The Burrito Blog

May 2007

2 Fast 2 Ravenous

This super steak burrito with refried beans and no cheese did not make it out of the car to meet up with the scale for weigh in.

No regrets.

See also: Hands at 10 and 2.

This Anna's Taqueria meal was rated: 8.6.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for 2 Fast 2 Ravenous

The Chile Verde That Broke My Belly

Like the legendary piece of straw that buckled the camel's spine, so too is this chile verde plate. For weeks, Anna's MIT location was feeding (ha!) my addiction for a breakfast that'll wake you up in the morning.

I know, I know. This doesn't look like breakfast food. And the MIT location has breakfast burritos. I am responsible for my own fate.

Sometimes you learn when to say enough is enough. This experience taught me the hard way. No less delicious, this chile verde was considerably more spicy than usual. My stomach was considerably less cooperative.

I gotta say it wasn't the chile verde's fault. It was the quart of milk I drank with the meal. Soothing qualities of guacamole and refried beans proved inadequate in quelling the mouth fire.

Perhaps men with high burn tolerances like Nick or Shane would have fared better. Plus I'm a lactard.

See also: The Aftermath.

This entry is filed in Anna's Taqueria.

Friday, May 25, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for The Chile Verde That Broke My Belly

Five Stars Meet Chile Rellenos

Cora and I went to East Coast Grill in Inman Square Cambridge, MA (Map) for brunch after having an amazing dinner there a few weeks prior. Plus she wanted to hit their make your own bloody mary bar.

With Taqueria La Mexicana's amazing chile rellenos just around the corner, I decided to see how those from East Coast Grill measured up. And hit the bloody mary bar.

Priced at $11.75 and available only during Sunday brunch, here's the menu description:

Stuffed with Smoked Duck, Jack Cheese, Cilantro, Roasted Potatoes, Garlic Seared Greens & Loca Salsa Rojo

Restaurants with table service are frequently ineligible for Burrito Blog coverage, but this meal needs to be shared. People need to be notified. It was just that good.

I was completely blown away. Most nice restaurants seem to mutilate my favorite Mexican dishes during the gourmetization process. Not so here. The duck was tender with the perfect complement of greens and potatoes.

The bloody mary didn't hurt either. Best Sunday brunch in recent memory.

This {Other} meal was rated: 8.7.

Monday, May 21, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for Five Stars Meet Chile Rellenos

San Loco $0.20 Tacos Sunday 5/20/07

San Loco is practically giving away tacos this Sunday in honor of their own 20th anniversary.

Cause to celebrate, I say. There are a couple catches before you go completely insane (loco).

Limit five (5) per customer. Hard shell beef tacos and bean/rice tacos only. Offer is not valid for delivery service. Tax is not included. Offer available while supplies last. (No funny business).

Still a great deal. You can't blame them for the restrictions - you don't make it 20 years in business by giving everything away. And yes, the restrictions really did say, "No funny business."

Beware the San Loco stupid sauce.

This entry is filed in San Loco.

Friday, May 18, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for San Loco $0.20 Tacos Sunday 5/20/07

Have You Seen These Tacos?

I don't remember where I got them. Wish I did, they look pretty good. I'm thinking they're Al Pastor from Anna's, but can't be sure.
This entry is filed in {Other}.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for Have You Seen These Tacos?

Peri-Peri Hot Sauce Reviewed By Expert

Burrito Blog was the happy recipient of complimentary Nando's hot sauces. Wasting no time I tossed some sauce on a boiled chicken Mexican plate from Anna's Taqueria. But first, some background.

Three bottles arrived: Medium Peri-Peri, Hot Sweet Peri-Peri, and Garlic Peri-Peri. What is Peri-Peri (a.k.a. African Birdseye)? From Wikipedia:

African Birdseye is a cultivar of the chili pepper that grows both wild and domesticated. It is a small and extremely spicy member of the capsicum plant genus.

I liked the Medium sauce the most - not because of the heat factor but the flavor. Despite the 'medium' namesake, I found it to pack to most punch. But I'm outside my field of expertise here. I specialize in burritos, not sauce.

The right man for the job: local hot sauce expert Shane Kelly. He correctly described the flavors of each sauce without seeing the labels, then told me that Peri-Peri is a pepper from Africa. Like I said, expert.

Shane said the Hot Sweet sauce was definitely not destined for glory atop a burrito. Maybe Chinese food. The Garlic sauce he paired with fries. Only the Medium was burrito appropriate.

Wow, my taste buds are aligned with greatness.

The entire office agreed. Of the three bottles donated to public use, the Medium is long gone.

See also: Tequila Hot Sauce and Hot Sauce Blog.

This entry is filed in {Other}.

Saturday, May 12, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for Peri-Peri Hot Sauce Reviewed By Expert

A Meeting Of The Minds

Zach Morello, junior burrito analyst present at the founding of Burrito Blog met John Liu (bottom), new school analyst and the Robin to my Batman in recent burrito adventures.

These good guys wear white, it seems.

We met up at Boca Grande in Brighton. Back in the Morello era, Boca Brighton did not exist, so this is truly a tale of old meets new. Double.

Note the new prices below, updated at the end of April.

Zach got a carnitas grande burrito with black beans, guacamole, and sour cream.

Weight: 19.3 oz | Price: $5.85 | FDR: 3.30

John got steak grande burrito with pinto beans, guacamole, and sour cream.

Weight: 21.8 oz | Price: $5.85 | FDR: 3.73

I got a steak quesadilla with rice.

Weight: 14.6 oz | Price: $4.50 | FDR: 3.24

We talked about our good fortune in working so close to Boca, The Internet, Excel, and of course burritos. Because we are geeky and unashamed.

This Boca Grande Taqueria meal was rated: 6.4.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for A Meeting Of The Minds

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Dear Readers,

I got you a Cinco de Mayo card. Some of you may remember that today is my birthday (proof). So have a drink for Burrito Blog!

-Jonah

See also: Good birthday, bad birthday.

This entry is filed in {News}.

Saturday, May 05, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for Happy Cinco De Mayo

Burritos Before Tables And Graphs

Every Wednesday John and I ninja-chop a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo in Excel. This time I devoured a Boca Grande steak burrito with refried beans faster than I diced up my data, 'cause it was just that delicious.

Dammit I'm a dork. Whatever. You love it.

It's hard to tell how the time I spend at Boca Grande relates to proximity, taste, value, and variety. Chart that up, nerds.

This Boca Grande Taqueria meal was rated: 7.4.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for Burritos Before Tables And Graphs

Captain America Stuffs Tights With Burrito

A burrito supreme was used to augment the captain's apparent lack of manliness and heroism. Getting arrested complements his lack of good taste.

[The man dressed as Captain America] had a burrito stuffed below the waistband of his costume and was asking women if they wanted to touch it. When one refused, he took out the burrito, and groped her...the burrito was found in his boot and he was arrested.

It's a bad day to be a super hero.

Of course, this wacky business takes place in Florida. Thanks to Kevin for the tip.

This entry is filed in {News}.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 by Jonah. Permalink for Captain America Stuffs Tights With Burrito