Day 5: Carnitas Guanajuato

Okay, I’d like to start out this one by giving a big "Porque?” to the owners of Brazas Brazilian Grill on Independence. Check this out: 1) You own one of maybe three Brazilian places in Charlotte; 2) It’s the World Cup! 3) You’re obviously in it, and, again, obviously, you’ve got good odds to win; 4) It’s 2:30 on your first game day, and the Brazil game is on; 6) You’re closed after lunch until dinner hours!!! 7) I’ll see you later in the month.

So, high school drama queen and Goles y Frijoles newbie, Dortch, and I walked to the Mexican place I had passed in the parking lot, Carnitas Guanajuato. I’m guessing Guanajuato is a region of Mexico. [Ed: ?] Only gringos in the place—always a good sign. We were seated by the man destined to be our waiter from the beginning of time, a tall Mexican with an implication of a moustache on his upper lip and a tenuous grasp of English so comical Dortch and I initially thought we were the victims of a hidden camera show, i.e.:

Dortch: “I’ll have a margarita.”

Waiter: “Water?”

We soon found out that Carnitas doesn’t serve liquor and started in on the Coronas, but not before getting hit up with chips and a record four condiments: two salsas, hot sauce, and pico de gallo. Now, I’m aware of the hyperbole with which yesterday’s green salsa was described when I tell you that Carnitas’ bests it. If Taqueria Mexico’s was a ten, this so-thick-it’s-nearly-spreadable verde goes to eleven.

Back to the star of the show:

Me (in Spanish): “What’s the best thing on the menu?”

Waiter (in English): “Many things are very well. But for this moment…una torta…de cabeza.

So, kids, that’s the story of how your grandpa came to eat a cow’s head sandwich. And the waiter was right! At that moment in time, a Monday, watching a 2:30 pm World Cup game, I couldn’t have imagined a better means of delighting taste buds and filling stomach. It’s as if philly cheese steaks actually lived up to the hype awarded them. Such is the essence of a Carnitas Guanajuato torta.

I’ll be back because, in the words of our waiter, “Next time, I invite you tacos.”

The Score: Mexcellent