By admin on May 22, 2024
It’s time to have a frank talk about the beloved classic, guacamole. This side is ubiquitous at Mexican restaurants and is one of the most popular sides for good reason. Chips just taste better dipped in some cooling guacamole after a spicy sala.
Unfortunately, when you head to a Mexican restaurant and order guacamole—you might not actually be getting what you asked for. Due to the rising costs of avocados, many restaurants are switching to “Mock-A-Mole”
Mock-A-Mole is a cheerful slang term used to describe a guac like substance that is not, in fact, made from avocados. Common substitutes include Calabacita, a kind of Mexican Summer Squash, or even broccoli and green peas.
While some restaurants are upfront with their change, many are not. They simply slip customers the fake guac and hope they won’t notice.
If you’re suspicious you’re getting fake guac, take a good hard look at the texture. Guacamole that isn’t made with avocado tends to be a bit thinner compared to authentic guacamole, and if its cut with certain things like tomatillos, it may even have a salsa like appearance.
Other restaurants still use avocado but choose to get less desirable avocado pulp instead to save money. This may well help the restaurant break even, but it sure isn’t in the spirit of good guac.
In the end, a true, authentic guacamole is made from a quality avocado that has been mashed and seasoned to perfection. Even when a real avocado is used, the variety and ripeness can all make a difference in how your guacamole tastes.
Guacamole is right up there with salsa as a key flavor ingredient in most of our favorite Mexican foods. It’s a foundational flavor that deserves the time and attention needed to make it right.
At Fiesta, our guacamole is an important part of our restaurant experience. We use only Hass avocados in our guacamole, so that when you scoop guacamole from your plate, you are getting an authentic and flavorful experience.
Quality guacamole starts with a fresh, perfectly ripened avocado. That avocado is mashed until just a little chunky, and then seasoned to bring out the fresh flavor of the fruit.
Without a high-quality avocado, guacamole can just end up being—well—meh. Not a great experience when you’re enjoying authentic Mexican cuisine.
One final point, the variety of avocado can also make a difference in the experience you have. Different varieties have different levels of oil in them. Hass is considered one of the richest, most flavorful avocados. That’s why we select it for our guacamole.
Other varieties, such as the Florida avocado, are tasty (as all avocados are) but don’t have quite the same impact as Hass.
The next time you’re eating guac, take a moment to truly taste it. A great deal goes into the flavor of a great guacamole, from avocado selection to seasoning. If your guacamole is thin or oddly runny, is it really a guacamole? You may want to double check.
