Friday, January 28, 2011

McALLEN'S QUINTA MAZATLAN AND KOKO'S





















The first of many outdoor experiences occurred at Quinta Mazatlan, an historic home and nature center. This historic adobe home. One room has bird paintings due to the site being one of the area's bird and butterfly watching experiences. We loved seeing the estate, halls and courtyard. Stories were told to us about the former owner before venturing outdoors to view the rest of the property.

We saw some birds and butterflies but not as much as if we would have come out there just the right time. It looked as if grapefruit shells were used as bird feeders.

Esther and Eunice spotted a couple of turtles and insisted on getting their picture taken with them.

Lunch was at an authentic Mexican restaurant called Koko's. We met owner Albert Suarez and did a tasting. Three salsas came out...green, the usual red, and another that had roasted jalepeno peppers. I asked how hot it was and Albert said that it wasn't too hot. Now, it wasn't Albert's fault in telling me that as I'm sure that anyone used to eating Mexican spices food would probably find it mild. I didn't and it burned my whole mouth. I ribbed Albert about it the rest of the meal.

In no order of what we had: flour tortilla quesadilla with white cheese; enchiladas, one of which was filled with chicken and topped with salsa verde with gaucamole and sour cream; sizzling fajita plate using Angus beef skirt steak; some empanandas; shrimp marinated in a garlic butter sauce; chicken flautas; chile with mole sauce; carne guisada - stewed beef; flan; sweet fried tortilla chips served with a caramel sauce; flan. The tortillas are hand made...not using a machine. Best Mexican food I've come across. I'm told that a mole sauce combines chili, peanuts, peanut butter and melting chocolate.

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