The Burrito That Saved My Life!

Okay the burrito didn't really save my life, but after a nice, brisk bike ride up Empire Grade to Smith Grade to Bonny Doon Road, down the big hill and back on Highway 1, I was ravenously famished. The two salty urine-flavored Cliff Blocks—officially, margarita flavor—did nothing to curb my cravings. I needed food—real food—with gusto dammit!

La Cabaña is in a strip mall that looks nothing like this.

On the far west end of town is La Cabaña, pretty much the only taqueria in Santa Cruz I truly like. Convincing Sean to join me took exactly zero words, just a raised eyebrow in the right direction. The fact that he offered to buy me a birthday burrito made the sustenance thing even sweeter. Not just real food, but free real food!

I'd expected to order my old standby, the carne asada super burrito, when I saw the "California Burrito" sign I had noticed about a month ago. It's hand written and taped nonchalantly and near randomly under the more formal vinyl die-cut menu board. It seems like a more apt place for a lost dog or need a roommate flyer than an addition to the menu. And while I'm generally skeptical of culinary Californication (i.e., California Pizza Kitchen and the like), I literally started drooling as I re-read the flyer:

"New. California Burrito - guacamole, salsa, French fries and meat."

There is no punctuation, I added that part...but French fucking fries?! In a burrito?!! With Guac?!?!?!! Holy shit that's brilliant. Not traditional...and certainly not Mexican, but Mother-of-God that's genius!

I ordered one with carne asada (did I mention Sean paid) and was soon wolfing the thing down with a veracity that threatened my fingers. The fries, Dios mio, the fries! Perfection! Not too many, not too few, but just the right ratio in tantalizing counterpart to the carne asada.

So it’s like six hours later now and I haven’t eaten supper yet…actually still kinda full from lunch. And if I make myself burp, I can even taste it a little.

Mmmmmmm….California Burrito…..