Living in California nearly my entire life, one would think that I would have had regular access to authentic and delicious Mexican food. Not necessarily the case, especially given the number of chain restaurants and 'tex-mex' type options that have become so popular over the past 20 years or so. Imagine my surprise then, when on our travels in the Pacific Northwest that we stumble upon an authentic Mexican restaurant in the middle of Washington State, right off of I-5. La Tarasca is in Centralia, Washington, literally a block off of I-5 in between Portland and Seattle. Run by the Ayala family, this is a small restaurant, no frills, but totally authentic and homemade food from the Michoacan region of Mexico. We had been here once before and had a terrific meal, but so often the second visit to a restaurant isn't near as good as the first. Much to our total pleasure, we were equally pleased and charmed by this restaurant. The service is gracious and genuine and the food is amazing.
First off, they do not serve chips and salsa. Instead, you are brought a small bowl of pickled carrots. I ordered for lunch a taco adobada and a carnitas tostada. Both were outstanding! The adobada was a stewed meat in a braised tomato salsa and the carnitas is their restaurant speciality. Coupled with a Negro Modelo, this was a perfectly satisfying lunch stop.
Then we took home pork tamales to try later, and they were equally amazing. All homemade, the masa was so fresh and moist, and the homemade corn tortillas were unlike any tortillas I have ever had. There is no doubt lard in this cooking, but I suppose that is part of what makes it taste so authentic and homemade. Definitely worth the effort to plan this stop if you ever find yourself in this neck of the world. You will not be sorry.
