The Food Snob- Memorial Weekend at Mambo Jambo

In celebration of Memorial weekend, getting together with great friends is a must. This weekend was no exception. As we celebrate the memories of those who have served our country, it's important that we remember the friends and neighbors in our daily lives, too . With that said, I'm sure no one will mind that I am blogging about a fabulous restaurant in our neighboring Alpharetta.

Mambo Jambo has a familiar home-style feeling, similar to a being in your own living room with close friends. (W,ait do people even have living rooms anymore? I suppose they're called  family rooms or keeping rooms these days). George, the owner, is a native of Cuba and a friendly hombre. He's had several restaurants in South Florida, Weston to be exact, which is where we first met. George has brought his delicious Cuban cuisine to our Johns Creek stomping ground. I consider anything within a 15-mile radius in the neighborhood. After all, we are in Atlanta where everything goes in a circle. Why is there no grid to follow like some other major cities, which shall remain nameless. In my mind, 15 miles could be just around the corner here.

If you are interested in meeting your fellow suburbanites and want to enjoy fresh food, live music and grours (a new word for "great hours" – I'm learning a new language on Facebook) of fine cuisine at reasonable prices, this is the place to come.

One of the friends I was dining with is also from Cuba. He ordered, quite eloquently in Spanish, and taught me a few new words. After all, he knows me pretty well and did have to say what was in the food before I would eat it. I am still the "food snob," but was extremeley proud of myself for eating everything brought to the table. 

We, or should I say Al, ordered Yucca Frita, fried Yucca, DELICIOUS, in an amazing yellow spicy Mambo sauce and Tamal con Chicharron (pronounced exactly as it is spelled adding the rolling "r" to Chicharron) which is Cuban Fried Pork Chunks with Grilled Onions served in a tamale husk. Cindee, Al's wife, refused to eat the fried stuff. I am proud of her for keeping to her new eating plan. (soon to be Ckinny Cindee!) I, on the other hand, ate everything that night. Can you believe it!

Here's what we ordered: Vaca Frita- Mojo Marinated Flank Steak served with Black Beans and Rice. I LOVE  black beans and rice. Alone, its a complete meal for me. Salmon con Salsa de Mango- Mango Sauce over Salmon, Snapper with Shrimp (Camarones) in a light olive oil sauce, a few more Mojitos and dessert, a must in my book, Quatro Leches, topped off by a small complimentary serving of Flan. OMG!!! Nothing more needs to be said. Everything is presented beautifully with the taste of excellence and simplicity.

Mambo Jambo has an outdoor patio and ample indoor seating. With the weather a little warmer these days, we opted to eat inside. When other friends showed up, and it cooled off a bit, we moved to the patio to join them for cocktails. Absolutely, you guessed it, more Mojitos. One should always travel with a designated driver in this crowd!

My suggestion is to pop in and say hello to George and his wife. Welcome them to our area.  You won't regret it, I'm sure.