I don't know if it was because it was the month for Cinco de Mayo or what, but I had the craziest craving for Mexican food! Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) celebrates the 1862 victory the Mexican army had over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861 – 1867). This is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, said to be the most significant national patriotic holiday in Mexico, which is celebrated on September 16th. Either way, I say...a reason for celebration!
I felt it was my duty to commemorate this special occasion, May 5th! However, it was also my calling to celebrate my friend's birthday – May 2nd, or otherwise known as, "Debbie's Dos de Mayo". So, true to my mission and in need to satisfy the appetite, I respectfully celebrated May 2nd and May 5th by having dinner with friends on May 3rd at La Quebrada.
La Quebrada is located at 50 N. Spring Street, Elgin, IL (entrance on Highland). The interesting thing about this building, is that it is home of the original Gail Borden Library. You know - the building that was named for a man named Gail who never lived in Elgin, nor did he ever donate any money to Elgin, nor the library. However, Gail's stepsons, who were residents of Elgin, purchased and donated the Scofield Mansion (the building where La Quebrada is housed) for the location of the new library. Their only request was that the library forever and always be called the Gail Borden Public Library.
Now, the library has moved on to much bigger digs, and the Scofield Mansion has taken on many different transformations in the mean time, and I must say that I after dining at La Quebrada, I am very happy that the building is now home to this Mexican restaurant that creates authentic Mexican cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. I was not too familiar with La Quebrada, but I was looking forward to the new experience!
When you walk in, the setting is one of subdued lighting and the night I was there, it was on the quiet side (well, until my group of friends arrived)! The room is filled with tables and banquet styled chairs, and I have heard that on the weekends it gets a great crowd that fills all those chairs! I noticed that there were not the typical terra cotta colors throughout, or the Aztec sun, cactus, or sombrero adorning a wall or even a waterfall in the middle of the room; however, I was just fine with that. The only atmosphere that I need is one that consists of good friends (check), good service (check) and good food and drink (check, check)!
La Quebrada offers daily specials, like their Bistec en Chile de Arbol, which is spicy and hot! Or chicken with mole sauce and Tacos Arroz y Frijoles (Tacos with rice and beans). These dishes are all very special, but my favorites were simple - the guacamole, which was made fresh...The salsa which was served warm (great on the chips)...And the burrito that was stuffed with steak and melted cheese that guaranteed every bite to be flavorful and moist. It was fantastic and so big that it was my lunch the next day!
One of my friends ordered the enchiladas en mole. The comment on this dish was, "Great mole sauce! Some of the best I've had anywhere!" Two other friends ordered the steak fajitas and, again, there was such a generous serving, the meal was "good enough for dinner and two more meals. And all for a very reasonable price!" Another friend had a steak torta. A torta is a Mexican sandwich served on a sandwich roll called telera. And the report back, La Quebrada's steak torta, is, "Awesome because of the light bread and tastiness. It is the king of sandwiches!"
Now, these dishes were all fantastico and delicioso, however, I must be honest here – The meal would not have been well rounded without the accompaniment of a perfect margarita! There is nothing like the first sip of a perfectly shaken margarita that is served on the rocks. La Quebrada makes the perfect hand-crafted, taste-tested, ultimately refreshing margaritas!
For more information on La Quebrada, call 847-622-7970, or just stop in for authentic Mexican food not far from home!
I don't know if it was because it was the month for Cinco de Mayo or what, but I had the craziest craving for Mexican food! Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) celebrates the 1862 victory the Mexican army had over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861 – 1867). This is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, said to be the most significant national patriotic holiday in Mexico, which is celebrated on September 16th. Either way, I say...a reason for celebration!
I felt it was my duty to commemorate this special occasion, May 5th! However, it was also my calling to celebrate my friend's birthday – May 2nd, or otherwise known as, "Debbie's Dos de Mayo". So, true to my mission and in need to satisfy the appetite, I respectfully celebrated May 2nd and May 5th by having dinner with friends on May 3rd at La Quebrada.
La Quebrada is located at 50 N. Spring Street, Elgin, IL (entrance on Highland). The interesting thing about this building, is that it is home of the original Gail Borden Library. You know - the building that was named for a man named Gail who never lived in Elgin, nor did he ever donate any money to Elgin, nor the library. However, Gail's stepsons, who were residents of Elgin, purchased and donated the Scofield Mansion (the building where La Quebrada is housed) for the location of the new library. Their only request was that the library forever and always be called the Gail Borden Public Library.
Now, the library has moved on to much bigger digs, and the Scofield Mansion has taken on many different transformations in the mean time, and I must say that I after dining at La Quebrada, I am very happy that the building is now home to this Mexican restaurant that creates authentic Mexican cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. I was not too familiar with La Quebrada, but I was looking forward to the new experience!
When you walk in, the setting is one of subdued lighting and the night I was there, it was on the quiet side (well, until my group of friends arrived)! The room is filled with tables and banquet styled chairs, and I have heard that on the weekends it gets a great crowd that fills all those chairs! I noticed that there were not the typical terra cotta colors throughout, or the Aztec sun, cactus, or sombrero adorning a wall or even a waterfall in the middle of the room; however, I was just fine with that. The only atmosphere that I need is one that consists of good friends (check), good service (check) and good food and drink (check, check)!
La Quebrada offers daily specials, like their Bistec en Chile de Arbol, which is spicy and hot! Or chicken with mole sauce and Tacos Arroz y Frijoles (Tacos with rice and beans). These dishes are all very special, but my favorites were simple - the guacamole, which was made fresh...The salsa which was served warm (great on the chips)...And the burrito that was stuffed with steak and melted cheese that guaranteed every bite to be flavorful and moist. It was fantastic and so big that it was my lunch the next day!
One of my friends ordered the enchiladas en mole. The comment on this dish was, "Great mole sauce! Some of the best I've had anywhere!" Two other friends ordered the steak fajitas and, again, there was such a generous serving, the meal was "good enough for dinner and two more meals. And all for a very reasonable price!" Another friend had a steak torta. A torta is a Mexican sandwich served on a sandwich roll called telera. And the report back, La Quebrada's steak torta, is, "Awesome because of the light bread and tastiness. It is the king of sandwiches!"
Now, these dishes were all fantastico and delicioso, however, I must be honest here – The meal would not have been well rounded without the accompaniment of a perfect margarita! There is nothing like the first sip of a perfectly shaken margarita that is served on the rocks. La Quebrada makes the perfect hand-crafted, taste-tested, ultimately refreshing margaritas!
For more information on La Quebrada, call 847-622-7970, or just stop in for authentic Mexican food not far from home!
