LOS SERAPES

Mexican food, done properly, is a mini vacation South. When Two was a kid her parents took her to Chi Chi's for Mexican. Two always ordered the Chimichanga...a deeply deep fried melange of chicken and cheese and rice...no wonder Two shopped in the plus size department at Sears. When Two was a kid her Midwestern born and raised mom brought home a new product made by Old El Paso that provided all of the ingredients for a "taco". Two still remembers being sick to her stomach after that meal. Then Two went to Mexico and had real Mexican food in the Yucatan. She was served Mole that someone's grandma taught them to make and green "gravy" and red "gravy" pooling all over a plate of homemade refried beans and rice with a cooked to a state of no cutting necessary flank steak shoveled into the mouth with a homemade tortilla, followed by flan. Finding that food is not at all impossible here in the Delaware Valley, however finding the deep fried Chi Chi variety is equally easy and not always easy to avoid. Los Serapes in Horsham did a great job of transporting Two to a Mexico to which she had been and One to the one he imagines and will someday experience. The menu is typical. Guacamole, Seviche, Empanadas, Flautas...all the dishes you will recognize. What sets this place apart from the Chi Chi's of the world is that the vegetables are all fresh. The seafood is fresh. The dishes are creative. There is someone cooking in the kitchen who understands traditional Mexican food and at the same time enjoys adding a creative touch. One had Cocktail Seviche, which consisted of grouper, baby shrimp and scallops marinated and cooked in lime and orange juices. The ingredients were marinated in a tangy tomato sauce with olives, avocado and cilantro. It was served with homemade corn tortilla chips. Very good. As a main course One had the mole. It was excellent. It was homemade. Authentic. Two had the Carne Asada “Estilo Tampiquena”...grilled Filet Mignon strips accompanied by spicy cheese enchiladas, rice, re fried black beans, mild rajas poblanas, guacamole and homemade pico d’gallo. It was wonderful as well. Along the way One and Two sampled sipping Tequila from the Tequila menu. There is something about a really good tequila that can transport the sipper right to Mexico. Of course that same tequila can transport the sipper right to a hangover, so be careful with this menu. Oh. The restaurant is...yes...in a little strip mall. The quaint decor doesn't start until you get inside, but once there you will enjoy a mini Mexican vacation.