Now that the weather has turned cold, this morning I thought it a perfect day for a bowl of hearty Pozole for lunch.
Always interested in the possibility of discovering a great new place, I searched Yelp for "The Best Pozole in Reno/Sparks", after reading the star-studded Yelp review, I chose #1 rated Mi Ranchito. I love the name, "My Little Ranch"...
Very nice, clean little place, attentive wait staff. Free (sack) chips & salsa. Nice plate of sliced radishes, diced onions, chopped cilantro, dried oregano, special dark red salsa, halved limes, shredded lettuce (should be cabbage...) and a plate of crispy Tostado rounds for the Pozole. Excellent presentation except for the limp shredded lettuce substitute for crunchy shredded cabbage.
The Pozole broth, with less Hominy than I am used to, was quite good. The plentiful, large Pork Meat pieces were overcooked, dry, lacking sabor (flavor) and difficult to cut into bite size pieces with the good sized soup spoon.
Maybe from batch-to-batch, their Pork Meat is juicier, tender and more tasty; mine was not. The price of $15.00 a bowl in a neat & clean, but hole-in-the-wall, low traffic, low rent location is too high!
If properly seasoned and cooked Pork Meat had rounded out the dish I might justify the price and consider going back. Overcooked, dry meat is a bummer.
If I were running this restaurant, I would have removed the overcooked Pork Meat from the very good broth in the particular batch they were serving from, disposed of it, and replaced it with properly seasoned and cooked, tender, juicy, flavorful Pork Meat.
Preparing great Pozole, as with any somewhat complex dish, requires talent, and discernment in determining whether or not to serve it. Good chefs/cooks don't serve less than first rate dishes.
Pozole at the Tacos El Rey's Sutro Street location continues to be my preference, it is excellent visit-to-visit ($12.99), I should not have varied today. Family run, in operation in the same location for over 35 years. Half a block North of Oddie Blvd., West side of the Street in a Strip Mall 100% or nearly 100% occupied by Mexican merchants of various endeavors. Real Deal.
There are good Pozole recipe videos on YouTube. I watched three of them, becoming more and more hungry before heading out to Mi Ranchito...
I was looking forward to a first-rate experience. Alas....
Hunger pangs drive me into an eating establishment, my taste buds gauge.
Two great Supermercados in Reno for your Homemade Pozole ingredients:
Carniceria La Chiquita-- Northwest corner of Neil Road & Peckham Lane
Marketon-- Northeast corner of S. Wells & Capitol Hill Avenues
A smaller, very good Mercado:
Carniceria Tejaro-- 4753 N. Virginia Street, across from the Bonanza Casino
Bueno Appetito Amigas y Amigos.
Thanks for reading.
Saludo! read more