During the dog days of summer, almost all of our cooking
involves the grill. But in extreme heat (record-breaking temps this week), the
last thing on my mind is to put myself in front of an open fire. A bowl of
cereal would suffice if it were just I. But the littles need more sustenance.
Local eatery here we come!
Everyone has his or her “go-to” place for take-out. They are
often affordable, quick, and consistent. No menu is needed as you often order
the same thing. And it is unlikely Instagram-worthy. It’s the unsung hero of family
dinners, yet always welcomed enthusiastically.
One of our go-to take-out places is Anna’s Taqueria. My
husband and I have been going to Anna’s since our days as BU undergrads. The
place is a Boston institution. Now celebrating 15 years, Anna’s has six
locations all over the greater Boston area. Anna’s is one of the most beloved
taquerias in the area – and that’s saying a lot for a town that has more
burrito joints than you can shake a tortilla chip at.
For years (and years, and years…) I’ve been ordering the
same thing – grilled chicken burrito with cheese. Anna’s menu includes lots of great
options such as quesadillas, tacos, and Mexican plates. But since my college
days, I very rarely stray from my grilled chicken burrito. And now as a mom with two hungry boys,
we still frequent Anna’s and they too will order the same thing visit after visit – chicken
burrito for my oldest and rice and beans for the 3 year old.
So when I got an invite to attend a summer picnic hosted by
Anna’s to try other items, including a soon-to-launch new kid’s meal, I knew it
was time to be “adventurous” and try something new.
So how did it go? The boys loved their kid’s meal – a mini
version of Anna’s Mexican plate. They got a choice of rice or beans (pinto
beans), choice of chicken, steak or grilled veggies (chicken) and a small
quesadilla. They attacked it as if it was a deconstructed chicken quesadilla
and went to work reconstructing it their taste.
For the grown-ups, they had range of burritos to try: including
grilled chicken (of course), chicken ranchero (spicy with peppers and onions),
carnitas (roasted pork), chili verde (pork in spicy sauce), al pastor
(rotisserie-cooked pork), steak, steak salsa roja (spicy pepper-based sauce),
barbacoa (shredded beef in chili sauce), lengua (slow-cooked beef tongue) and
grilled veggies.
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| photos courtesy of Anna's |
We also got to try some of their house-made drinks such as
Horchata (traditional, sweet, cold Mexican drink made from ground almonds and
milk) and Jamaica (Mexican fruit punch made from boiled Passion Flower petals).
So good.
So let it be known, on June 27, 2012, I retired my grilled
chicken burrito obsession and have moved on to my new favorite – the al Pastor
burrito. And yes, washing it down with house-made Horchata.
So if you haven’t been to Anna’s (the horror) or haven’t
tried something new, I encourage you to go. Like today. It pays to be
adventurous. Just not sure if I’ll ever be so adventurous to order THE CUBIO.
For those that aren’t familiar with the Cubio, it is not for the faint of
heart (it isn’t even on the menu). But here’s a hint: three super burritos
rolled into one.
Disclosure: Thanks to Anna's Taqueria for hosting the event, which I received free of charge. I have no material connection to the brands, products or services mentioned. As always, opinions are my own.
