ediblegarnish: dingy and uncomfortable

This an appreciation post for those no frills establishments with "trash" food that hits just right when you're cold and hungry and just want something hella salty.

The first half of my trek back to Arizona as an adult consisted of crowding on small tables, eating with a draft around our ankles, and sticky surfaces. With a few moments of nature appreciation in between!

Finally tried fry bread at Fry Bread House, and we all concluded it was like a big round youtiao. You can get it in taco form, but I've always been a dipping gal. I went with the green chili beef stew at the cashier's recommendation so I could swirl my pieces of frybread in the thick stew or top a chunk of beef on a square of frybread - a real choose your own adventure.

The next food item to check off the list was a Sonoran hot dog at El Caprichoso. There are a lot of food.. tents in Arizona. Not as exposed as a food stand, not devoid of seating like a traveling food truck, but not as sheltered as a brick and mortar of course. We drove by many set up in the middle of empty parking lots with no other source of entertainment around, but it doesn't matter, we here for the hot dogs.

Sonoran hotdogs for the table with everything on top - beans, guac, cotija, tomatoes, onions, jalepenos, mayo, mustard, ketchup - sandwiched between a Hawaiian-roll like bun, with a charred pepper on the side. I'm also a toppings gal, and this hot dog just about covers it all.

To start the day in Tuscon, we found Barista Del Barrio, which was a brick and mortar stand in the middle of a residential neighborhood with a couple alcoves of patio furniture seating.

Go for the hocho latte (horchata + espresso) and chorizo breakfast burrito (to which I added green chili) because they give you two minis instead of one giant boy and the salsa was my favorite.

We wolfed them down in the car before goin' 'sploring.

In the grocery stores I found Minute Maid Hibiscus juices and Hormel canned mini beef tamales and commiserated with Jennie about why these aren't readily available things for us in California?? Or are they and I just never seen???

Well anyways, that found me not being able to resist a prickly pear iced tea when wandering around MSA Annex. I think I prefer hibiscus for the extra tartness.

Quick birria taco from La Cabana Del Bambino to prefer for cactus spotting at Saguaro. This was yet another shack-in-the-middle-of-a-parking-lot type place where you can get tacos, tortas, and hot dogs. Order at the taco shack and cross the vast parking lot to the other trailer to pick up your hot dog. Maybe spot some birds nesting in the trailer truck wheels. Ponder the VIP window. VIP hot dog service? I don't know, but it's fun. Apparently the hot dogs were not as good at the first place, so maybe go for the birria.

Though if you really want a good plate of shredded meat - the cabeza plate at Taqueria Juanitos was something I could mush my face into. There was a request to find a dining establishment with a restroom, so we stepped it up a notch. Go for the combo plate and you'll get the rice and beans and enough meat and fixins for four tacos. Also a large cup of pina colada agua fresca because there's a bathroom now. But of course the overhead lighting is still dingy.

Menudo was planted in our heads on a Wednesday when we saw all these places only offer it on the weekends. So our first stop back in Phoenix on a Friday was Menuderia Guanajuato where you can select your size of menudo. The waitress made it seem like medium was reasonable for lunch but damn it was huge. How did the ladies next to us finish a large bowl... EACH? Menudo definitely does not smell good, but omg how I love the chewy silky texture. The soup was so savory and flavorful and you get the option to add hominy (uh yes duh).

I took half of it home to eat on our last day with my best interpretation of cheese crisps (open faced quesadilla?) with the leftover tortillas. MMMMMM it really hit the spot.

Fame was peak trendy brunch vibes, and post menudo I didn't need a full meal, but damn I love a good cup of soupy beans. Not exactly refried, but this side of stewy pinto beans with a giant (accidental?) chunk of onion and topped with cheese and served with thick tortilla chips is the definition of comfort. I didn't need the house rosemary potatoes, but I did enjoy the hibiscus honey limeade.