The Burrito Blog

June 2006

Tortilla Tech: Specs And Video

For a long time we've been very focused on the outputs of the burrito making line, and have glossed over the tools of the trade.

DoughPro's DP2000 (The TortillaPro) is just too interesting to ignore.

Panchero's began using the DoughPro tortilla making machine in 1998, and has never looked back. Their tortillas are made seconds before filling application. This results in low degrees of tortilla consistency, but unmatched levels of freshness.

Oh, and we have the blueprints, kinda.

How does this crazy machine work? I'm so glad you're still reading. Because we have video of the DP2000 in action. Check out the link for the video. Note the technician in the white laboratory coat.

This entry is filed in Panchero's.

Thursday, June 29, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Tortilla Tech: Specs And Video

400 Posts, Cleaning House

Burrito Blog has reached 400 posts. Amazing, ridiculous, and true.

To celebrate, I decided to clear out all the spam from comments and the Mexican Restaurant Directory. That took half the day. Look for some changes to Burrito Blog in the coming weeks.

The aspiration and horchata have been flowing.

This entry is filed in {News}.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for 400 Posts, Cleaning House

Powered By Burritos

I apologize for my absence, dear readers, but I was riding my bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles along with about 1,800 other riders to support the fight against HIV and AIDS.

There are many people I have to thank for helping me achieve my fundraising goal. Among them is my sole corporate sponsor, the very generous Taqueria El Buen Sabor, who helped sponsor my ride and also supplied me with a free t-shirt (barely distinguishable in the picture shown here), which I was happy to wear on the ride.

El Buen Sabor also supplied me (though not free) with one of their delicious Super Chile Verde burritos the night before, which provided me with some of the nutrients necessary to complete the 585 mile ride. Review to follow.

Thank you, El Buen Sabor, for your contribution in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

-Phil

This entry is filed in El Buen Sabor.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006 by Phil. Permalink for Powered By Burritos

Another Victim Of Santa Fe Style

Once in a while decorations are worthy of mention. I kinda dig this one, though nothing will ever compare to the Sopa Sale.
This entry is filed in Santa Fe Cafe.

Monday, June 26, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Another Victim Of Santa Fe Style

No Nombre

This is some kind of dessert at Pili's. The language barrier prevented me from learning its name and its contents, but I suspect it's sugarized sweet potato.

Weird looking, but not bad.

This Pili's Tacos meal was rated: 5.1.

Friday, June 23, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for No Nombre

Keyser Sesos

Sesos is cow brains. And it's in my taco.

Phil and I split the taco. He was able to finish his half. I couldn't do more than a couple bites.

Brains tastes like organ meat. It's really soft and the smell reminds me of 10th grade biology lab. I don't think I'll try it again.

Much of my distaste for brains was probably mental, which is ironic. Ha!

This Taqueria Cancun (CA) meal was rated: 2.2.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Keyser Sesos

Archive: Nate And The Quesadilla

This photo's so old there's not that much I have to say about it. Nate was eating a quesadilla.

A frequent consumer of Anna's Taqueria, Nate noted that the La Taqueria quesadillas are slightly more greasy and bi-fold when compared to the tri-fold Anna's version.

This entry is filed in La Taqueria.

Monday, June 19, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Archive: Nate And The Quesadilla

Excitement, Ingredients Not Contained

Having finally arrived at Taqueria Cancun, I was a little discouraged to have my burrito fall apart. The wrap was super tight, which is rare for a specimen with a grilled tortilla. Yes, Taqueria Cancun uses grills, not steam.

Phil joined me, but I forget what he had.

While lacking in structural integrity, the carne asada burrito was definitely above average with respect to taste.

This Taqueria Cancun (CA) meal was rated: 7.1.

Saturday, June 17, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Excitement, Ingredients Not Contained

Welcome To Taqueria Cancun

One of the legendary spots in San Francisco's Mission District is Taqueria Cancun. I've got a lot of hate mail that begins, "Your blog sucks because you haven't been to Taqueria Cancun."

Time to silence the critics.

The music is out of control loud inside, and seating is family style on picnic tables.

The menu includes all kinds of authentic greats, including tortas, ceviche, pechuga suiza, lengua (tongue), and sesos (brains). Click on the picture of the menu for a full size version.

Note: not to be confused with Taqueria Cancun in Boston.

This entry is filed in Taqueria Cancun (CA).

Saturday, June 17, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Welcome To Taqueria Cancun | Comments (6)

Interview On FoodCandy

FoodCandy just posted an interview with yours truly. My favorite part:

world famous Burrito Blog

You know it.

This entry is filed in {Press}.

Thursday, June 15, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Interview On FoodCandy

Ready, Set, Tortilla Toss

A few Sundays ago in San Francisco, the annual Bay to Breakers race took place. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it's a 12k race that began in 1912. Over the years, it developed from a serious athletic event to something of a drunkfest/parade.

Sure, there are still some serious athletes who run out in front of the pack, but they're followed by a mass of about 70,000 drunk, costumed (sometimes nude) partiers.

To kick off the race, thousands of tortillas are hurled into the air at the starting line in the annual "Tortilla Toss." To get a picture of the flying tortillas, this burrito analyst would have had to wake up at about 7am on a Sunday. Not likely.

Instead, I provide you with a picture of the Tortilla Toss aftermath, where the streets of San Francisco become blanketed by burritos that will never be.

This entry is filed in {News}.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006 by Phil. Permalink for Ready, Set, Tortilla Toss

Archive: Chile Verde Plate

This has got to be one of my favorite items at Anna's: chile verde Mexican plate, with refried beans.

This meal was taken while out to lunch with Jerry and Zags a couple months ago.

In an effort to avoid eating burritos in secret, I'm catching up on may unshared burrito experiences from days long past.

This Anna's Taqueria meal was rated: 7.7.

Sunday, June 11, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Archive: Chile Verde Plate

Hot Sauce Application Analysis

Application of hot sauce has always been a point of contention among burrito fans.

There are two prevailing theories:

1. Pre Production | Applied by burrito constructor
2. Post Production | Applied by burrito consumer

Personally, I prefer my hot sauce added in pre production. Here's a little pro / con analysis, because I'm a dork.

Pre Production Pros:

• Strong distribution with ingredients
• Care free eating experience
• One handed operation

Pre Production Cons:

• Cannot season to taste
• Limited choice in hot sauce variety

Post Production Pros:

• Season to taste
• Sample multiple sauces per burrito

Post Production Cons:

• Poor distribution
• Repetitive application required

La Taqueria offers squeeze bottle hot sauce applicators at each table. Restaurant owners, take a lesson: this rocks. It's way better than a salsa bar and easy to control.

Plus La Taqueria is delicious, which doesn't hurt.

This La Taqueria meal was rated: 8.5.

Thursday, June 08, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Hot Sauce Application Analysis

Burrito, Enchilada, Same Thing Here

Menus at taquerias usually go light on the details, but I had no reason to expect that the burrito would be served enchilado style.

Was it good? Sure, it was ok, definitely on the sloppy side. But the delivered meal failed to resemble my expectations. Bonus points are awarded for being massive.

This Santa Fe Cafe meal was rated: 4.7.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Burrito, Enchilada, Same Thing Here

Welcome To Santa Fe Cafe

Burrito Blog speculates that there are many restaurants that feature the obviously common rhyming name, 'Santa Fe Cafe.' This particular location is in Rosslyn, Virginia, (Map) just beyond the district borders and near The Pentagon in the heart land of the Military Industrial Complex.

Incidentally, I had just seen Why We Fight the week before in San Diego, near the naval base.

Return to Santa Fe, in Virginia.

The cafe is has seating but no table service - that's exactly my style. Available selections include hamburgers and salads, which filled me with fear.

Check out the menu on the official site here.

This entry is filed in Santa Fe Cafe.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Welcome To Santa Fe Cafe

Bicycle! Bicycle!

A couple days ago San Francisco Burrito Analyst Phil Jonas departed on a seven day bicycle journey to Los Angeles.

We hope he gets there.

Phil, pictured here at La Taqueria, one of San Francisco's most famous taqueria's, takes a mean bite out of a burrito. Did you know he once ate three in one sitting?

This entry is filed in La Taqueria.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Bicycle! Bicycle!

Burrito Blog Sells Out

Since we've been gaining in notoriety over the past year, Burrito Blog has decided to up the ante. All photos from now on will feature models posing with burritos.

This is a joke.

This entry is filed in Purple Cactus.

Monday, June 05, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Burrito Blog Sells Out

Mice Are Not Ingredients, Even At Taco Bell

Some moron thought that he could plant a dead mouse in a burrito and get Taco Bell to pay him big dollars. Extortion.

Taco Bell might not make everyone's favorite burrito, but that's just ridiculous.

The muerta mouse plan landed Ryan Daniel Goff 16 to 30 months in the big house. Casa grande!

Source: CNN.

This entry is filed in {News}.

Friday, June 02, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for Mice Are Not Ingredients, Even At Taco Bell

I Am Brown Like Pinto Beans

Readers, I must apologize. I've been completely delinquent in my posts. I've been getting brown by the beach, and have had little access to the blog.

I am still a burrito loving gringo, just a very tan one.

Many thanks to San Francisco analyst, Phil, for picking up the slack before embarking on his bicycle ride from San Francisco to LA on a quest for good tortillas and good deeds.

This entry is filed in {News}.

Thursday, June 01, 2006 by Jonah. Permalink for I Am Brown Like Pinto Beans