Margarette's Tamale Stand

  

I was planning on eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some pork rinds for lunch today until a friend texted Jason and asked him if we were food blogging. So to avoid disappointing Tommy and any others eager to discover local dining gems, we drove up Twin City Highway and grabbed a to-go plate at Margarette's Tamale Stand. 

I grew up on Mexican food, real Mexican food, not Taco Bell or Casa Ole. Not to say that I don't buy a taco pack from Taco Bell every now and then,  I appreciate the fact that I can get a box of ten tacos for about ten bucks. They're cheap and they're convenient, but if I have a hankering for Mexican food you won't hear me say, I'm sure hungry for a loco taco. 

I remember, years back, a local Mexican Food place in Marlin, TX, where our family would eat weekly. They had legitimate Mexican food, but included a little Tex Mex on the side. Queso was referred to, by our usual waiter, as "gringo sauce". Don't shoot the messenger, but there's a lot of gringo sauce and gringo style dishes in the local Mexican eateries. 

Maragarettes, however, I believe bears the marks of a true Mexican food place. Today was the fourth or fifth time we've eaten there. I ordered the combination plate. For $8.50, I got a heaping to-go tray of tamales and beef enchiladas covered in chili (that didn't come out of a can) and real cheese (not the over processed stuff that used to be served in my school cafeteria). 

  
Here are a few other things I noticed about Margarettes, which are things most legit Mexican food places share in common. 

There's heat, in the salsa and in the chili, that makes your nose run. 

The food is so good that you're careful to save room when downing chips and salsa. Margarette's just gives you a sandwich baggie of chips with your food, but who cares when the food's full of good flavor. 

There's usually not one of those ice cream machines at legitimate Mexican food places either (maybe just a basket of pralines at the register). I know a few of you have lost interest now. 

Not a must, but handwritten menus (on poster board) above the cash register is usually a good sign. It says "We spend our time and resources on good food, not appearances". 

It's not a chain. Chain Mexican food places are not my favorite. (Pappasitos might be an exception). Which leads me to the next mark

The "restaurant" is usually a house, or a gas station, or as is the case with Margarettes, a stand. The dining experience is based fully on good food. 

  

And finally, a good Mexican food place will lead to after dinner mints, the kind you'll always find in my cabinet. 

  
Margarettes is located at 2307 Twin City Highway here in Nederland. They accept cash only (nothing above a twenty dollar bill). They're opened from 10:30-4:30 Monday through Friday (I believe). There's no seating, no drive through window, just a drive up window. The fact that I still love eating there says something because I kind of like being waited on in a booth when I'm not the one who's having to cook. 

  

 Go try them out.