If you’re a sandwich lover, you definitely need to check out the torta. So what is a torta? Basically, it’s a Mexican sandwich, which may or may not have come about due to French influences. In fact, the history of the torta is rather sketchy.

There is speculation that during the French occupation, Mexican bakers took inspiration from the French baguette, which is a hard crusty bread. They used similar bread dough to create smaller loafs called bolillo and telera. The bolillo is oval shaped and has a crusty exterior and soft interior while the telera is slightly larger, rounder and has a crease or two in the middle. A great torta is defined by the bread having enough texture to hold up, being soft enough to bite and large enough to contain a plethora of ingredients.

The preparation method is relatively straightforward. Before any ingredients are placed on the roll, it is split in half, spread with either butter or mayonnaise and usually toasted quickly on one side on a griddle.

On traditional tortas, one half of the roll is smeared with refried beans, while the other is coated with some mashed avocado and a little crema, or Mexican sour cream. Other ingredients could include pickled jalapenos, lettuce, tomato and onion and any variety of meat like pork carnitas, beef barbacoa, shellfish, fish or chicken.

Tortas will also take on distinct flavors based on the Mexican regions where they are made. In Guadalajara, rolls filled with roast beef, ham or milanesa (breaded steak) are dipped in a large jar of thick, hot salsa. In Monterrey and the state of Sonora, the favorite is the carne asada torta. In Tijuana, milanesa and turkey tortas are favored.

Out of Mexico, you may encounter more westernized tortas with ingredients that could include anything from smoked salmon to grilled vegetables to ham. Not being traditional doesn’t make them any less delicious.

Once the torta is loaded up with ingredients, it either is grilled in a panini-like press or simply toasted on both sides on a griddle using something weighted to hold the torta down. You’ll see street vendors in Mexico use either gas-fired or charcoal-heated griddles to toast their tortas.

What’s great about tortas is they are relatively inexpensive sandwiches. They’re generally sold for $6 to $8 at torta shops and if you’re lucky enough to be around street food vendors, those tortas will sell for $4 to $5. So if you’d like to check out tortas for yourself, look below for some restaurant recommendations and Happy Dining!

Super Tortas
360 S Alvarado St Ste 6
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 413-7953

Tortas El Angel
1018 N Shepherd Dr
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 862-9333

Tortas Jalisco
534 Frontier
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 865-1515

Puras Tortas
4166 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30345
(404) 633-2110

Tortas El Guero
2518 N 16th St
Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 252-9228

Is March going to be your lucky month where you can win a $200 Gift Card from Menuism.  Well, it could be and all you have to do is submit reviews about your favorite eateries.  Tell us about that neighborhood restaurant that’s so good that you visit it several times a month.  Maybe, you had a fabulous experience at fine dining restaurant that you just want to share with other Menuism readers and reviewers.  We want to hear it all and each review automatically becomes an entry to the contest.

So kiss that Blarney Stone and start typing and who knows, your review may just win you a $200 Gift Card.  Think of what you can do with that gift card.  Take a cooking class.  Purchase a lovely bottle of wine.  Maybe, you’ve been eyeing some new kitchen gadgets.  However, you’ll have no chance of winning, if you don’t even try.  So keep dining out and sharing your experiences with other Menuism’ers and who knows?  That gift card may be just within reach.

Menuism Restaurant Review Contest

How to Enter:

• Write as many reviews as you’d like. Each eligible review is automatically entered into the contest and counts as an entry into the drawing. No need to manually submit your reviews to the contest
• Entries are eligible starting the first day of the month up to the last day to enter the last day of the month.

Restaurant Review Criteria:

• Reviews have to have at least 2 positive helpful votes.
• Reviews have to have a minimum of 50 words (about 5 lines of text).

Announcement of Winner and Prize:

• After the contest due date, all eligible entries fitting the restaurant review criteria will be put into a drawing with the winner being announced the first week of the following month.
• Prize: $200 Gift Card, Menuism T-Shirt and Badge on Your Profile

Rules:

• Reviews that are considered inappropriate, vulgar or lacking information will not be considered.
• Winners who do not claim their prize within 7 days of the announcement of the winner will forfeit their prize.

Ready to get started? Sign up for your free Menuism account and start writing reviews!

March is now here, so we’d definitely love to see all of your great quality reviews. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line at abby@menuism.com.

By Abby C. Abanes
Menuism Community Manager

These days, many people are  trying to spend less money which could mean cutting back on things you enjoy, such as eating out.  However, there are just those days when it’s more convenient to go out for a meal and let’s face it, having someone else do the dishes is a nice perk.   It’s also important to remember that your dining out also ensures that restaurants can continue to stay in business and provide jobs.

To help you stay within a reasonable dining out budget as well as still be able to support local restaurants, here are some dining dollar stretching tips.

1. Many national chains offer dining out coupons which might include a free entrée with the purchase of another entrée or a discount off of your final bill.  You may find these coupons in your Sunday paper, in your mailbox, off the restaurant website or in Entertainment books.
2. You can save money by not ordering any beverages.  Alcoholic beverages can turn a reasonably priced meal into an indulgence.  Stick with water as your drink of choice.  Ask for fresh lemon, lime or orange slices to squeeze into your water to give it a little flavor.
3. If you’re a light eater, consider ordering an appetizer or soup as your entrée along with a vegetable or side salad. It’s a meal that will satisfy, but not loosen your wallet too much.  You may also consider checking out the children’s menu. The portions are smaller as is the price, which is definitely a win-win for you.
4. Skip the expensive desserts. If you’re still in the mood for something sweet, make an ice cream or yogurt stop on the way home.
5. With entrees at restaurants these days being quite large, eat only half your portion and take the rest home in a doggy bag for lunch the next day.  You get two meals for the price of one.
6. Why not share an entree with your dining partner, especially if the entrees are large. Just be aware of “split plate” fees.
7. Look for small, family owned and/or or ethnic restaurants, diners and cafeterias that are off the beaten path for your next meal. What these restaurants may not offer in ambiance, they make up for in delicious food that is also affordable.
8. Lunches are always cheaper than dinners. If you have a choice between a Saturday lunch or a Saturday dinner, choose the lunch option. If lunch is not an option that day and if it’s available, ask if you can order a lunch portion of the meal. The portion will be smaller and budget- friendly.
9. Order food for takeout as opposed to sitting down for a meal.  You’ll save the cost of a tip and you can have your beverage of choice at home.
10. If you have kids, take advantage of the Kid’s Eat Free nights at many local restaurants. If you have a coupon for the meal, that will be double the savings for a huge amount of food. If your child does not finish his meal, have the waitress box up half of the meal for you and use it for the next day’s lunch.

Try putting these tips into practice and hopefully, you’ll be able to indulge in more nights eating out without breaking the budget!

Your marriage proposal left something to be desired. You can’t remember the last time you told your mother that you loved her. Hey, you’re just not good with emotions. So how can you write a restaurant review that says how you really feel?

Abandon the Obvious. Start by ending your love affair with words like good, delicious, and perfect. They’re the comfort blankets of the English language and you’re all grown up now. You don’t need to be a foodie to know what you’re tasting. Remember it. Was it crispy? Was it soft on the inside? Did it have a sweet aftertaste?

Take Pictures. Pictures will jolt your memory and fill in the gaps in your description. Plus, everyone loves a little smutty food porn. Take these examples.

A photo by justin wickedly labeled, “All You Can Eat”. From Tadashi Sushi.

A burrito for a small army from Sandiago’s Mexican Grill. Photo by fattiusthebear.

Write about the Interesting and Funny. Was there a fire in the kitchen? Were the men sitting one table over squabbling over their golf game? These things are all part of the dining experience. If it really stood out in your memory, write about it.

Don’t Hide Your Personality. Some of us can do the whole swirl, sniff and slurp wine tasting without giggling, and some of us can’t. So what if you don’t write for Gourmet magazine? There are still countless numbers of people who want to read about your opinion. After all, that’s why they’re visiting a public restaurant review site.

Re-Read Your Review. After you’ve finished, take a moment to look back. Check for typos that make you look silly. Try to read it from the point of view of a stranger: would you be captivated by what you’re reading? Would you find it useful? Would you give yourself an A? Tweak as necessary.

Menuism Users Show You How It’s Done
Or, select words from the superstars.

Rayvenhaus
Motto: Searching the bounty main for the best restaurants!
Best Trait: His honesty results in laugh-out-loud reviews. He also brings in personal experience. “I’ve slopped food in cleaner pig troughs then the bathroom at this restaurant.” (Taco Bell, Lynwood)
Memorable quotes: “I’m telling you what, I love the service at this place. I think next time I’ll try one of their Subs in a Tub.”(Jersey Mike’s Subs)

trufflupagus
Best Trait: Her far-reaching vocabulary: not surprising, considering she’s a professional writer (and photographer). She describes the Mexican Bloody Mary at Café Colonial as “a mix of vodka and tequila with perfectly piquant tomato juice and spices.” And she makes the Shrimp al Ajillo at El Faro sound like a Biblical experience. “A terrific rendition of this incredible classic – small shrimp, bubbling in a clay casserole filled with hot sauce and an immense amount of garlic…” Want some yet?
Memorable Quotes: “You have to be a super-hardcore capsaicin addict to tango with these peppers.” (Spicy & Tasty)

tommers
Motto: The deliciousness is in the details!
Best Trait: He merrily foodies his way from start to finish: his four visits to the Three Seasons Restaurant in Palo Alto cumulated in an 811-word review. Skip a sentence and you’ll be missing out on gourmet-ing vicariously. But he’s no grumpy food critic: in his hundreds of words, you’ll be loath to find any more critical than “wasn’t great.”
Memorable Quotes: Worth noting are his epic struggles with the limiting star rating system. About Saha he writes, “Four stars, just barely”; with AUX Delices, it’s “Four stars going on five?”. But the best may be his happy response to the EOS Restaurant & Wine Bar: “Hot damn! What a great meal!”

March is here and the seasons are a-changin’! A new month means a new Food Fight, and this month we’re asking YOU to help us find the BEST BURGER in your city!

To participate, just review a restaurant and rate the burger you ate. You’ll be automatically entered into the contest to win $50 – you can find out all the nitty-gritty details at the main Food Fight contest page.

Fun fact: the average American consumes 27.8 pounds of hamburger a year. That works out to over 9 quarter-pound burgers a month, per person. Why not share your favorites, so everyone can enjoy a better burger?

Happy Eating!

John & Justin

p.s. We’re still tallying the best pancake results from February, and we’ll post the results soon.

We’re proud to announce that Menuism is officially open!

Menuism is a community-based restaurant guide where you can contribute any information about any of your favorite restaurants—including the menus. By participating, you’ll benefit by receiving daily recommendations from your group of friends and also get community recognition. You can now quickly find the places you love to eat at and find new places to try.

If you want to know more check out the tour at http://www.menuism.com/about/tour or just go the http://www.menuism.com and start browsing around. Just ate or about to eat? Keep the receipt so you can write a review and rate what you ate!

Thanks for those who have already used the site and given feedback. We haven’t gotten to all of it but we’re not done by any means – there’s still plenty on the to-do list!

Keep the feedback coming because this is only the beginning. If you want to keep up to date on all the changes, subscribe to the RSS feed.

Thanks!

John & Justin