Panchitos

There is a budding Mexican community in Philadelphia. As a result, amazing Mexican restaurants are starting up across the town. I'm originally from California, so I know good Mexican food when I taste it. Great Mexican food combined with the calm of a Friday afternoon after teaching is pretty much the greatest feeling in the world. You use a lot of energy teaching and leading students through activities. Friday afternoon you are tired but also oddly energized. Your body wants you to rest but your mind is still ready to go.

I prefer a small taco and torta joint in Northeast Philadelphia called Panchitos. Panchitos reminds me of a Mexican restaurant from Fresno, California called Don Pepe's. The tortas (Mexican sandwich) at Panchitos are simple but the meat is unbelievably tasty because the meat mixes with all the other juices/grease on the grill. Needless to say, I'm a carnivore, a hard-core carnivore. The result is a torta that takes me back to Fresno.

The Mexican community is growing here and adds to the diversity of cultures that you can find in Philadelphia. In fact, Northeast Philadelphia is incredibly diverse. Next, week I am to going to go to a Caribbean restaurant operated by the family of one of my students. I can't wait.