It is a soupy Mexican traditional dish, made of tripe, hominy and chili. They said it is an antidote for hangover, it is a cure of many ailments and it is always prepared on New Year's morning.
When I first tasted it in January 2008, I didn't like the smell of it. I thought the hominy were big barley and that the barley were out of date. I know now that the hominy are not barley but hulled and dried kernels of corn. I recognised the tripe as stomach linings of cows.
2 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to try again. The smell didn't repulse me as it did in January. I thought it tasted alright but I was not interested to eat a bowl yet.
Today, I ordered a small bowl. It would be a shame if I don't, being in a famous Mexican restaurant in Brawley and having driven 1 hrs 15 minutes from Yuma to get there.
It tasted better when added with chopped onions, fresh cilantro and lemon juice. Accompanying the menudo and the plate of condiments was a plate of flour tortillas.
Do I like menudo? Not really. Would I eat that again? Maybe after a few months.
