San Miguel de Allende
Part 3: Food, a source of pride and passion
By Michael mikeaorr@gma iOl.cror m

View from La Capilla Restaurant at the base of the Parroquia Church

While San Miguel de Allende is well known for its artistic flair and beautiful scenery in and around town, the city is secretly a haven for food enthusiasts. The combination of local Mexican cuisine and the imprint of foreigners on restaurants give San Miguel a perfect balance of culinary options.

It is not difficult to find food upon entering San Miguel as vendors sell everything from fresh fruit to ice cream and candy in the plazas. The fruit is always impressive, stacked high in carts or small tables, with choices unheard of in an American grocery. Morning through night these locals offer hand grown and picked varieties of oranges, melons, pineapples, and kiwi. The colors alone are enough to pique interest.

A perfect snack on a chilly mountain evening can be had all across town but specifically at a small café on Correo called San Augustin. Owned by Margarita Gralia, a famous Argentine actress, the small restaurant offers churros y chocolate. Churros are a simple snack, fried dough drenched in cinnamon and sugar, which are dipped in Mexican hot chocolate. The hot chocolate features pinches of cinnamon and chili powder to give it a flavor unique to Mexico. Adored by locals and visitors alike, the snack draws long lines of sweet- toothed customers.

Photos by Morgen Young Romano's Italian Restaurant on Zacateros (the writer's most absolute favorite.

Despite being a smaller city in the center of the country, San Miguel features restaurants that offer foods from all over the world. Most impressive are the Italian restaurants ranging from distinction in hotels to hole- in- the- wall intimacy.

Bacco, La Grotta and Romano's sit within a quarter mile of one another, each offering generous portions in quite different atmospheres. The food is made with the zeal and purpose of a chef offering his creations in the comfort of his own home. The pastas and sauces are homemade, making for a memorable meal one does not typically find in the States.

Of course, the most prevalent options are found in the Mexican restaurants.

El Pegaso Restaurant on Reloj

Featuring ranges of flavors not found outside of the country, the quality of food and pride in the cooking are unmatched north of the border. A typical breakfast could includes strips of freshly fried tortillas, Manchego cheese and 'mild' red salsas that water the eyes far more than the description would indicate.

Lunch spots like Ten Ten Pie, a café on the corner of Cuadrante and Cuna Allende, tacos are the specialty. Marinated steak slices or smoked swordfish fill homemade corn tortillas. Other local restaurants, like La Aborada on Diaz de Sollano, feature enchiladas soaked in salsa verde with guacamole for the gringos.

Throughout San Miguel de Allende, food is a source of pride and passion. From simple and local to foreign and complex, the options for good and filling meals are almost boundless. Providing exquisite additions to the tastes and smells of the city, San Miguel captures of all the senses.

La Grotta Italian Restaurant on Cuadrante El Tomato Organic Restaurant on Mesones