On Monday, I announced a challenge: Go somewhere in your town this week that you’ve never been before, find something delicious, and cook with it.
Yesterday, I went somewhere I’ve never been before: Three carnicerias within a mile of my apartment, in search of beef cheeks (aka “cachetes de res”). I’m ashamed to say that I had to look up all three locations on my iPhone, because not only had I not been to any of these excellently priced grocery stores, I have been unconsciously ignoring their existence. I’ve been driving right past them for three years.
It’s amazing to me how separated I, as a middle-class white chick in Orange County, can be from my Latino neighbors without even trying. I confess that venturing into the carnicerias today made me nervous because I felt so out of place. Small children in the aisles stopped bashing their miniature shopping carts together long enough to stare at me with open mouths and wide eyes. I felt like almost as much of an oddity a half mile from my house as I did halfway around the world, with some of the same challenges. Like traveling in Tuscany, I went in knowing a handful of words, but lacked confidence in any of them. I was prepared to mime what I wanted by pointing to my cheeks if my pronunciation failed, but “cachetes” were not to be found.
I did find hooves the size of my head.
I also found something that translated to “pressed foot meat” which looked tempting.
I found out that I remembered far more high school Spanish than I knew I possessed, and was darn proud of my rolled “R’s” when saying “Gracias” profusely to the patient butchers.
And, I discovered that the prices are way better than at Ralphs, let me tell you.
I did not take pictures, because when you’re the only white person in an entire grocery store of Latinos – taking photos doesn’t seem like a super great idea. I didn’t want anyone to think I was up to something nefarious, like an expose on where they get their hoof meat. I just wanted to find an elusive cut of beef.
Who knew that venturing out within one mile of my apartment could feel like traveling in another country? I have to say, I’m looking forward to going back. Maybe try one of those giant hooves. Anyone know what to do with a hoof? Sadly, my quest did not result in a beef cheek, so on the theory that a beef cheek is a very lean, stringy and inexpensive cut, I went with 2 pounds of beef chuck for my ragu.
The Ragu Report will be posted shortly. It’s slow-cooking in my Dutch oven as I type.
Where have you been wandering lately? Tell me in the comments, and don’t forget to join in WanderFood Wednesday’s weekly link party!
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