You think Colorado is strange?  Try Virginia.  Buena Vista is Bee-ewe-nah Vista!

As to your story, my wife and I have some friends from Venezuela, and she decided to cook dinner for them early on in our friendship.  She is a great cook (her Spanish rice is unsurpassed as is her Abondigas).  The meal was excellent!  Except for one thing.  It was WAAAAAY too spicy for our friends!  They cooked us a meal for us the next Christmas and it was definitely different.  Not spicy, and more what you would expect to find on a NE family's dinner table (roast pork loin, a chicken salad that you have to taste to understand, and a banana leaf thing that kind of looks like a tamale, but is nothing like it - stuffed with meat, olives and other vegetables).

I have known for a long time that the only thing Mexican about Taco Bell is the Mexican Chihuahua.

One of our favorite restaurants at home is a little cantina run inside a Latino Market.  Their tortillas suck!  But they do have the best chicken Flautas I have ever had.  And my wife loves their Sopa de Res (just not the cactus part of it). And the proprietors?  From El Salvador!

So there is Mexican food, and there is Hispanic food, and the 2 are not the same.  Which is better for those who love to eat different foods!

It is also the only place (well them and other Latino markets) that sell actual Chorizo, not the American version of it.

HBW went to Argentina on his mission and was surprised to find that they eat more like Europeans than Mexicans.  Almost Italian in their cuisine.  

I remember you and I have both eaten at Rosarita's in El Cajon, an excellent place to eat.

Yeah, I have had a chance to sample foods from various places and I have learned that you can never tell what things will be like.  The major rule of eating abroad:  If you like it...don't ask what's in it. 

BFD, totally understand where you are coming from.  I grew up in a small Mexican dominated town SE of Pee-eblo (haha).  My family had a farm where we hired migrant workers.  Each year we usually let a couple of guys rent out a section of an old School house that was suitable for living.  Over the summer we'd establish quite a relationship with them and they taught us what REAL Mexican food tastes like. 

It's funny my wife who is from Kyrgyzstan understands more about Mexican food than most of the people here in SW CO.  We rarely go out to eat Mexican because far tooooooo often we are disappointed and someone usually makes the comment, "We should of just stayed home and made our own."

There IS one restaurant that is pretty darn close though but that is only on Tuesdays?  *sigh* guess it's back to our iron skillet. 

I used to judge a Mexican facility based on their Menudo and bean burritos.  If they know how to make that then it's usually golden.  Only failed me once so far.

I think im going to fry up some taco's tonight.

Sorry I have fallen behind on the answers, I was up in the kitchen...heheehee.  

Doc:  I, too, prefer hominy to bull-balls...as for the salsa, I am kinda fussy there, I don't mind spicy if it adds flavor but I am not into burning out the insides of my nose and throat just to prove I am "macho".

AD:  I think it is cool that your wife "gets" the Mexican food so well.  Last night after I posted this, MamaCharlie and I were discussing how Chinese food has so many similarities to Mexican food.  One of my favorite Mexican places is in Phoenix...El Tango's...owned and operated by the Tang family...as in Chinese Tang.  And my favorite Chinese restaurant is in Ludwigsburg Germany.  Go Figure.  But the Bandit is my favorite in the Springs.

X:  I am typing with my mouth full...could ya tell?

Gar:  that reference flew right over my head.  My idiot computer is currently undergoing a security scan so I won't be able to check out the link til later.  But thanx for stopping by. 

Where is the Bean Banditt in the Springs?  My mom and brother live there so we visit often.  Might have to check that out and compare notes. lol

Sweet that's not far from where they live.  (platte and constitution area).

3 Margaritas isn't bad but I haven't had their chicken.  I'll have to insist that we try the banditos next time.

and fruits.

I don't do the mango, pineapple kinds at all.  I was just adding to Doc's post about veggies.  Tomato and peppers are fruits eh maybe lime or lemon juice all fruits.   Those imo are the fruits acceptable to salsa.  Can we keep the mango, peach, pineapple salsas out of it?  That's not salsa just a spicy fruit cocktail. lol

La Victoria is a good commercial salsa.  Just wish they sold it in larger quantities.  The lil 14oz bottles means I'd have to buy it by the case.  Good thing my wife has a terrific salsa recipe from a friend.  Cheaper and I pretty much get all the salsa I want. hahaha.

Side Note:  Talked to my mom and brother up there in da springs and neither of them have experienced the Bandit.  Don't know when I'll get up there next time but I'll try to remember.

MMMMMmmm Mexican food.  All this talk has made me hungry.

mmmmmm.  Tacos.  I love tacos.

The only time I liked Taco Bell was when I was pregnant with Connor.  The  taco bell was right next to the school.  I worked from7-5 and had class from 5:30-11.  I had tacos every night for a late snack....with about 4 packets of hot sauce on each one.  My heartburn was horrible but I couldn't stop.

Dana:  you just trundle on up here and I will fix you up!