My beloved burrito

For 12 years now, since leaving Sandy Eggo, the first thing I do upon visiting there and the last thing I do upon returning from there is getting myself a carne asade burrito con queso (y tres toquitos con guacamole y salsa); that is, when it's possible and convenient. It's just something that I find myself missing being away. It's also something that I'd ask SD friends visiting me in SF to pick up and bring to me. Shame I can't do that now, the flight's too long and it's harder to get people to visit cross-coast. Luckily, after close to a year of abstinence, I was able to indulge myself with several of these on my recent trip home for Thanksgiving.

Burrito?!!?? You can get that anywhere right?

No, I'm speaking of a special species of burrito available only in southern Cali. And even then only at those special dive-looking taco shops that litter the suburban landscape, typically open really late and (formerly) with a name ending in '-erto'. Roberto's was the first, then the others followed: Royberto's, Alberto's, Umberto's, Jilberto's, Ramberto's, Noelberto's... it was a joke at one point. The newer places seem to have divested themselves of the trend. Most of the original Roberto's shops no longer exist and were replaced with a suitable substitute with exactly the same menu.

Their burrito's are solid large torpedo's of meat with guacamole and salsa. Tastes good going down and sits in the stomach like a rock and often requires convenient access to a comfort room within hours of digestion; especially when one has not had it in quite some time. Ah the glory. Nearly the perfect junkfood. Healthfood be damned. And they are cheap and plentiful!!! Outside of SoCal, most burrito's I encounter are smaller and contain mostly cheap filler (rice and beans) with just a sliver of meat, cost twice as much, and often require that you pay EXTRA for guacamole. I have found places where these other varieties are good in their own right, but deep down they are not what I want and expect out of a burrito. No, the burrito's I have in mind are mostly a Northern Baja California phenom and hence can't truly be called Mexican food either.

In Berzerkely, I used to say something to the effect of:

If I had any business sense at all, I'd open a San Diego Burrito shop on Telegraph, ship up some cooks and make a killing off just the SoCal students alone... but more likely from everyone wishing a tasty break from all the wannabe-health-conscious shops that litter the streets.

I still think that to some degree out here. However, I sometimes have difficulty explaining this burrito concept to others who had not partaken in the sinful indulgence. They just don't get it. "What? No rice and beans? That's not a burrito." Or they thought of Taco Bell as Mexican food. (Yes they do exist, in droves!) Heck, some even considered burrito's more healthful food, probably in relation to burgers and such. Blows my mind sometimes. Most of my friends have had to put a limit on the number of these things one can consume for the health risk. Myself, when I'm on vacation, I'm allowed my vices.

But I've since grown understanding and tolerant. I do recognize that my notion of what constitutes a burrito is in fact the minority opinion. Most cities have their peculiar brand of late night post-drinking food. In Belgium it was fries with mayo. In Holland it was Turkish kebabs. In Oakland it was Chinese food. In Boston it's grinders. And in good ol' San Diego it was these burritos. Maybe that's where my love of these things eminate from, the association with those late nights out with friends. Nah, they just taste good.