We had a culinary adventure this week that taught me several important lessons. We went with friends to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. These are folks who have eaten with us countless times over the past 25 years and know me fairly well. Of course, my husband, who knows me like a book, was present, seated next to me.
The adventure started when I was looking for one of my favorite dishes on the menu. It’s called Tortilla Loco, but for decades we’ve referred to it as “taco loco.” There’s no reason for this, it just is. Anyway, this dish is a flat tortilla shell covered in meat of your choice, beans, tomatoes, and cheese. It’s very good.
But, I couldn’t find it on the menu. I did find a dish called a Mexican Pizza, and its’ description was quite similar to the taco loco. I discussed this with my husband and my friends at length, because people of a certain age spend a lot of time talking about what they can and can’t and will and won’t eat. My husband reminded me that we had had the pizza in the past and neither of us was fond of it.
When the waiter arrived to take our order, my husband asked if they still had the taco loco (but he used the correct name). We were assured that they did have it, but I didn’t want to make trouble, so I decided to order the Mexican Pizza.
I ordered and was careful to specify to leave off the refried beans (as my older digestive system prefers a bean-free diet) and the tomatoes. Again, my digestive system is picky about things. I love tomatoes, but they are not my friend.
So I was feeling pretty hopeful for a great meal and didn’t notice the three people at the table giving me puzzled looks.
When the food arrived, the waiter was holding a large plate of food out first. It looked heavy (and hot) and he said, “Mexican Flag?” to me. I shook my head and pointed to my friend across the table. She quickly claimed the enchilada and he extended the heavy plate towards me, apologizing because there were a few tomato chunks in the corner. I was puzzled but he continued to put the plate down in front of me, saying again, “Mexican Flag.”
When he left, I said to the group, “But I didn’t order this.” All three of them assured me (practically in harmony), “yes, you did!”
I ordered a Mexican Flag! Well, it’s a large plate of food, very heavy and hot. It has a shredded beef enchilada (spicy) with tomato sauce; rice; a spicy chicken enchilada; rice, and a grilled chile releno with ground beef. Oh, yes, and a small lettuce/tomato salad on the side. Normally the second rice would be refried beans, but they had listened to my request and left them off.
So I had a large plate of food, of which I could eat only a small portion – the chile releno. Well, I thought I could eat it. I found out about 8 hours later that chile releno is another dish my digestive system wants me to avoid.
My friends and husband expressed surprise that I had changed from the two dishes I had discussed at length, but they thought I was just branching out. My husband, especially, said he had almost said something when I ordered, but didn’t want to be presumptuous.
Please, be presumptuous. I’m getting older and sometimes the words that come out of my mouth aren’t the words I’m thinking. Mostly this isn’t a problem, but when it comes to food that gives you heartburn, you need to speak up!
yeah and AMEN tot hat ! We KNOW what we can and cannot handle – so please help us out when it seems we are “branching out” – a quick gentle word can save a lot of pain later!!
And we will, hopefully, THANK YOU !!!
John, I’m thinking one of these days Susie will “unfriend” me from her Snippets because I talk too much. I would probably cry. 😢
Susie, I was just wondering how long it took you to create this little world you live in? (Probably should have said, in which you live, but what the heck.) Now you did say “My World!” If the taco loco is one of your favorite dishes and it has beans and tomatoes you would know in advance that your digestive system is going to be in an uproar. My dad also claimed he couldn’t eat beans and tomatoes because of “heartburn”. I never understood what the heart had to do with it. His solution was right after he ate, he got half a teaspoon of baking soda and washed it down with water. Now you did find the Mexican Pizza which was quite similar to the taco loco. But your faithful husband kindly reminded you that neither of you were fond of that dish. Not only that he asked the waiter (just for you) if they still had the taco loco (using the correct name) and indeed they did! There! Right there you could have jumped at the chance and said, “I’ll have that!” But you didn’t want to make trouble? Sus, how in the world would that have been making trouble? So you ordered the Mexican Flag thinking you ordered the Mexican Pizza which you really wasn’t fond of anyway. Maybe the next time you want Mexican food, you could ask your husband to order for you. Or right after you have eaten, ask the waiter to bring you half a teaspoon of baking soda.
Susie, I am delighted to be a part of “your world!”