Have you ever ordered something, bit into it, and thought, “Whoa, not was I expecting!”? Whether you love a new food or hate it, the element of surprise is part of what makes eating fun. Which is why I wasn’t all that disappointed when I bought a gordita de chicharrón today and came to the realization:
“Not diggin’ it.”
I’ve driven past the unassuming Lupita’s Deli a million times and never knew it was there— the Marlboro sign in the window gives it the look of a convenience store. Wade to the back though and you’ll discover a kitchen that’s serving authentic Mexican food to those in the know. The corn and flour tortillas are filled with traditional favorites (carnitas, chicken, chorizo, steak, lamb); I went for a carnitas taco and a chicken taco.
The shredded chicken was great and so were the cubed bits of pork—salty and marinated and lined with a thin layer of fat. And I loved the spicy salsa verde that came on the side. Perfect for pouring right over the tacos.
But something else had caught my eye in the display case: it was some kind of homemade fried tortilIa stuffed with meat (you can see it on the right side of the pic). “What’s in it?” I asked the friendly server. “Pork,” she said. I asked her what it was called, and I thought she said “Gordita de charron.”
I bit into it expecting a bite of meat and hmm… unusual. I was taken aback by the chewy, gelatinous texture of the filling. Like eating a fried gummy bear.
It wasn’t until I got home later and googled “gordita de charron” that I realized I’d misheard the server— what she actually said was “gordita de chicharrón.” It turns out a gordita de chicharrón is a tortilla stuffed with… pork rinds.
I didn’t get very far on the gordita; it just wasn’t my cup of tea. But I’m sure it was expertly prepared, and I’m glad I tried it. That’s what eating’s about sometimes— rolling the dice and going for the unfamiliar. And now when you visit Lupita’s yourself, you’ll know what’s inside that display case.
Lupita’s Deli
122 Mamaroneck Ave.
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914-381-5003
Related posts
Tags: lupita's deli, mamaroneck, mexican, taco