Our favorite place for breakfast is El Cardenal, a chain of restaurants that specialize in traditional Mexican cuisine. One of the branches is just a four minute walk from the apartment. The problem is that on weekends there is usually a very long line waiting for a table. We generally end up going to another chain restaurant, Toks, which is a ten minute walk away. Although it can't compare to El Cardenal, the food is dependable and the service very good.
Last Saturday, we got an early start and were on our way to breakfast by nine o'clock. As we passed El Cardenal, we saw that there were only a few people waiting. "Let's go," I said. We were seated in just a couple of minutes, but in that short time the line was already starting to form behind us.
I especially wanted to go to El Cardenal because during the Day of the Dead season they have some special items on the menu. Tamales are traditional for this time of year. The restaurant serves delicious Oaxacan style tamales for just a few weeks prior to Day of the Dead. So there was no question as to what we were going to order.
Alejandro had two tamales, but I was a little piggie and ordered all three varieties... chicken with green sauce, poblano peppers with cheese, and pork with mole. The chicken was good, the peppers and cheese even better, and best of all was the mole.
We also ordered "atole" (in the clay mugs). "Atole" is a beverage of pre-Hispanic origin that is made from corn with different flavors such as vanilla or chocolate. I have tried "atole" a number of times and have never cared much for it. However, at this time of year, El Cardenal serves guava "atole" which I really like.
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