Something to taco bout

While this part of the country is most famous for its hearty hotdishes and other various types of Midwestern comfort food, we also offer fabulous global fare. One of my preferred types of cuisine is Mexican and holy guacamole, do our two Forks serve up lots of #SimplyGrande dishes!

Here are five of my Up North South of the Border favorites.

Jalapeno Chicken Molcajete at Vinyl Taco

Picture it, if you will: a piping hot lava stone vessel filled with seasoned chicken, onions and jalapenos, in a flavorful bubbling broth, topped by shredded cheese. It comes with housemade corn or flour tortillas, serrano-avocado salsa and jalapeno ranch. One order easily makes four large tacos and is perfect for sharing.

Tamale Plate at El Gordito

Cleverly hidden in the Columbia Mall Food Court, El Gordito offers a variety of authentic Mexican and Salvadorian dishes. And if you are searching for one hot tamale, put this eatery at the top of your must-try list! Their muy delicioso pork tamales are wrapped in a corn husk that is filled with the perfect ratio of meat to masa. It’s served with freshly made guacamole, salad, rice and the creamiest refried beans in town.

Enchiladas de Cameron at Casa Mexico

With so many tantalizing items on Casa's extensive menu, deciding just what to have is the hardest part! My go-to is usually the Enchiladas de Cameron: three rolled corn tortillas stuffed with grilled shrimp, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes, covered in a decadently delicious Tipico cheese sauce.

Chile Relleno at Mexican Village

This popular eatery has been serving up amazing Mexican food for decades…and it still tastes as good today as it did when I was in college! One of my favs is the scrumptious chile relleno. They start by taking a perfectly roasted poblano pepper, fill it full of Monterey Jack cheese and chicken, then smother the whole thing in zesty red gravy. Garnishes include cilantro, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.

Steak Fajitas at Ground Round

Even though GR is best known for mouthwatering burgers, this grill and bar offers up some of the finest fajitas around. Served medium well, the steak is super tender and comes on a sizzling platter loaded with sauteed onions and peppers. Sides include warm flour tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa. If you order them on a Wednesday, one of their tasty margaritas is on the house!

If you’d like more information on any of these great places to dine, along with other awesome local eateries and drinkeries, click on VisitGrandForks.com and follow Visit Grand Forks on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.