Sabor

Ryan and I have found this great little Mexican place not too far from our house. We first went there about a month ago when I was feeling the combination of wanting to eat melted cheese (does that mood hit everybody or is it just me?) and wanting to venture out more in our neighborhood.

There's this stretch of street that has at least 25 Mexican restaurants on it...all of them looking unique in their own way...all of them small businesses. So it's hard to determine which one is THE ONE you're going to try. We decided to go for the one with the bright paint job and old diner counter.

The food was great...fresh...generous portions...creative yet traditional...everything I really wanted. So last night we went back for our second visit. This time they recognized us and treated us more like regulars. I realized then that the place is owned by two people in their early thirties (and to me that's young and wonderful). They're making the horchata from scratch. They're starting the beans from a soak. He's making up citrus marinates for the pork. It was then that I felt, "This is our place!"

I don't know if everybody is like that...I guess maybe they are, take the theme song from Cheers, for example. But I loooove finding that new special place where I not only love what they're selling but I want to support them in their success as well. I do it with my hair dresser, I do it with my Mexican food, I do it with my sushi & Thai. To me, there's nothing better than seeing my money going to support someone else's dream, their passion and their hard work.

Maybe I'll think about finally signing up for the fresh vegetable boxes from the local farmers with that same idea. Maybe that will make me fall in love with brussel sprouts the way I fell in love with Sabor Michoacan's horchata.