FROM MEXICO TO YOU WITH LOVE

May 12, 2005

"Women, melons, and cheese should be chosen by weight ." - Spanish proverb

CINCO DE MAYO , a time to pay homage to our neighbors from the south, those with the sun-drenched skin that bring us a unique cuisine to challenge our taste buds. It's the day we honor the brave Mexican soldiers who, on May 5, 1862 at Puebla, Mexico, defeated a superior French invasion force. We celebrate the day with festivities and dine on an abundance of Mexican fare.

In honor of my friends of Hispanic descent, most notably my roomie and current spouse, G, and her mother, The Cuda (first name, Bara), I thought I'd comment on muh favorite Mexican eateries. The list includes only those places that offer Mexican fare as a specialty and not just a few items on their menu, even tho some do it well. And because I'm nice I'm not gonna say anything bad about any of 'em (maybe). I ought to be nice once a year, doncha think? The list is alphabetical.

ALAMOS VERDES 5304 Vance Street – 303/422-5528

The mondongo, chunks of sautéed beef with mushrooms, green peppers, erotic-- oops--exotic spices, and some vino, is one of their signature dishes. But all the grub is super delish. And it's perty. Try the chicken fajitas. Shucks, try all the grub.

BANDIDO’S 4550 S. Kipling Street – 303/979-9746

An old fav, G and I were there recently, and the food is still very good, and the service is still very slo. The burritos are extra yummy. Try the chicharron burrito

BENNY'S CANTINA 301 E. 7th Avenue – 303/894-0788

Some of the finest Mexican grub in town. Benny’s been here a month short of forever. The breakfast burrito is killer. Try the bacon, sausage, beef, chicken and kitchen sink combo. The shredded beef here is awsum. Service tends to be a bit testy, but soes life.

BLUE BONNET CAFE 457 S. Broadway – 303/778-0147

Been there longer than Joel Hefley’s been in Washington, ceptin it ain't term-limited. It's all great, but you gonna wait: George and I guarantee it. The steak chimichanga is the best deal in town. Heck, it's all good. Since they added the super-size patio a few years back it ain’t as crazy, but you always gonna wait.

BREWERY BAR II 150 Kalamath Street – 303/893-0971

Usta be you didn’t go at the end of the week cuz the green chili got hotter day by day. Now they’re so busy they make it every day and it’s hot every day. But it's sooo good! You'll wait in line unless you're there b4 11:30 am. The rellenos are killer.

BREWERY BAR III 9051 E. Maximus Drive , Lone Tree 303/708-9333

Opened about two years ago, you can now get the same great grub down yonder in the Park Ghetto neighborhood. Same great green chili as the Kalamath store. It’s just a mite hot for some folks but you can ask for the milder version. But the mild version is damn near hotter than anything else in town.

CAFE DEL SOL 608 Garrison Street – 303/238-7999

Owned by a coupla Greeks and located in Lakewood, you wouldn't think the Mexican food is any good. Not true. Greeks run some of Denver’s finest restaurants. Primo value and superb food is the rule; this place is no exception. Great Mexican pizza. And a mighty fine bugger, truth be known. Arguably the best fries in town.

CASA BONITA 6715 W. Colfax Avenue – 303/232-5115

Just kidding folks. But if you go, bring your own dinner. A dark chocolate Milky Way bar is always good. Or maybe two or three. The house wine is fine as are the sopaipillas.

CHELO'S 2012 Larimer Street D 303/294-0676

What was a teeny bakery is now a real eatery but with a limited menu. The food's wonderful; the prices are very reasonable. Ain't many tables, but service is first rate, the menu changes daily. They still bake super desserts and breads. Open til 6 pm. Try the maavelous rellenos or the tortas.

EL TEJADO 2651 S. Broadway, 303/722-3987

EL TEJADO II 1410 S. Wadsworth Blvd , 303/985-9991

Always busy, the grub is fast and yummy. The menu is huge. Lots of seafood dishes cuz it’s a specialty of the house. The carne adobada is fab. The Lakewood store is halfway between muh house and office. Convenient, eh?

GREGORIO’S 1910 Wadsworth Blvd , 303/462-2400

This great eatery is just a few blocks from muh office, but they’ve been at this location for seven years. Thursday nite is mariachi nite, and the 192-piece orchestra (slight exaggeration) will blow your mind. The food is super and the service is first rate. They even cook a steak to order and there are lots of ‘em on the menu. Try the huge, stuffed dessert sopaipilla. Fast Eddie sez the margaritas are dandy.

HOLLY INN WEST 3490 Youngfield Street – 303/232-9964

While some think this is Americanized Mexican fare, I find it authentic, and besides, I luv the marinated spicy shredded taquerito. Portions are large and the margaritas are tasty. Salsa varies from mild to hot depending on what the cook had to sip on.

JACK ‘N’ GRILL 2524 Federal Blvd , 303/964-9544

Having arrived from Albuquerque about ten years ago, Jack and Anna Martinez get rave reviews from one and all. Even tho they expanded last fall and almost doubled the seating capacity, there are still lines at mealtime. I don’t know where to begin cuz all the grub is great. The Rocky Mountain News even listed their bugger (yep, buggers in a Mexican joint) in the Top Ten in Denver. As did I of course. Just tuff getting em to cook ‘em rare. But the green chili is so good I don’t have a bugger…most of the time. I have been told that they no longer accept credit cards, so bring cash.

JOSE'S 2420 W. Main Street – 303/798-5897

I guess it's been there for years and no one ever told me. The chili rellenos are the best in town, but not spicy. Try the flan.

LA CASITA 4390 West 44 Avenue – 303/455-2190

TAMALES DE LA CASITA 3561 Tejon Street – 303/477-2899

Paul Sandoval's two great places with the world's best tamales and other great grub. Try the empanadas when they're available. During the holidays order weeks ahead.

LA CASA DE MANUEL 3158 Larimer Street – 303/295-1752

Limited menu, great green chili with lotsa pork, albeit quite mild. The shredded beef is super, good coffee, great service. Dessert's a Milky Way, maybe a Snicker's. This is their new location after being tossed outta the cute old place. Open ‘til 8 p.m.

LITTLE ANITA’S 1550 S. Colorado Blvd - 303/691-3337

1050 W. Colfax Ave – 303/534-8888

I ain’t never been but G sez it’s great so who am I to cause Disharmony In Paradise?

She sez it’s some of the spiciest, tangiest New Mexican food you can imagine. Their signature chili sauces are swimming in chunks of meat and fresh-ground chiles, with a hit of garlic to give it that final kick. The carne adovada is a delightful red sauce chock full of chunks of pork. So try it. They’re also Albuquerque folks.

MARIA ELENA'S 999 Wadsworth Blvd – 303/239-8952

Mexican fast food at its best, ceptin no shredded beef. It's all order at the counter, set your butt down and pig out or take-out stuff. No Bud, no Coors: no beer. Sure is good. 

RED TANGO – BISTRO LATINO 5807 West 38 Ave – 303/420-2203

If you love Sabor Latino as most everyone who’s ever been you’ll love this place too. A set of cozy rooms, white linen napkins and some of the friendliest service in town make this new spot HOT. The menu is quite different than most eateries and the execution is generally good. Cheese empanadas, ceviche, fresh salmon, roast pork and a variety of other dishes show off the talents of the owners who happen to be formerly long-time employees of “that other place”. Have a lamb bugger with plantains for lunch and go to heaven happy.

SABOR LATINO 4340 W. 35th Avenue – 303/455-8664

While the menu is more South American than Mexican, it's close enuf for horseshoes, so what the heck. Still some of the friendliest service and the finest food from Mexico, Chili, Spain, Columbia and the Caribbean. The flan is good, the empanadas very, and the paella great, but only available Friday and Saturday nite

SENOR BURRITO 12 E. 1st Avenue – 303/733-0747

2553 N. Kipling Street – 303/202-1185

They put potatoes in all the burritos unless you tell 'em otherwise, and the prices are abit high, but the food is sure good. Try the burrito adovada.

TACOS JALISCO 4309 West 38 Ave - 303/458-1437

This place is hot stuff! Fabulous french fries smothered with green chili, super tamales. This is a great addition to the Mexican dining scene. Menu is huge. Great soups. Even the chips and salsa are yummy.

TAFOLINO'S 2001 Youngfield Street – 303/232-5118

1901 Youngfield Street – 303/237-3165

524 Malley Drive – 303/452-6172

Fantastic shredded beef and shredded chicken burritos smothered red or green. The ultra popular chili rellenos are as good as any in town and you can have them soft or crispy. G has a coupla super-size margaritas and a giant platter of grub, bout eight bucks worth, and I get to drive home cuz I do Diet Pepsi. Watch out for the hot chili. It's HOT.

TAMAYO 1400 Larimer Street – 720/946-1433

The menu here is upscale southwestern fare. The place is packed. They offer lots of fresh seafood and other elegant fare. The guacamole is the best I’ve had, as are the house-made chips that accompany them.

SOME OLD FAVORITES are gone cuz I ain't been in a while and I don't hear anything about 'em and there are too many new ones that need to be mentioned. If I left out your favorite, drop me a line; send me a bill of fare. Tell me what you like and what you don't like. But most of all enjoy the festivities of this grand day.

Cya.

NMMNG Jay Fox’s column can be viewed at his website, www.jayfoxcpa.com, along with the past two plus year’s of dining columns. You will also find all kinds of good tax planning advice, financial calculators and the latest in tax news. In his real life Jay is a CPA. He just writes this column for the money .