Where’s the Mexican food?

by: Molly

About a month ago, Rebecca (my co-blogger and skinny friend), exposed the sushi take-over in Jerusalem. Like a lot of people, she was happy to see Jerusalem swimming in seaweed. But me-I am still waiting for the Mexicans to cross the border.mexican.jpg

Did you know that there are no Mexican restaurants in Jerusalem? Some may want to argue that the restaurant Poyo Loco in Talpiot is Mexican, but they would be wrong. First of all, I don’t think a Mexican restaurant menu should offer salsa, spaghetti and hummus. And it doesn’t matter now anyways because the restaurant closed down.

And don’t even go there with, “La Boca is Mexican,” because what you want to say is, “La Boca is a strange and expensive restaurant. They claim to serve Spanish food, yet all I could find in my tiny portion was an Israeli salad wrapped in a tortilla.” So don’t go there.

Here’s the deal. I am originally from Los Angeles, so baby food came in a taco. I need rice and beans, guacamole and nachos. And no matter how similar it looks, a falafel wrapped in a lafa does not equal burrito.

Doesn’t anyone else feel me on this? I think it is time we start focusing on the real problems in Israel. For too long this conflict has been about Arabs and Israelis, East versus West, unification and disengagement-but the real issue is Mexican food. If we can’t solve the problem of having at least one Mexican restaurant in all of Jerusalem, how can we ever try to manage the above mentioned matters?

Is this a plea? Yes. Am I begging? Of course. Do I dream about fried beans with melted cheese and slab of sour cream? I’m doing it right now.

I think we can make this happen-together! We need someone rich to invest; a cook who can make burritos and an opening night with all you can eat nachos. Imagine, instead of every corner being lathered in falafel grease, there might actually be a couple burrito stands leaving oil stains too. People will know the difference between a lafa and tortilla. And, then Rebecca can write another post about the city’s new obsession with burritos.

I think in some way this might help put us back on the road map. The road map to my belly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5l67xYiSvg

February 27, 2008 | Easily Amused, If I ran Israel | Comments

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10 Responses to “Where’s the Mexican food?”

  1. Posted by: Rebecca - 02/27/2008

    maybe I wouldn’t be so skinny if there was mexican…. you are quite a funny girl.

  2. Posted by: Avi - 02/27/2008

    I agree! I have been saying that Israel lacks Mexican (although apparently Tel Aviv has some traif Mexican)! There used to be some Mexican on Nachlat Shiva (years ago, sadly I discovered the shuttered restaurant) and for about a week there was a pseudo-Mexican burrito place on Shlomzion HaMalka (bad nachos, though) but it closed quickly.

    I guess we have to make due by getting the Mexican at Mega and making it ourselves. As for me, I’m just happy to find tortillas and salsa.

  3. Posted by: Dave - 02/27/2008

    Isn’t the literal translation of burrito “little donkey”? We’ve got enough of them (120 to be exact - and maybe not so little) getting paid for not going to work in a building round Givat Ram way that looks more like a railway station than anything else (and NO CROCS OR JEANS ALLOWED)

  4. Posted by: Benji - 02/27/2008

    Be careful what you wish for. Tel Aviv has some pretty bad ones.

    This Texas Jew is wishing too, Molly. A few years ago, I ordered Mexican nachos at a bar in Jerusalem. They brought pita chips with zaatar.

  5. Posted by: Molly - 02/27/2008

    These stories make it hurt even more! Oh the pain. I just want to be able to sing “nacho man,” like Homer…and like Homer, eat some nachos!

  6. Posted by: danny brothers - 02/28/2008

    Yeah, the the idea of making your own Mexican food… Great in theory, but considering 10 tortillas at my supermarket costs about 30 shekel…

    In Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, being that it is the “bread-basket” of the South, we have about a million illegal Mexican workers. It’s great b/c of all the tasty Tex-Mex and stam Mexican places. Alas, even Israel can’t satisfy my kosher needs.

    Wanna start our own “Loco Pollo”?

  7. Posted by: Molly - 02/28/2008

    I really want to start something that involves burritos and nachos! Lets do it!

  8. Posted by: danny brothers - 02/29/2008

    First thing first, let’s get TOSTITOS in this freaking country!

  9. Posted by: Israelity » Israeli Culinary Lesson #494 - 03/18/2008

    […] if I ever decide to eat “shakshuka” in Mexico City, please shoot me. Sorry, Big Felafel, still searching for Mexican […]

  10. Posted by: MarinNYC - 03/24/2008

    I think the reason jerusalem doesn’t have any good mexican places is because Mexican food is not Kosher. I also don’t think many Israeli’s would like heavy Mexican food. I mean of course if you are familiar with the stuff here in the U.S then yeah you are used to eating it and can accept it, but if you are a stranger to it alot of people find it too heavy, and most of the food isn’t considered kosher. Fried beans with rice and some cheese is safe to it alone. Yet you cannot truly enjoy it as it should be with a burrito with chicken or meat or some fried flautas or enchiladas suizas. Mexican food is good, but I don’t really see it thriving in a country with such food restricitions. How many “spanish themed” restauarants are there….none because hispanic food is not kosher.

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