The Amazing Comida Corrida

I adore comida corrida.

For the past few months, while I have been studying Spanish near my husband's workplace, whenever he asked me what I wanted to eat for comida* (lunch), I would always tell him I wanted to go to my favorite comida corrida restaurant.

Before I get too carried away with the awesome deliciousness of this style of eating, I should explain a few things.  First, comida corrida, literally meaning lunch run, refers to a meal where the courses are brought out successively.  It is more or less the same idea as a fixed price menu (prix fixe), but much cheaper and very, very popular here.

Almost on every street you can find comida corrida places.  Usually they have a sign out advertising their specials or their very inexpensive price ($3 to $8 USD).

Here are a few shoots from my favorite Comida Corrida Restaurant.

This restaurant specializes in coffee, more on that later, and have very strong feelings about fair trade coffee.  So, on the left you can see their "coffee bar."

Agua of the Day: Lime Watermelon

A comida corrida meal typically comes with the fruit water of the day (Aqua Fresca), tortillas or bread, a soup, a rice or pasta, and one main dish, followed by tea, coffee, or dessert.

Here, everyday they serve Chicken Consume and a different soup.  For any broth-based soup in Mexico, I highly recommend adding lime and salsa to taste.  But for a pureed soup, like the one below, we just added some salsa.

Fun fact, in Mexico a creamed soup means pureed, not that a milk product was added to it.

Cream of Bean Soup

 For the rice or pasta dish, I would also recommend adding a little salsa.  It makes it extra delicious.

Rice

For the main courses, there are normally several options, divided among different price points.  This restaurant always has a vegetarian option, as well as, several chicken, meat, and fish options.

Ismael's trusty standby is Carne Asada, while I tend to try something different each time.  This day I had Chicken Thigh in Grape Sauce - an non-traditional but surprisingly delicious take on sweet and salty cooking.

Carne Asada - Grilled Beef

Chicken Thigh in Grape Sauce

Now, we finally, finally made it to the very best part of my meal.   Remember how I said this place was known for coffee?  Well, at the end of the meal you have the choice of dessert, tea, or Cafe de Olla.  Trust me, it is not a hard decision to choose Cafe de Olla everytime (especially since I can persuade Ismael to get the dessert, if it looks good.)

Cafe de Olla is a slight addiction of mine - I am always on the look out for places that are selling it.  It is a traditional type of coffee that is cooked in a pot (olla) with cinnamon sticks and a dark brown sugar called piloncillo. If you like sweet coffee, it is hard to beat a good Cafe de Olla.

Cafe de Olla

Enjoy!
Kim

* I find the word "comida" a bit confusing as it can mean food or lunch.

For those that have to know what the menu said in Spanish...

Menu 2-2-12

Consume (Chicken Soup) or Cream of Bean Soup

Hawaiian Rice or Pasta with Beets

Carne Asada (Grilled Beef)
Muslo en Salsa de Uvas (Chicken Thigh in Grape Sauce)
Cochinita Pibil (Pork)
Tortitas de Ejote (Green Beans and Egg Crustless Quiche)
Milanesa de Pollo o Res (Thin, breaded & fried Chicken or beef)
Pechuga de Pollo Asada (Grilled Chicken Breast)
Strudel de Espinacas (Spinach filled Bread)
Chile Hojaldrano: Queso o Carne (Pepper with Cheese or Beef)
Arrachera (Grilled Beef)
Pescado Asado, Empanizado o a la Menta (Fish Grilled, Breaded or with mint)
Muslo Asado (Grilled Chicken Thigh)

Menu Includes:
- Bread or Tortilla
- Aqua de Sandia-Limon
- Coffee, Tea, or Dessert