Christmas

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Sunday, June 15, 2025

A Step Above the Ordinary

Last week when we got together with our friends Nancy and Fred, we met at a Mexican restaurant in the Cleveland suburb of Independence called "Gran Fiesta Mexicana.  Most Mexican restaurants up here, even if they claim to "authentic", are more "Tex-Mex" than true Mexican cuisine.  That is what most "gringo" diners expect.

"Gran Fiesta" is an attractive place that is decorated with Mexican-themed pictures an murals.






A "jimador" is a man who harvests the agave plants to make tequila.


Although the restaurant menu includes some "Tex-Mex" dishes that are not authentically Mexican, my attention was immediately drawn to a dish that I have never seen on a menu up here... chicken in "pipián" sauce.


"Pipián" is a type of "mole" that is made from pumpkin seeds.  That's what I ordered, and I was very happy with my choice.  It was very good, and it tasted authentic.  The side of vegetables was also a nice touch that is rarely seen in Mexican restaurants up here.

I would definitely rank "Gran Fiesta" above most of the Mexican restaurants in the area. 

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