once. She spoke english pretty well so we avoided any ordering problems. She brought us some tortilla chips with red and green salsas. The salsa verde was refreshing and spicy while the red salsa was more earthy with a strong chipotle flavor. Since we weren't organized enough to have brought-our-own we went for the nonalcohlic drink list which contained cokes imported from Mexico. I could not tell the difference between the Mexican version of a Coke-a-cola and the American one, but I did appreciate that it was in a glass bottle. I don't know why but it just seems extra special and vintage.

The Tacos al Pastor came three to an order. The pork itself was seasoned with spices like cumin without any heat. However, it seemed as though the pork was shredded instead of shaved off of a spit like a traditional taco al pastor which was kind of dissapointing. However, the addition of fresh pineapple gave it a nice sweet note. The taco as a whole was pretty dry. B-. Parrillada Nortena- Nortena Syled Grilled Meat was a heaping portion of grilled beef, chicken, and Mexican sausage with cactus, onions, cheese, and sacapostlena sauce. The beef and chicken were fine. They had a nice grilled flavor, but it was not surprising that they were on the dry side. The sausage mixture was the best of the three meats. Covered in chihuahua cheese and sauteed with vegetables, I wished this was the only meat in the dish. One of the reasons we chose this dish was for the cactus, which neither of us had tried before. I couldn't really distinguish the flavor with everything else in the hash, but I did notice it reminded me of okra with that kind of slimy mouth feel. I didn't mind it though for some reason. The pico de gallo was a fresh addition. B.

To top it all off we ordered the Chilaquiles Rojos which were under the breakfast part of the menu, but were still available for dinner. This was another heaping portion, with enough food for 3 people. The red sauce with soaked tortilla chips sat underneath a mound of shredded (and dry) chicken. The red sauce had a real kick to it, which I really appreciated. The queso fresco and sour cream rounded out the dish to cut the spicyness and add a creamy texture. B-.

Tacos, burritos, quesadillas and the like are all around $6-$7.50. The larger dishes are more in the $12-$15 range. The dishes were what I would expect from this sort of Taqueria. It lies somewhere in between the Qdobas and real Mexican street food. Something with a hint of Mexico to keep the actual Mexicans coming but not enough to make them stop yearning for chilaquiles the way mom makes it.

Overall: B-
Taqueria La Veracruzana

908 Washington Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

215-465-1440

Ansill: Korean Tacos

After hearing all the buzz about Korean Tacos, and how they quickly seem to be taking over the world, I had no choice but to head over to Ansill to see what all the chatter was about. With a great happy hour, deals on 1/4L carafe of wine, beer, oysters, and Korean Tacos (one will cost you $5) there's really nothing to lose here. Of course, you have to be able to sneak a seat at the shiny wooden bar. On this particular Friday, I sat next to none other than Chef David Ansill himself. While I'm not one to engage in small talk, he initiated a conversation with my husband and I, by politely informing us that he could assist us with any questions. So, I figured I might as well ask about the tacos, and proceeded with the incredibly original statement, "So what's in the Korean Tacos?" He explained that the meat is seasoned with Korean spices, and topped with crispy shallots, herbs, and spicy kimchee among other things. Sounds good, but I was still unsure. When it arrived I have to admit that I felt a lot of pressure to show my love for the taco since the chef was staring at me as I took my first bite. It was a bit uncomfortable actually, but thankfully the tacos were...really good! The meat was tender, the flavors were fresh and light, the kimchee was spicy and crunchy, and the sauce tied everything together. I eloquently remarked to the chef through my taco filled teeth, "It's better than a regular taco!" I couldn't think of anything else to say. But, it was good. The hype is accurate and well deserved this time. Who knew that a soft Mexican tortilla is the perfect wrapper for a collection of classic Korean ingredients? The melting pot of america at its best. Chef Ansill also mentioned he may open a truck similar to the one in CA where we can all get our Korean-Taco-Fix at various locations around the city. And for the record, I ordered another taco when he wasn't even looking.

Overall:A-
Ansill
627 S. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-627-2485
www.ansillfoodandwine.com

Bassetts Ice Cream: WHYY

OK, I admit that I also joked when I heard Bassetts had a flavor named WHYY (where is the PBS?) but its actually...great! I was skeptical and thought what can be so wonderful about vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate covered pretzels, right? Well, it's not only the smooth vanilla creamy goodness with touches of butterscotch oozing through it, but the real star here is the chocolate covered pretzels. They are little bursts of chocolaty crunchy perfection in your mouth. The perfect blend of salty and sweet, and to top it all off, they are light as air. They somehow resist becoming hard and waxy like so many "chips" and "chunks" in ice creams. Its truly a delicious thing. Don't wait, go get it. Now.

Overall: A
Bassetts Ice Cream
www.bassettsicecream.com

Los Taquitos de Puebla

It was at my first restaurant job that I was introduced to authentic Mexican food. I have to admit, before this I really never cared for Mexican cuisine. It was just something that I never craved. In my defense, my repertoire at the time consisted of Taco Bell, Qdoba, and Mad4Mex-style establishments. I would leave these places feeling stuffed, heavy, greasy, and running for the bathroom. However, during family meal, where the Mexicans prepared the dishes they grew up with, is where I became familiar with what Mexican food is really like. It is not greasy or heavy, but rather comforting, fresh, spicy, and very innovative. They were always able to make delicious and satisfying meals from the most ordinary ingredients. I was always amazed at what they could do with something as common as an egg.

Since I left this restaurant, I have not had much contact with authentic Mexican food. For the first time, I find myself craving it more and more. I was able to pick up a few tricks from my amigos and can now make a few dishes on my own, but when I don't feel like cooking I'm at a loss for where to go. In my search for the real deal, this taqueria kept popping up on my radar.

I was apprehensive to try this place. I was afraid that my limited knowledge of Spanish would cause me to make a fool of myself when ordering-a stupid hesitation of mine. I called for pick-up, and luckily the woman on the other line spoke English pretty well. I decided to try three tacos: Bistec, Chorizo con Quesillo, and Tacos al Pastor. The tacos came with salsa verde and what I believe was an ancho chile salsa.
I started with the Tacos al Pastor. The tacos smelled earthy and spicy. The shaved strips of red pork looked comforting and delicious. I dug in and found that they were tender and well seasoned with chilies, cumin, adobo, and vinegar among other things. The spiciness of the seasoning did not contain much heat, so I dipped into the salsa verde (my favorite of the two) which gave the taco a fresh and light note. Surprisingly, the star of the dish was the tortilla itself and not the filling. It was pliable, a perfect balance of tender and chewy, and was slightly sweet which played nicely off of the complexity of the meat. All in all B+.

Next, I moved on to the Chorizo con Quesillo. This was truly a treat. The chorizo was plentiful in the taco, so much so that I could hardly fold it over but not so much as to be cumbersome. It was full of intense garlic and chile flavor and thankfully lacking the greasiness that often accompanies sausage. The Chihuahua cheese held everything together and added an oddly pleasing chewy texture. It reminded me of cafeteria lasagna with the slabs of cheap mozzarella layered on top in a rubbery mass. However, while it looked like that unappetizing mozzarella, it was not rubbery, but instead added a nice sort of meaty bite. The cheese had a subtle flavor and did not overpower the wonderful chorizo, but rather made it sing louder by comparison. The slightly sweet tacos were the perfect complement. I did not even find myself wanting the salsa for this one. Clearly an A.Finally, I had the bistec. Unfortunately, these were my least favorite. The steak was dry and tough. I found myself wishing for some kind of sauce to douse it in. I settled for copious amounts of the salsa verde which did not salvage the dish. I just ate the tortilla. This one was a disappointing D.

All in all, I was very pleased with my first visit to this taqueria. Aside from the bistec, everything was really good and really cheap (the tacos range from $6-$18 per order of 3 tacos with most around $10-$12). Everything was ready in 10 minutes. This is a perfect place to visit when you have a hankering for authentic Mexican food without breaking the bank.

Overall: B+

Los Taquitos de Puebla

1149 s. 9th street

Philadelphia, PA

215-334-0664

www.lostaquitosdepuebla.com