Tex-Mex vs. Mex-Mex?

Only Winners Here, Mis Amigos

“Surround yourself with tacos, not negativity. And yes, even if those tacos are made with corn tortillas.” ~Life Advice

Tex-Mex vs. Mexican food? Well, to be honest, I’ll always choose Tex-Mex. Mostly for the following reasons: it’s what I was raised on, I am a Texan/Tejana, and well, I prefer flour tortillas.

That is not to say that I don’t enjoy “real” Mexican food. Especially when it’s really delicious. At the end of the day—or the start of the day if it’s breakfast, I just want good food, and if that food is enjoyed with good people, well that is truly a win-win. No matter what the masa may be made with.

First, the Tex-Mex

Steve did it again! Thank you https://www.instagram.com/atemyshorts/ for introducing me to another place that serves righteous tacos!

Once again, my foodie friend, Steve, introduced me to some righteous tacos. And when I say righteous, I mean some of the best I’ve had in awhile. And when I say some of the best I’ve had in awhile, I should say these tacos were found in my old neck of the San Antonio woods, but I had always just driven on by.

Why? Because I didn’t think it was a Tex-Mex place. La Barca de Jalisco Mexican Restaurant on Steves is a place that I have driven past the last ten years or so. Because of the Jalisco in its name, I just assumed it was more of a Mexican-style taqueria, where the specialty would be tacos on tortillas de maiz (corn tortillas) and not a place that would serve my favorite carne guisada. My favorite brown carne guisada, that is.

Boy, Was I Wrong

Not only do they serve flour tortillas, but those tortillas are very, very good! Fluffy, thick and perfectly cooked on the comal (the griddle). Just like I like them.

What about the carne guisada, you ask? Oh, it was brown and it was pretty damn good.

You probably already know that one of the things I use to judge a good Tex-Mex restaurant is their carne guisada. La Barca de Jalisco Mexican Restaurant gets more than two thumbs up from this judge!

I ordered two tacos. They were warm and perfect.
Chorizo with beans & cheese. Before the cheese melted.
Carne guisada. Brown gravy and oh, so good.

My good friend and coworker, Martha, ordered the puffy taco plate. The integrity of the puffy taco shells was impressive!
Steve ordered these mini tacos de asada. He forced me to have one, and it was pretty damn good. The charro beans were really good, too.

Lesson Learned

Now, you’d think after the past several years of trying to get out of my comfort zone with all that life and food have to offer, I would have learned by now. Don’t judge a book by its cover, a girl by her baseball cap, and a restaurant by its name. Jalisco or not, it may just serve up some perfect flour tortillas.

I promise that I have finally learned my lesson, and this time I won’t forget.

El Segundo Restaurante

Up next on the agenda, some tacos and other Mexican fare from local hometown Chef Johnny Hernandez at his restaurant La Gloria.

Last week, my Godsister was in town. Mandie was visiting San Antonio for a work conference, and while she was born here when her mom was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, she hasn’t visited all that often.

Other than on social media, I don’t get to see her much, so we planned to spend some hours after work just hanging out, catching up, and well, eating.

Since I knew she had spent her last few days and meals along the Riverwalk, I thought maybe something a little more local would be a good idea. We ended up at La Gloria at the Historic Pearl Brewery complex just north of downtown and while also along the river, it is a bit off the beaten tourist path on a Tuesday night.

Tengo Hambre

I was hungry. Not an unusual thing, by any means (eating + food blogger here…), but on this particular day, I hadn’t eaten much in order to save my calories for dinner with Mandie.

Hunger, a necessary persuader for survival, also makes it fun to order a little of a lot of different things. It’s also even more fun to do that when you want someone from out of town to get a good taste of a place you know serves good food. Good Mexican food.

We started with chips & salsa. Of course.

Mexican street corn, a chicken molé tamal, freshly made guacamole and charro beans seemed like a good second course.

Oh, and speaking oh hits: this chicken molé tamal. It was so good!

Pork street tacos on La Gloria’s corn tortillas ended a great supper.

Good Life Advice

Corn or flour? Is it really that important? Well, it kind of is when it comes to tacos, I am not going to lie. But what’s really important is the experience you have while eating your tacos. And also, that there are enough meals in our lives for both flour and corn tortillas.

Most important? Lunch with good friends, dinner with family, laughter and stories around a table filled with good food can’t be beat.

The best things I eat each week are the meals spent this way, and the last two weeks were no exception.