CHANFLES!

Did the excursion thru LH seeking out different plates of Tortas de Camaron fizzle out? Yes, I think it did. I missed out on the last Friday, in which I had decided to go back to El Huarachito (screw the taste tests!) determined that it was time to eat something good by which to remember the season. But I was was sidetracked and sadly ended up eating something unrelated. Come the Monday after the Resurrection, I’m walking around and noticed a sign at Jessicas (2425 Daly St.) announcing Tortas de Camaron, I go in and ask and sure enough, they still have them on the menu, I hope they’re not sitting around since Friday. After I placed my order, sat down, and looked around, I realized this was a Salvadorean restaurant and I began doubting what I was going to get to eat, maybe some shrimp on a loaf of bread?

Turns out, they had the same dish in mind, though they did it quite differently. The most obvious difference is that their version had soft boiled potatoes in it, that was quite odd and interesting, but not necessarily good. The tortas were also peculiar, as if they had been one big torta and had been cut down to a smaller size, so they didn’t have the usual shape, but they tasted okay. The sauce didn’t have the bright red color of all the other ones, it was of a more yellowish tint. The nopales made a presence. Though it lacked any really outstanding qualities, it was a decent-but-different dish, at least it wasn’t as bland as Glorias. I liked that they included some freshly made tasty tortillas, though they were a bit thicker, similar to a pupusa texture. And I liked that within the short time I was there at least 4 other Salvadoreans came in to buy some food, this place appears to have it’s commited clientele. The food was unremarkable but I’d like to have a reason to come back, I think I’ll try the pupusas next.

So that ends our temporary tour, the tortitas are going into hibernation and will be out of sight until the next Lent period. Since you made the mistake of missing out on this dish, you can now study the pictures I’ve left behind and begin to contemplate if your spirit will be strong enough to handle such a boorish dish next time it comes around. I have my doubts pero todo es posible.

Camaron que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente!

EL CHAVO!

Glorias Restaurant (2657 Pasadena Ave. 323.221.3972) seems like a perfect place to eat Cuaresma food, this place is a religious establishment to the core, it just doubles as an eatery. They’ve maintained an outdoor public altar with La Virgen for quite some time but it was much more interesting before they got rid of the 3-D image of Jesus that would slowly wink as you passed. That was simultaneously creepy and hilarious. Blinking Jesus has since gone to a better place but filling his sandals quite nicely is the painting of Pope John Paul II kissing the hand of La Virgen: these images are reserved only for the Super-Catholics. I wonder if this religiosity stems from the fact that Diego’s Tacos across the street happens to reside at the demonic address of 2666, the neighbor of the beast surely needs to take precautions!

Despite the sanctity, Glorias let me down. Their Tortas de Camaron are lacking one crucial necessity: FLAVOR! The shell for a decent meal have all been collected properly, but they just seem to have forgotten that one last step that turns sustenance into a dish. The tortitas were of a decent texture, but you could barely taste the shrimp essence. Worse, the red chile sauce was utterly bland, completely devoid of flavor. I found myself adding salt to the meal (something I never do) to try and give it a kick, which sadly did not work. No point in going on about it, this meal was bland. It’s quite unfortunate since Glorias got some extra points for throwing in a simple but tasty lenteja soup and closing off the meal with a serving of capirotada, a bread pudding dessert.

Capirotada is a traditional dish during Cuaresma and though it was pleasing to see them include it with the meal, this one wasn’t to my liking, but i give them some points for the effort. But not even these two extras could salvage this plateful of mediocrity.
Oh Glorias! I want to like your food, I really do. You have one of the quaintest eateries around, all small and cozy with just the right amount of kookiness to make the experience interesting. But c’mon already, un poquito mas gloria a la comida and then maybe you’ll have something that could truly be worthy of praise. Until then, you’ll only be known as the food convent across from the devilish tacos everyone else seems to crave. EL CHAVO!