Menudo...  A food item that is both infamous and famous.  Menudo is a soup made with chile peppers, spices, hominy and tripe.  Tripe is the lining of the stomach from cattle, sheep or pigs and must be cooked for an extensive period of time before it is tender enough to be edible.  Because of the long cooking time, Menudo is a speciality item that can be found in food stalls in Mexico as well as several restaurants in the Austin area.  While the North American audience typically shy away from organ meats, the flavors present in the organ meats actually present some of the best flavors available from the animal.  Often, all it takes to appreciate organ meats is to taste it without first knowing what it is.

The Menudo at Amaya's Taco Village has a traditional reddish hue to the broth.  The pockets present in the tripe help to encapsulate the spices of the soup and convey a flavor intensity that is both succulent and delightful.  The onions and lemon juice offered as condiments bring a sweet and tangy element to the combination and when combined with the soft corn tortillas is almost a meal in and of itself.  In fact, Menudo is a popular hangover cure for many in Mexico.  It is easy to understand as the heartiness and spiciness  of the stew is enough to chase away any remnants from the previous night's festivities.

Please click below for Tres Leches and Sopapillas -