Mar 11th, 2011 by ++Mira++ | 1 Comment
Mexican food is one of those cuisines that you can eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. At least for me it is. Nachos with beans, jalapenos and cheese, bean burritos, fresh salsa to snack on, there is something for everyone.
Our favorite place outside of mexican town in Detroit is Monterrey Cantina in Royal Oak. Now, its a bit Americanized, but still really good. Its nothing like On the Border (which to me has nothing to do with Mexican food), but its not fully authentic either.
In the summer, the patio is always bumping with a long wait, and its located in the middle of main street, so its prime location.
We hang out in Royal Oak alot, and have ate here sooo many times.
The decor is rustic and playful with big peppers everywhere.
I had my usual. Refried bean burritos with rice and beans ($12). Yummy! Perfect ratio of beans to sauce and cheese.
Hubby had the veggie quesadilla ($10), which is huge btw.
Lots of cheese, zucchini and peppers. Very fresh and simple.
If you are ever in the area past 10pm on Friday and Saturday night check it out since everything is 1/2 off. It also seems to be the place most club goers come eat before hitting places like Black Finn and Mr.B’s. Again, its not authentic mexican food, but its pretty good simple food for what it is.
Sep 15th, 2010 by ++Mira++ | 3 Comments
After our dinner at Los Galanes, we walked across the street to La Gloria Bakery. It’s the perfect way to end any dinner in Mexican Town.
It’s a quaint little shop with freshly made Mexican and Italian pastries that are displayed in wood and glass cabinetry. It has a HUGE selection (as you will see from the gazillion photos I took), and the prices are unbelievable. If you walk in with $2, you can usually walk out with at least 3 desserts!
Do you remember my disdain with this place? You will find none of that here!
I don’t really know the names of everything below, I’ll let the photos speak for them selves
My hubby loves the coconutty strawberry cake thingies below. And guess what? It’s on fifty cents a piece, and its huge! Yeh, I said 50 cents. You can’t even buy a stick of gum for 0.50 dollars, let alone a yummy coconuty thingie. Actually you could buy a stick of gum. But only one stick.
More yumminess…
I have no idea what there are, but the cracked outside is so intriguing.
And they have pink hearts.
I had a churro, fitting for Mexican Town in Detroit I know. It was the end of the day, so it wasn’t as fresh, (I know I have to complain about something), so I wasn’t 100% sold on it like other things I tried.
My hubbys strawberry coconutty thingie was outta this world. Try it.
Actually, take 1 dollar (forget McDonald’s dollar menu), yes, only ONE dollar, buy two of them, and give one to someone you love. Or eat both. I won’t tell.
Sep 5th, 2010 by ++Mira++ | 4 Comments
Detroit boasts a huge Mexican Town with many restaurants and taco trucks. This was my second visit to Los Galanes. They are known for their seafood and authentic Mexican cuisine. There is so much on the menu that I want to eventually try, from the Menudo (tripe soup) and goat tacos to their whole fried red snapper.
They have something rare for the city, outside seating! It’s very informal and quaint and a great asset on gorgeous summer days.
Note: I have paint on my finger from a spur of the moment decision to paint a wall green in our sun room. Don’t ask.
My hubby trying to give the straightest face. Very hard task apparently.
Like I said, they are known for their sea food. Last time I had the big ceviche appetizer, this time, I wanted to save room and got the ceviche tostada ($2.50) instead. I asked for a marlin tostada, also something I had loved the first time, and they said it was off the menu (bummer, it was gooood). I had also had the fish taco before and it hadn’t really made an impression, so I didn’t get it again.
The ceviche was bright and light, and was a generous size. Would definitely recommend.
Sam, the hubby, has an aversion to beans, guacamole and cilantro. He also likes what he likes and while he might taste whatever crazy thing I’m having at the moment, he will order the same simple dish. This time it was the Botana Galanes (small 7.25), minus the chorizo and beans. lol.
I wanted to try something I’ve been dying to try ever since getting a crush on renowned mexican food genius Rick Bayless. Mole. Granted I already knew that whatever mole I was going to have would have nothing to do with him, but until I finally made it to Chicago, this would have to do.
So, I ordered the cheese Enchiladas De Mole ($7.95).
It came with the regular staples of rice and refried beans.
Now, I have never had mole before, so I can’t really compare it to anything. But, this mole really didn’t have a depth of flavor that everyone always talks about. It was a tad chocolaty, but not really spicy. It kinda fell flat. There also seemed to not be enough sauce. The enchiladas just seemed dry. I basically did not get the “mmmm…” factor like the ceviche did for me.
The one thing that did bother me in the beginning was that the waiter rushed me to order and he seemed in a hurry (they were busy). But other than that, he was fine.
I will be back. Overall, the place is a gem. Great authentic vibe and a really great menu. So much more seafood for me to try.
Jun 22nd, 2010 by ++Mira++ | 7 Comments
If any of you watch Jeff Dunham, you know of Jose, the Jalapenjo on a stick. His voice is stuck in my head as I make these. “kh-ellloo…I am kh-0se, kh-alapenjo…on a stick” If you don’t, you HAVE to click here to watch. You just have to see it. I said you have to.
If you don’t I will find you and tickle you with a feather till you pee, or die, whichever comes first.
So…basically… when your mother in-law comes over and launches a bunch of bananas on your counter do u make A) smoothies B) bananas foster C) Banana Icecream (please pretend you didn’t read the title of this post…haha). If you know me, you know I love any frozen yummy wummy thing. This is easy peezy breezy, fast, very healthy and yummy alternative to icecream. It’s lactose free, gluten free (if u dont include the tortilla chips), and very low in calories. Totally guilt free(but I never feel guilty about eating.lol).
Use some bamboo skewers and run it carefully thru the banana.
Now at this step, you can either freeze the bananas first (at least an hour, but not too long because they become really hard), and then move on to the next step (chocolate), or, you can do the next step and then freeze. I like to freeze first then dip in chocolate (so you can actually taste the chocolate).
This is a case where double dipping is not only allowed, but encouraged! 
Melt and temper some chocolate and add some chilipowder, some cinnamon, some nutmeg, some black pepper and some smoked paprika. Sweet and spicy!
I LOVE eating these straight off the stick, but that day, i had company coming, and wanted to serve in a plate, so I improvised a way to keep the chocolate from going everywhere before I slipped the banana off into a plate.
The final touch, some cruched tortilla chips. Perfect touch of salt and crunch!
They were gobbled up too fast for me to take a final pic, but believe me, this is a crowd pleaser, and totally kid friendly, and easy for them to make.
Bananas freeze amazingly well and end up having a texture like icecream. You HAVE to try this!
