Queso April 8, 2009
Queso is the Spanish word for cheese. But in America, Queso acts more like a proper noun and means “delicious white cheese from Nuevo Laredo melted and eaten by dipping even more delicious chips into into it.” Look up the word ‘Queso’ in Webster’s and that will be the definition that you read. (I realize that Atlantans feel extremely passionate about their Queso and the mad-shout-out for Nuevo Laredo is considered fighting words to some.)
WARNING! Mexican Queso DOES NOT translate into Spanish Queso. This is a tragedy.
There is clear racial tension in Spain towards Mexicans. As a stereotype, Spanish people flat out don’t like Mexicans so they don’t embrace their Queso the way we do. I don’t understand this because I am of the opinion that there should be American amnesty towards all Mexicans hopping the border into the US because Mexicans brought us Queso. And thank god they did!
Wells was going to die a dramatic death if he didn’t get a burrito and Queso so we ventured off to the lone Mexican Restaurant in Nerja, El Cielito Lindo. We had an underwhelming meal and Wells didn’t even order the burrito after all. But the most uncanny thing about the whole meal was that is was outrageously expensive! We could NOT believe it but the Mexican Restaurant was one of our more expensive meals in Nerja.
To battle our cravings, last night I made homemade beef fajitas with red and green peppers and onions; homemade guacamole; homemade pico de gallo; and homemade whole wheat tortillas. Did I mention homemade?
Kate totally forgot to mention that the host at El Cielito Lindo was wearing an obnoxious fake mustache that made him look like a mashup of Groucho Marks and Jose Cuervo. He was also running around pounding guests on the head with some house liquor shot and then slamming in on the table for you to drink and follow up with a shout of “ariba!” or something like that. Did we mention this turned out to be one of the more expensive joints in town?
This reminds me of the time that I went into that Spanish restaurant in Mexico and all of the waiters were wearing white leather boots and kept making everyone eat olives.
So did this Mexican restaurant have queso or “Queso”?
OK – so it was expensive! You are in Spain!! But really – how much was it???