Restaurant review: Chubby's Tacos, Raleigh location

Last week, Chris and I were in Durham and after eating a really good burrito at Cosmic Cafe, we drove by another restaurant, Chubby's Tacos on Ninth Street.

I saw a lineup in the place and knew it'd be on my list of places to try out. I did a bit of research online and was impressed by the reviews. What was even more exciting were posts that a Chubby's would be opening in Raleigh (and not too far from where we live)!!!

We checked it out. It's in the Lake Boone shopping center, kinda hidden away in the cut. When you step in, the decor is simple, not over the top but it's got a nice, small 'n comfy atmosphere & set up so you can see the hard work goin on in the kitchen. We stepped up to the counter 'n placed our order. The young man was really helpful in guiding us around their menu & offering suggestions.

We ended up getting:

• 2 Ground Beef tacos in crisp corn shells- $2 each
  grill cooked with onions & tomatoes - filled with lettuce & cheese
• Tacos Al Pastor - $2
  marinated pork & pineapple with cilantro & onions
• Grilled Tilapia taco - $3
  citrus marinated with chipotle cream sauce and pico de gallo
• Made our tacos into a meal - $2 each
  each got a serving of rice, chips & beans (we chose black beans over refried)
• Sopapillas with cinnamon & honey for dessert - $2.50
• Cantaloupe Aguas Fresca - $2.00

EVERYTHING was absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The ingredients were fresh and perfectly seasoned. For 2 people, we ate for less than $20 (before tip) and left very satisfied. That's like the same price you'd pay at the not-as-great mexican restaurants in the area. I really love that it's an open kitchen. As I ate tacos, I saw one of the guys making a fresh batch! The Agua Fresca was SOOO GOOD. It reminded me of a cantaloupe drink my mom makes except mom puts shreds of the actual fruit in the drink. I read about their watermelon but they didn't have any. Hopefully next time. Dessert was a bite of light and pillowy heaven! Yummy! Whenever I go back, I plan on getting something different each time. They serve up more tacos burritos, gorditas, tortas, taquitos, tamales, chile rellenos, quesadillas, nachos, taco salads, desserts and other sides...ALL FOR LESS THAN $10!!!!!!!

Tacos Al Pastor, Black beans, Rice, Grilled Tilapia Taco
Fresh made Sopapillas

Chubby's also has an AWESOME salsa bar. We got samples of everything and I loved them all. My favorites were the guacatillo & salsa verde. They had a chubby's salsa, habanero, and I cant remember the names of the rest..d'oh.

Overall, I have to say this is my favorite eatery in Raleigh yet. From the atmosphere, great, timely service, value and delicious food..it's definitely a spot I think we'll frequent.

fitness..but first, the kimburger

I've started to get re-motivated & get into summer shape. It was easy to stay reasonably healthy in Vancouver cause I had no car and living in Yaletown, I could walk everywhere! It was a hilly 20 minute walk each way. Not the case here + southern food is not the healthiest.

I'm currently attempting to work out 3-5 times a week. I'm training myself to do 5K right now (I think that's equivalent to 3 miles). So far, so good. I'm on week 2 of 9. I also squeeze in turbo jam when I can.

Eating healthy is a whole 'nother challenge. As my "last meal" before counting calories I made AMAZING burgers last night with roasted taters. I've never made burgers before so I was quite impressed. Here's kind of the recipe..I don't really measure so....

THE KIMBURGER

• 2 lbs ground chuck
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 3 finely chopped jalapenos
• 4 finely chopped garlic cloves
• couple tbs butter
  
• 8 slices cooked bacon
• 16 small cheese cubes (I had 8 monterey jack, 8 cheddar)
• couple handfulls finely shredded sharp cheddar
• whatever seasonings you like for burgers. I think I used salt, pepper, worsch..ire sauce?, grill seasoning, A1

1. In pan, melt the butter and saute the onion/jalapenos/garlic with a bit of salt til everything's soft then cool mixture.
2. Mix the chuck, above mixture & whatever seasonings you put in your burgers.
3. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions
4. I flattened each patty, then put a flattened piece of jack/cheddar cubes in the middle with a crumbled up bacon slice.
5. Take the sides of the patty and bring it up towards the middle so u cover the cheese/bacon and re-flatten.
6. Grill these suckers. I prefer a charcoal grill..adds so much more flavor. Few minutes on each side should do.
   
7. put a patty between a burger bun and EAT!
   

These burgers were bangin. I was scared the jalapenos would make them too spicy but they were perfect...great amount of heat. Biting into the middle with a burst of cheese/bacon made these soooooooooooooo yummyyyyyyyyyy.
I looked up the calories for this on my ipod app..comes out to 474 calories per burger or something with mustard/pickles. Not as bad as I thought.

Crispy garlic parmesan roasted taters

• 4 med size white or red potatoes, cubed
• garlic powder..no idea how much..sprinkled into:
  
• some sort of fat..since I cooked bacon, damn right I used the bacon fat. Not sure how much, maybe 1/4 - 1/2 cup?
• handful of grated parmesan cheese

1. Put the cubed taters into cold water in a pot
2. bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Drain the taters onto paper towels and cool completely.
4. Toss the cooled cubes with the fat/garlic powder mixture and sprinkle with salt/pepper to taste and the parmesan cheese.
   
5. bake in a 9x13 pan at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, stir/flip then bake for another 25 minutes at 425 degrees.
   

miss norma jean

So as I was flippin through a XXL, I came across some broad's interview and she quoted Marilyn Monroe:

"Well-behaved women rarely make history."

I don't know much about Marilyn Monroe but I know she kept it real and I can definitely respect that. The lil bit I do know based on some things she's said, I can really relate to.

More quotes I like. . . .

“A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night.”

“I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful."

"No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't."

a better appreciation for snow . . .

A view of downtown Winnipeg on a normal, FREEZING winter day. Lasts MONTHS!
Snow in Raleigh (I think this was in January). Lasted no more than a couple days.

I grew up in Winnipeg, MB. I'm convinced their winters are THE WORST in the whole, wide universe! The ice 'n snow don't bother me nearly as much as the COLD!
Now that I'm in the south, I absolutely LOVE when it snows. You just don't expect it so it's exciting! Everyone chills, folks don't go to work and when it rarely snows..you don't take for granted when the flakes fall. The temperatures don't cause hypothermia in seconds either!
It's snowing as I speak and has been for a few hours now. I hope it sticks so we can make snowmen and maybe go sledding!

My favorite snow memory? Well, while I was fixin up a snack, Chris ran outside and wrote "I LOVE KIM" across the parking lot!! Super cute!!!!!! I tried to take a pic but it didn't work ):

Here's my attempt anyway.