Conin Mexican Cuisine

This article was intended to be run in the December issue of the SW Connection. Through a series of rather bizarre lapses in communication, it was not included. Beyond that, our relationship with the paper has now been severed. We wish the Southwest Connection and it's new Editor, Mr. Bill Gallagher the very best in the new year. Mr. Gallagher, by the way, is starting a "Letters to the Editor" column. If you wish to contact him: bgallagher@pamplinmedia.com

Okay then... In mid-September I received a tip from a reader, Katie Songer, about a place here in Southwest Portland that was simply not on my radar in any way. One of the reasons for that, I suppose, is that it’s a little bit difficult to find, even when you know the address on Barbur Blvd. Honestly, I looked, and looked and even drove right past it several times without seeing it. Part of that had to do with the direction I was traveling in. I was heading South on Barbur, knowing that it had to be on the West side of the street to my right, however the place is most cleverly tucked away in a small cluster of shops. To see it when heading South, is very much like merging onto the Ross Island Bridge off of Natio. You have to know how situate your car perpendicularly to do it, right? In the case of finding Conin Mexican Cuisine for the first time, head North, notice that the UPS store is on your right, and look to the left. There it is! Ta-da!

Let it be known, Conin Mexican Cuisine is a destination I’m only reluctantly sharing with you. The reason I hesitate is that, once known, it’s going to be much harder to get in. Fortunately, they offer reservations.

Georgina and I decided to have dinner early on Saturday night. The wind was blowing, and, because I’d just had the car washed, a light rain was beginning to fall. It was already dark in anticipation of the time-shift taking us back an hour. Not having been to Conin before, we could only hope that our intrepid, five-minute journey into the desperate wilds of Southwest Portland would be rewarded with something more than just okay.

Because of our early timing, we were the first people in the place, and, frankly, entering an empty restaurant can have something of a chilling effect, if you know what I mean? Gah, perhaps it was empty for a reason! How wrong that possibility turned out to be. To be clear, stepping in out of the weather we found ourselves in the cozy, quite beautiful interior: traditional Mexican music played gently in the background. In one corner over the full bar, two flat screens silently displayed soccer and football. By way of the time of the year, there was a lovely Ofrenda (Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead - offering table) set up against one wall, honoring those who are no longer with us. In this simple welcoming environment, we felt immediately at home and were greeted most warmly. What a great intimate place this would be for a party!

I started with a stellar Margarita served in a Mason jar with a handle. Georgina had a Pacifico from the tap. To keep us happily occupied while we made our decisions, fresh corn chips were placed on the table along with an excellent salsa, which thankfully contained only a hint of cilantro (allergic, you see). I ordered Tacos de Pescado: three slightly crispy shells generously filled with fish and the house’s special toppings, sprinkled with cotija cheese. Georgina had the carne asada version. Each of these dishes, and I cannot stress this enough, were O.M.G. extraordinary and delicious. Oh, and did I mention the churros made-to-order in-house? I should have!  

Katie, closed her letter to me with this, “…since we love it so much, we selfishly want it to thrive so it'll stay in business and we can keep eating there for many years.” Well I couldn’t agree more, however, Katie I would suggest this is something of a double-edged sword. An hour or so later when Georgina and I were leaving, the dining room was very nearly packed, and other rain-drenched cars were eager to contest the spot we were making available in the small parking area. People who know about Conin – know about Conin.

Rating: Extraordinarily Sincere

For reservations call: 971-808-5627

eMail: conin@coninpdx.com 

9111 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97219

Site: http://www.coninpdx.com  

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If you know of a business or person anywhere on the planet you think might meet our criteria please send their information to me jon@searching4sincerity.com. I can’t promise to write about them though, as that in itself would be, well, you know… insincere.

Taqueria La Fuente, Tigard Oregon

The word "taqueria" always stops me in my tracks. There's something so authentic sounding about it. When we recently moved to Portland, I was worried that we wouldn't be able to find good, authentic Mexico City style tacos - you know, the ones made from fresh, soft corn tortillas with grilled and other sorts of meats inside. I wasn't so worried about Mexican food in general, since I'm pretty skilled at making it, but I can't make street tacos taste like they do in Mexico City.

So one day, as Jon and I were tooling around in Tigard, we saw the sign for Taqueria La Fuente and were intrigued. Upon their window, another sign stated that they make their tortillas fresh, so in we went for a bite of lunch. We had a couple of tacos each and were completely blown away. There's a lady in the kitchen within view, making the fresh tortillas to order, and though they're a little thicker and larger than the Mexico City style, they were fantastic, as was the grilled steak that went inside. As it turns out, the state of Michoacán, Mexico has its own reputation for great street tacos. If you didn't know, Michoacân is in central Mexico, west of Mexico City and borders the coast. I may have driven through it, but am quite certain I never had a taco there. Fortunately, I now have La Fuente to provide them for me.

Tacos Mexicanos with rice and beans

However, tacos isn't all that La Fuente does right. They make a mean chile relleno, excellent enchiladas, fine tortas, and tamales to die for. As a matter of fact, at Christmas time, we were looking for a source of Christmas tamales because (for anyone who wasn't raised in a Mexican-influenced town, like I was, such as Tucson, Arizona) tamales are a tradition on Christmas Eve in Mexico and parts of the American Southwest. I have carried that tradition with me to the east coast and back, but, again, was worried I wouldn't find them in Portland. Well, not only are good tamales not hard to find here, but lots of places do them up for Christmas, and you can order them for about $20 a dozen. We had gone into La Fuente to eat a few weeks before Christmas, asked about them, and the server gave us one to sample. Oh, yeah. We ordered a dozen of the beef tamales and they won the seal of approval from my family.

The staff at La Fuente are personable and sweet, even on Cinco de Mayo when the plethora of gringos lining up at the door didn't disrupt their easy, friendly flow. They make decent margaritas, have a good selection of Mexican beers and sodas, and, though the place is far from fancy, it's clean, comfortable, and the prices can't be beat.

I have lots of other Mexican joints to try in the Portland area, but for now, I'm all about La Fuente.

Evaluation: Very sincere

Taqueria La Fuente
12198 SW Main St, Tigard, OR 97223
Phone:(503) 639-3653




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Estrada's Mexican Rest.- Escondido CA - Friend of Sincerity (FOS) Post

The following evaluation of sincerity was sent to us by Bill Josh Young and is posted here exactly as written. 

I remember the Mexican food that was available in Tucson from the late 1930s to the 1950s–it was the best!

Over the years the food quality has been tempered by substitution of non-fat ingredients and the demands of tourists from New York and other eastern cities. It is no longer the same.

However, since 1957, there has existed in Escondido CA an unpretentious Mexican restaurant that is quietly serving the most delicious and purest of traditional Mexican food -- without a trace of colloquial influence. Every time I visit Escondido, I make a pilgrimage to Estrada's to satisfy my Mexican food addiction.

The restaurant has passed from the older Estrada family members to the younger members without missing a beat, nor has the quality of the food deteriorated. If anything, it has improved.

The price for # 1 on the menu -- 1 shredded beef taco with small, diced bits of potato mixed with the beef, a bean & beef tostada, refried beans and fried rice, plus ice tea is only $8. Their gorditas are to die for as are the chili rellenos -- all the food is unpretentious, but first class in quality and taste.

Most of the diners are of Latino descent, but a number of enthusiastic Anglos can be found among them. The Anglos always appear smug, as if they had discovered a great culinary secret that they just might share with the world, or maybe not.

Do not be put-off by the modest appearance of Estrada's -- both inside and out. It is truly a world class restaurant.


Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

  

Estrada's Mexican Restaurant
246 S. Quince St.
Escondido CA 92025.
Phone (760) 746-3441
Owners: Guillermo & Lily

Viva El Mariachi - restaurant

Over dinner last night, Georgina and I were talking about this project. We realized that the idea of searching for sincerity is really as much about stumbling into a place that somehow delivers that extra something that compels us to want to share its existence here, as anything else. Clearly, we've been very lucky in our encounters. The place where we were eating last night (a "Latino" restaurant in Jackson Heights) actually had very good food, our waiter was pleasant, and the atmosphere was nice enough, however it just didn't deliver the goods. On the other hand, Viva El Mariachi, little dive that it is, does. Why is that? Well, that's always the point on this blog isn't it? - We really don't know the answer, but we do  know when it's there and when it isn't. Mariachi is a place that very often has loud Mexican rocanrol, delivered via jukebox, blasting from big speakers at either end of the place, and simultaneously broadcasting an ongoing Spanish language soap-opera on each of the big flat screens that adorn the front and back of the dining room. The food is stunningly good, reasonably priced and nicely presented. The waitresses bemusedly tolerate my bad Spanish, and delights at Georgina's perfect Mexico City accent. There's no host nor hostess, and everyone just chooses a table that they feel comfortable at. Coming from the Southwest, we're always on the lookout for good, authentic Mexican food, and trust me this place is the bomb! Service is quick and friendly and no question about it, Viva El Mariachi is decidedly sincere.

Evaluation: Very sincere

 

www.astoriamexicanrestaurant.com/
3311 Broadway, Long Island City

(718) 545-4039

Abarrotes Gabriel - Authentic Mexican Market - Astoria, Queens, NYC

Don't try to pronounce it unless your Spanish is good, however you don't have to speak the language to go into this tiny little Mexican market and find choice items that all pretty much come directly from that country south of the border. There are shelves and shelves of snacks, yummy, salty, greasy, chile and lime flavored snacks. There are Mexican candies stacked practically to the ceiling, a whole wall of dried chiles, tons of salsas and hot sauces stocked behind the counter, and refrigerator cases full of chorizos (Mexican and Spanish sausages) cheeses, Mexican "crema" (a cross between sour cream and creme fraiche) and sodas. Corn tortillas are waiting in packages by the cash register but no flour tortillas - they just aren't that authentic. The more you know Mexican food, the more you'll like it, but even if you don't know it at all, go in and explore. The caballero who runs the place is always there and is as charming and friendly as can be, even when my husband makes his halting attempts to communicate in Spanish, though the man speaks English quite well.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily Sincere!

  

 Located on Broadway in Astoria between 42nd and 43rd Streets.