FINDING THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AT LAST
Taking a walk around the area, you would not expect to find more than a mom and pop shop. However, once you reach the sign for Forti's Mexican Elder Restaurant, you see what looks like a palace on an estate. Walk closer and it becomes more real, like the first time you walked into Carlos & Mickeys and saw the rich culture unfold. Through wooden double doors, you enter and see dark tiles, wide open spaces sharing the sunlight, and fountains full of water. Look up and find anything from parrots to balconies to pieces of art. There is so much to take in and yet, you feel at home. All I know was that when I went there and saw everything, I felt like el jefe (the Boss). When I tried the food, I ate like a king. So please follow me and I will tell you more.
The FOOD: PLATES WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD
Chips & Salsa: A BOWL OF FIRE AND EARTH
Housemade chips and salsa submerged with a sea of jalapenos. The chips are fresh, crispy, and clean-tasting without being too oily. I definitely appreciated that there were majority whole pieces that could deliver a surge of their rich salsa. The salsa had enough heat to stimulate appetite and were addicting to the last drop. Each scoop gave a generous helping of your daily recommended dose of jalapenos.
Tampiquena Steak - Arrachera Style with Enchilada: TURNING YOUR TASTEBUDS ROYAL, NOTHING LESS FOR A KING
After being blessed with heat and warmth, this plate was delivered piping hot. The aromas of grilled beefy steak, onions, and peppers were balanced out by the rich mole sauce covering the enchilada and the fresh, housemade tortillas. These aromas captured my senses, but the overall vivacious colors of the dish won my eyes and much more. The Arrachera Steak was a perfect medium rare, soft and chewy, and splashing with juices with each cut. The beefiness and fattiness of the steak complimented the texture and contrasted well with the earthy grilled vegetables. The fresh guacamole with tomatoes and jalapenos refreshed the tongue and was balanced by the bold cheese enchilada with rich mole sauce. Refried beans topped with cheese offered substance to the meal. The tortillas came hot to the point where I had trouble holding onto them! Each one was chewy and held everything together without ripping. You immediately are immersed in its corn aroma. This must be what heaven feels like. Overall, everything worked together and balanced each other out.
The VERDICT: TRUST THE MEXICAN ELDERS (Check out their daily lunch specials! PIC INCLUDED)
Trust the Mexican Elders and they will show you spectacular Mexican cuisine. From a little street in El Paso grew a hole in the wall for Mexican food and good times. Upon entering, your eyes are flooded with a rich history and culture, like a dream unfolded onto a Shakespearean set. The Tampiquena Steak - Arrachera Style with Enchilada is a perfect match of grilled, tender steak and vegetables with refreshing housemade guacamole and a rich, complex cheese enchilada. Each bite offered intense beefiness for meat lovers. The enchilada offered rich cheesiness with a bold, rich mole sauce. Housemade tortillas were piping hot with a fresh corn aroma. The housemade chips were whole and not broken, while the salsa did not skimp on the jalapenos and offered the perfect balance of heat and addiction. I will be back to relive the dream of culture, atmosphere, and good food; because even after today, I still do not believe that I had eaten in such a perfect place. read more