I drove my brother to the doctor this morning and afterwards he took me to
lunch. He took me to a small place called Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana. It's
a cross between a taqueria and a torteria. The man who opened the place
("Pepe") is from Mexico City. After 24 years in Memphis he got sick of
waiting for someone to open a place like he'd find back home so he did it
himself. It's basically a Mexican sandwich & taco place.

"Pepe" does not get food deliveries from any vendors, not even produce.
Every morning he shops at Hispanic markets and even grocery stores,
selecting only the best of whatever he can find. They have an in-house
baker who makes all their breads fresh throughout the day for the
"sandwiches". They make their own tortillas and chips.

They have a set menu but if he ("Pepe") couldn't find something of high
enough quality that morning to prepare a regular dish, they tell you when
you order it's not available and make other menu suggestions. They also
have daily specials.

My brother ordered one of the specials: grilled chicken tacos with mole
sauce (there's that sauce again!). The chicken was shredded and mixed with
the sauce; topped with grated white cheese (Oaxaca?) and thinly sliced
avocado served in 5 little teeny soft white corn tortillas which they call
tortillitas. There are freshly shredded salad greens on the side, also
lightly sprinkled with cheese.

I was going to order the pork tamales but (here's where they didn't have
any) the man said, "We have some really wonderful chicken tamales right now,
freshly made." Okey doke, I'll have those. Two tamales topped with a
lightly spicy avocado/tomatillo sauce. Wonderful!

After that I had some errands to run. Decided I wasn't going to cook
dinner, either. I stopped at the little store down the street since they
still serve their lunch buffet until 1:30. Dinner will be the big meal
(*if* I can eat all of it). Country fried steak in gravy, mashed potatoes,
green beans and a cornbread muffin.

Jill