Head to Iguanas Ranas Taqueria For Authentic-Tasting, True Mexican food

My dad is from Mexico. So even though we lived in Oklahoma, I grew up eating daily cooked beans and hand-tossed tortillas. Our chiles were purchased in bulk and dried so that we could make authentic sauce for our enchiladas.

On special occassions, my mom spent days standing over our stove in order to produce the most delictable tamales, but even on regular days, every meal screamed with fresh herbs and traditional spices.

That kind of cooking is hard to replicate. Most Mexican places, even the most celebrated restaurants who boast diverse menus of delicious food, oftentimes serve up an Americanized version of Mexican cousine. Because it sells.

It's been a long time since I've had a taste of my childhood but the other night, my husband happened across a little restaurant in Middletown called Iguanas Y Ranas Taqueria. It recently moved from 574 Main Street to occupy the former Nikita's Bar & Bistro at 484 Main Street.

For those of you gringos out there, "taqueria" means taco shop. And what delicious tacos they have!

He brought home taquitos dorados, fresh tamales and chorizo tacos with creamy guacamole. And after I had a bite, I had to run over and kiss him with full gratitude!

I was ecstatic to find their carnitas tender and savory, the tacos dressed simply with cilantro, onion and lime and their beans .... ah, let me pause for a moment here to wipe the drool from the keyboard ... the beans, they tasted like I was sitting at my Grandma's table in Chihuahua, Mexico. Their tamales were the most authentic thing I've tasted since my cousin Rosa brought me a dozen during a family visit.

It's a family-owned place and all the recipes are equally familial. The matriarch still spends days and nights, pouring love and "sabor" into her mouthwatering dishes.

It was like I had been transported to Mexico. Or Olvera Street. Or both. I love me all types of Mexican food and sometimes Tex-Mex scratches the itch and sometimes even a run for the border is in order, but for authentic-tasting, true Mexican food, I don't think you can find anything better than Iguanas Y Ranas. 

SABROSO! That means delicious, mouth-watering, tasty. You simply must try it if you haven't already. I promise you won't be disappointed. It's like a getaway to Mexico without having to endure the strip search at the airport.

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