Tacos and the World Around the Corner

We live in a typical suburban neighborhood where kids bike to school past lush green lawns and the crossing guards know them all by name. But just a dozen blocks down the street, our suburban island of colonial houses with wide front porches gives way to gas stations and fast food chains.

I love the reality of our location and the fact that you can't tune out the rest of the world. It gives us quick access to Chicago and all of its museums and restaurants, and it also provides some pretty amazing experiences within a brisk walking distance.

My favorite taco joint, Don Alfredo's, is tucked away out of sight behind some Citgo gas pumps. I pumped many tanks of gas there before even noticing it. I never would have guessed that the tiny restaurant served up homemade tortillas filled with freshly grilled skirt steak, delicately marinated chicken, barbecued and fried pork. Everything is served with vibrant tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and avocado. The green and red sauces available on each table pack a gentle yet complex heat that thrill my mouth.

Juliette and I go there at least once a week to get our fill of tacos, rice and beans. She loves to hear me stumble through my order in Spanish and shouts, "Gracias!" Seeing the Dora vocabulary in action never loses its entertainment value. It's a whole different world of tastes, sounds and smells, just minutes from our house.

Happy Wordful, Five Minutes Wordless, and Way-back wednesday.