This tasty burrito barbacoa is unbelievable!
The its slow-cooked pork that’s shredded and stuffed into a burrito with this creamy-awesome Mexican mayo/sour cream blessedness.
For about $5, you can’t beat it!
Burrito Barbacoa!
Our culture today is largely going “green” and striving to recycle as much as possible. Consider this, “The average person generates 4.5 pounds of trash every day – about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year. Although the EPA estimates that 75 percent of solid waste is recyclable, only about 30 percent is actually recycled.
Believe it or not, the term “recycled” might be helpful as we try to piece together some theological terms that surface in both our Old and New Testaments (or as John Goldingay calls them our first and second testaments (Models for Interpretation of Scripture, p. 69). Recycling is essentially taking something that is old and giving it a new shape and definition for further use with a few additions as well but heavily relying on what already existed.
With that in mind, let me ask you a question…
Has Jesus ever failed to live up to your expectations?
I’m sure he has at some point. But the problem wasn’t with Jesus. The problem was your expectations of him. You see, Jesus not in the business of living up to our expectations. Jesus exceeds our expectations!
In the gospel of John we read that after Jesus fed the Jewish crowds they were intending to install Jesus as their new king “by force” (John 6.15). The reason they were so adamant about installing him as king is that they were under the harsh rule of the Romans. Life under these conditions was becoming more increasingly unbearable. What they needed was a savior. A messiah. An anointed one of God who would set the captives free. They longed a prince of peace.
In that context, let me ask another question ….
Do these terms mean anything to you?
Jesus arrives on the scene and functioned in all of those roles and much, much more! He took all of those Jewish concepts that we read about in our Old Testaments and did not discard them, rather, he filled them to the brim with even more meaning and significance.
Those terms were all, shall we say, “recycled” according to his own person and work. His kingdom was not of this world (John 18.36). He surely set the captives free but not in the way many of the Jews were expecting the messiah to operate. No, his kingdom would not be confined by spacial boundaries, national borders, particular languages, legal customs and so forth. His kingdom would set captives free from more than oppressive men. He would set us free from satan and our sin.
Its not that their expectations weren’t great and lofty. They were! They just weren’t lofty enough for this unique Person. It is one thing to stare at a painting of the sun. It’s another to stare at the sun.
You see, the Old and New Testaments are in sync with one another, not contradictory. Its a matter of how you read it (Luke 10.26). I’d encourage you to keep exploring your the Biblical titles and offices and roles that are ascribed to our Lord Jesus in both testaments and appreciate the final product much more having understood the original “materials” he was given to work with.
Tortas Cubana
So Jon here to report on the Tortas Cubana, manna from heaven…
I don’t even know how to begin. Perhaps at the beginning. The first time I visited The Dungeon with Alex was somewhat surreal. We were both STARVING and we were the only ones in the place. So with much difficulty due to our lack of language skills, we placed our orders. And while we have discovered one waitress with enough English to help our sad communication efforts, this was not her.
So we are waiting and waiting and chatting and waiting when suddenly here comes the food. And it looks GOOD! The food goes right by us to the empty, I said empty, table behind us and onto the table it goes… Beautiful, steaming, torturous, and apparently not for us. OK, so patience, patience.
A few minutes go by, and NOW here comes our food, however once again, it sweeps right by us and onto ANOTHER completely empty table. There is nobody else there!!! This is beginning to border on cruel. We are so hungry and it looks so good. We begin to contemplate moving from our empty table to one full of food.
So this goes on, and I am NOT kidding, until about 4 tables with 4 chairs each are loaded with food. Appetizers, main courses, drinks and above all this sandwich is at like 4 places and just to look at it takes your breath away. Both of us are like, “WHAT IS THAT!!!!???”
So now we are beginning to wonder if this is some bizarre Latin joke. Are we on Univision Candid Camera? We are literally sitting alone in a room full of food and just about the only table with no food on it is ours… Talk about temptation!
At any rate, our food finally shows up and it’s great and about two minutes later the place floods with customers and all the empty seats are filled and all the full plates are emptied. The one thing I was able to learn that day after much ado and pointing at other people’s food, was the name of that sandwich. Tortas Cubana. I wrote it down, and I put it on my phone notes, but all that was really unnecessary as the image and smell was branded on my soul. And finally after about 2-3 more weeks I had it for myself.
This sandwich is so good it is stupid. They could call it the kitchen sink because it has EVERYTHING on it! Mine had chorizo (my favorite thing), chicken, pork, avocado, lettuce, tomato, cheese, some kind of sour creamish-creme fraiche-ish stuff that they put on a lot of stuff, ham, onions, hot dogs (yes hot dogs and who cares!), and I piled a ton of salsa fresca on top of all that. Absolutely amazing.
Now I must say that the ones we saw on ghost diner day looked BETTER than the one I got. I don’t know if it changes everyday based on whatever happens to be in the kitchen or that I got the GRINGO version, but I would swear those had fried fish on them too, which I want! But I can’t communicate it and I might not be allowed to have it that way anyway…
I am not fussing, merely musing. It is hard not to order the same thing every time. But WHEN you go, you cannot miss with the Tortas Cubana. A+!!!
Chuletas Chipotle
Chuletas Chipotle
This dish is just plain unimpressive compared with other delightful delicatessens to be found in the dungeon. Your fellow classmates such as Bistec Ranchero or those obnoxious sandwiches Jon always gets took you to school.
These are basically your run-of-the-mill pork chops covered in sub-par BBQ sauce. My granddad’s BBQ sauce shames the attempt from the dungeon. I’m sorry, Taco Dungeon. I will be faithful to you anyways.
I’m not even saying that I won’t eat Chuletas Chipotle again. I’m just saying I won’t get it again this week because I know that whatever is lurking back there in the dungeon kitchen is intended to bring God glory and us joy. So, I’ll see you tomorrow!
Love,
Alex
Grade - C, Needs Improvement, However, shows potential.
Bistec a la Mexicana
This tasty dish is no joke. It is #1 in our estimation so far! Straight from the dungeon’s market. What you’re looking at is steak that is marinated (Gregg Katz) only known to God and those fine cooks in the kitchen a la dungeon. Tomatoes, onions, red and green peppers all make this a delightful lunch.
Served with rice & beans and corn tortillas.
Best paired with a Mandarina Jarritos.
