The taco saga: *John Juan*

A couple of months ago, Ottawa became my new home as a new challenge awaited. Changing provinces can be a challenge, as you try to build your new home in a whole new city. So, as you try to settle in, exploring your surroundings is part of the fun. Before leaving my hometown of Montreal, there was a map on MTLBlog that showed a route of taco restaurants in and around Ottawa. So naturally, my goal was to try out each one of those restaurants. Because, obviously, tacos are life. For my first Mexican adventure, I found a little restaurant called John Juan Burrito Mexican Grill, an Ottawa based family-owned restaurant. This little gem is found on St. Laurent Boulevard, near the St. Laurent shopping center. They have a full menu of Mexican comfort food; burritos, tacos, and everything in between. Their set-up is a very casual and fun set-up with an open kitchen concept, which is always something to admire when thinking of a good (solid) restaurant.

They prepare their ingredients early in the morning before opening, giving each recipe a fresh taste. My first order consisted of a pulled-chicken tacos alongside a cheese and bell pepper Quesada. The taco consisted of fresh cilantro, cheese, some chopped bell peppers and of course the pulled chicken. The texture of the chicken was surprisingly pleasant, as it was not dry or rough when biting into the meat. The only downfall of the taco was the lack of spices, and flavor. Which, in terms of flavor, the Quesadilla was also lacking on the spicing aspect. It is not a bad note since simple combinations sometimes go a long way. Although, this as a thought alone can lack convincing when you have lofty expectations when it comes to the diversity of Latin food. For this order, the flavor combinations may well be a consequence to my own choices. This restaurant does allow you to choose a variety of ingredients to dress most of the main course items you choose. This concept allows you to personalize each dish to your own liking. A great idea all together, but this does take away from the creativity and personality of the chefs. In other words, the best part of eating out is being able to experience someone else’s creative dishes that should hold together a fresh bouquet of culture.

With a family-owned business such as this one, recipes are very personal. Flavors differ, cooking methods vary, and traditions change. This alone should be a reason to give less "freedom" to the client when it comes to choosing the sides and toppings for a recipe. Note that less does not necessarily mean no choices at all, given the fact that many suffer of intolerances or allergies and preferences. At the end of the day, it is about presenting the world with a part of your own culture. The things we do as humans across the globe, such as cooking, are a direct influence of our surroundings. We grow up with certain traditions that have been handed down from generations. This said, the thought here is not about refusing any kind of change. If anything, cultures have been borrowing from each other for centuries. The idea is about having a core balance between the old and the new, without sacrificing your own identity as a person. Whatever your background, it is about being proud to share your practices with the world. All in all, this restaurant gets a top rating for having a fresh eye on authenticity, while still moving forward with the times. For now, please excuse me while I go explore the city for more cultural discoveries.