Mexican food in NYC? Inconceivable!

Things have clearly changed in New York City.

When I returned to America from Egypt, years ago, my brother met me at the airport. He asked me what I wanted to do first.

“Chinese, Italian and Mexican food.”

The first two were no problem in New York City. In fact, we took my suitcases directly to an Italian restaurant. And every block in Manhattan has a great Chinese restaurant, it seems, so that was sated quickly enough.

Mexican food, in the summer of 1995, proved to be a bit more tricky, if you weren’t interested in having Taco Bell. After weeks of looking, I was finally told about a burrito place in the village. I went with a friend, and we pulled up a pair of chairs, ordered some burritos, and prepared for bites of heaven.

Then I bit into … something.

“Excuse me,” I asked a waiter. “What’s this?”

“That?” The waiter brightened up, clearly proud of this. “That’s squash!”

Needless to say, it took leaving NYC and going to another city (Washington, DC, of all places) before I could find some decent Mexican food.

But that may all be changing, if this article in New York Magazine is any indication. Joel, plan on Taco Chulo this September. And if there’s any squash in those tacos, someone’s getting a smack.

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