LiveFeed

Mexican uprising

I got some good responses to my Livefeed column about the lack of diversity among Silicon Valley’s Mexican restaurants. Here are few excerpts:

I would like to recommend that you try the restaurant El Tule. It is located at 5440 Thornwood Dr. in San Jose, and the phone number is 408. 227.1752. It is a small restaurant owned and run by a family from Oaxaca (so basically it is like having a family inviting you into an extension of their home and cooking for you.) The food is amazing - especially the traditional Oaxacan dishes like the mole and tlayudas (and they even have chapulines). All their homemade drinks are excellent too. Having lived in Oaxaca this past summer and loving the food, I now definitely go out of my way to go to this restaurant.
–Beth J.

Finally somebody (that be you) said publicly what I have been saying all along about the lack of real Mexican cuisine. I have “Mexico the Beautiful” cookbook, which is an art book on it’s own with the most sumptuous food you would ever want to find. Being French, I know that many of the dishes presented in the book could just as well be from France. As you said, Mexican cuisine is right up there with the best in the world. I am totally baffled why no one has started a Mexican restaurant featuring the wonderful food that is in this cookbook…OK, it’s one of those “if I ever won the lottery” statements, but that’s the first thing I think I would do. Hire myself a decent chef from Mexico and start cooking some of those recipes.
–Bernard M.

I feel real strongly about your article in this week’s Metro and fully agree! Where the hell is the rest of the Mexican food? I recommend Chalateco (several locations including 2323 The Alameda, Santa Clara) at the very least, because they do serve a tiny bit of outsider food, but not much. Eduardo’s (3123 Williamsburg Ave. San Jose) serves great, straight outta Mexico tacos and the like, and Mexico Bakery (2811 Story Rd., San Jose) serves the best tortas I’ve tasted from here to San Diego (tho, since their remodel, the jury is out because I haven’t been back). Up in San Mateo, Tres Amigos (243 S. B St.) serves probably the best horchata around at least, and has top-shelf burritos (get wet) among other things.
–Juan

Enjoyed your column. Have you tried the ceviche at La Costa (at 1805 Alum Rock Ave.? It’s good stuff!
–Chris K.

This is the beginning of a good list. One of the suggestions was so good that I’m planning a restaurant review of it in the coming weeks. Any more tips for places that go beyond the same ol’ tacos and burritos? Please keep them coming.