Home is Where the Vallart is!

   Sometimes, the best things in this world are the things we're most comfortable with. That old scratchy record, a comfortable blanket, or maybe it comes in the form of the old neighborhood Taqueria. Well, I can say Taqueria Vallarta is about a comfortable as a worked in pair of shoes....uuuuuh well, not too apetizing. Now, hear me out. Detracters will say "BB....why would you go THERE of all places?" Its hard to argue, but sometimes you just dont want to venture too far from the nest.  My latest voyage was for the loving arms of the Carne Asada Supremo. I've been a fan of Vallarta since they opened on Soquel Ave in Santa Cruz during my freshmen year of college. When they opened up a Pleasure Point location, a certain roomate of mine dined there every night for 2 weeks. A regular SuperSize Me, Mexican Style! I gotta say, I found my visit satisfying. The price is right, the Carne is cooked perfectly and the chips and salsa are dolled out free and easy.  While not blowing my socks off, I can say that I tend to get a good quality gut bomb burrits' that does the trick when you've skipped 2 meals and just want to make up for lost time.

The Wrap: Location = 3 Right next to Shoppers Corner, good parking and right in da hood. Price = 2 Around six dollars. Authenticity = 2 The Carne Asada is diced and cooked thick, nothing special but never too dry like other would be Taquerias in the area.

Los Gallos, the only thing worth getting stuck at a red light in Scotts Valley for.

Bacaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

    There are two things that drive me nuts in this world. Chihuahuas and the City of Scotts Valley. When I heard that my Chihuahua owning neighbors, whose dog would incessantly keep me up at night with its brain piercing bark, owned a Taqueria in Scotts Valley, let’s just say I was VERY skeptical.  

     Located in the Safeway shopping center better known for its grid-lock inducing parking lot, Taqueria Los Gallos, probably named for the several chickens that seemed to hang out it my yard, offers all forms of standard Taqueria faire. After being welcomed with a hearty greeting from the man behind the counter, I opted for a carnitas Super Burrito which had been suggested by friends. Now I don't usually go for carnitas in a burrito, yet one bite of Los Gallos' crunchy stringy strips has changed my mind for good. I'd call the size of the burrito suitable for a large appetite, and definitely worth the price of around $6.00. Free chips and a plethora of salsa choices at the salsa bar are a plus in my book. While the carnitas is undoubtedly among the top 3 I've ever tried, the taste seems to overshadow the bland rice and average bean components. I kept thinking I should have simply ordered a carnitas Taco, which would accentuate its flavor, as the more bland extras of the burrito seemed to take away from its taste. In all I left satisfied and full, ready for a fantastic journey through a parking lot teeming with angry horn happy Senior citizens and Monster Trucks (beat up trucks with Monster beverage stickers). Luckily I made all the green lights out of town, allowing me to enjoy an extra 4 hours of the day. 

The Wrap: Location = 2 Nice, yet plastic strip mall environs, probably considered luxurious for Scotts Valley residents. Price = 2 Around six dollars. Authenticity = 2 The carnitas is a special treat, Burrito and components are average. Taste = 2 Did I mention the carnitas yet?

  

What the F__ is a Wrap?!!!

Thats what Im talkin' bout!!!

In order to form a more perfect union between man and food, unknown sages in a far off monastery locked themselves in a room with the freshest of ingredients delivered to them by pilgrims throughout the world. Whence the doors opened, the Burrito was brought forth on a pillowy bed of tortilla chips and sliced cabbage. Well…this may not be the most accurate depiction of the creation of such a divine food, but the burrito remains both mysterious and heavenly. In actuality, the burrito was designed to make the act of carrying one’s food to the workplace an easier endeavor, an achievment which continues to this day.

Burritos are like people. There are short ones, fat ones, skinny ones, light ones, dark ones, greasy ones, fake ones, angry ones, dangerous ones, and divine ones. As a Burrito Sage, I have traveled far and wide to gain experience in this delicious deity, and I will be chronicling this journey for you in the upcoming months and years. So get your Tapatio ready, a bottle of Tums, and come along!

I have created a 4 part rating system on a scale from 1 to 3. I will also be detailing my experience, and giving an overall opinion. The rating system is as follows:

Location:

1 = Bring spare change/and or mace.
2 = Acceptable, must wear shoes.
3 = Good God Muffy, sweater over shoulders required

Price:

1 = Cheap. Enough money under your car seat.
2 = Reasonable. Around $5.00
3 = Expensive. “Do you guys have an ATM?”

Authenticity:

1 = Overly Americanized. “Is that ‘Proud to Be an American’ on the jukebox?”
2 = Semi-Traditional. Good variety of ingredients but not perfect.
3 = Traditional/Authentic. “Que es Chich-a-ron?”


Taste:

1 = Bland/lacking flavor “Is there a McDonalds around here?”
2 = Good. Acceptable, but not memorable.
3 = Delicious. “Do you guys have an extra room for rent?”