(SpoCOOL) A Spokane Blog

We got word from DOMA that Taco Loco is worth checking out when in Post Falls, particularly for their salsa. Who are we to question that? We're not, and on a recent fact finding mission eastward, we stopped by the small taco shop on Seltice.

Now first thing first, the tacos themselves aren't half bad. The tortillas seemed a bit dry and were possibly from the grocery store, but the carnitas were excellent. Perfectly seasoned with nice texture and flavor. We would have liked to have sampled the carne asada too, but the lunch rush had left them emptied out of most everything. You snooze, you lose as they say.

The tacos were definitely good, though a bit too stuffed for my liking. I assume the bang for the buck factor might be popular with some though, and a buck-fifty is a good deal. (There's apparently also a two pound burrito there, but that seems like an overkill to me.)

The salsa, though, that's what it's all about. The fact that they differentiate between "hot sauces" and "salsas" is a good sign, and their homemade hot sauces are definitely hot. I'd recommend trying them on the tacos, as the chunky salsa would just add a bit too much to the mix.

With that said, for heaven's sake, get the salsa and take it home, as it is delicious. Perfectly fresh tasting, a bit of kick, yet mellow enough for everyone to enjoy. There's that depth of flavor that you only get with a good salsa, the one that kinda sits with you for a while. Taco Loco's has that and that's good enough for us.

So. Good tacos, great salsa. Crazy yellow decor. The spot is worth checking out if you head across the border.

Ciao Mambo has its own beer, and as bad as their pasta might be, the beer is worse. I can't remember the name of the brewery responsible for this travesty (they probably prefer not to be tied to it anyway) but I have a very hard time classifying this as an "amber." Granted, there might be an amber hue to it, but I'm pretty sure I was drinking Alka-Seltzer if the flavor was anything to go by.

You know something is off the moment you look at it. No head, and carbonation going like spitfire. It's enough to give one flashbacks to Select 55, another Alka-Seltzer-like beer.

Flavor wise it's pretty horrendous. Thin and watery with an aftertaste of salt. Frankly I had a hard time knowing if I was actually drinking a beer. Malts and/or hops? Not present. At all. I wouldn't be surprised if this was what they used at Gitmo for Waterboarding. Mamboboarding. Just drinking this ale could certainly be classified as torture.

Do not order Ciao Mambo's signature beer. It is not worth it unless you really want to die a little inside.

After a majestic poetry debut -- view the video evidence here, destined to become a viral sensation -- at Earth Day, there was only one spot to go for some true authentic Montana style Italian food. No, I'm not talking Olive Garden or even Tomato Street. Here at Team SpoCOOL we're all about Ciao Mambo.

Ciao Mambo has made its way here from Whitefish, MT, one of its five locations. Their slogan? "Where even the pasta is sexy!"

I must stop here and confess to feeling vaguely disappointed at the lack of sexiness. I'm not sure exactly what I expected (hot marinara on spaghetti action doesn't really sound all that sexy) but at any rate, the interiors reminded me of a slightly nicer version of Tomato Street.

Regardless!

The Tomato Street comparison seems kind of apt, as the similarities are plentiful. It's all about the "fun" and "stacked plates" and... Well, you get it. I think these kind of establishments have their place in any city, seeing they're "family friendly" and all, but that doesn't mean they're particularly awesome food-wise.

And Ciao Mambo is not awesome. Any place serving "Italian nachos" simply can not be. Yet there I was, trying just that, because really, the concept is so ridiculous it had to be tasted.

I read the actual description after eating, and was surprised to learn the dish was served with Alfredo sauce, meatballs and prosciutto. This, apparently, covered the "lightly fried" pasta sheets. Personally I would have guessed the toppings consisted of Oscar Mayer bologna and watered down Velveeta, so shows what I know.

The gnocchi must have been frozen at some point. This is to be expected from this kind of sexy Italian spot, I suppose, but at least defrost and cook the damn thing properly. The texture was off, almost rubbery. The marinera sauce -- and hey, every dish can be customized to your liking, so just pick whatever sauce you want -- was bland. 

On the upside, the huckleberry mojito was pretty great.

The food is dull here, but Ciao Mambo has its place. It's just not a place I'd choose to frequent.

Yet another weird and wacky entry from Dogfish Head, Midas Touch is an herbed beer, and a good one at that. It might not be World Wide Stout, but then it's not as expensive either.

The beer pours with an extremely golden hue and a nice head, about a finger in size. Looking at it, it's a great looking ale, almost regal looking in all its gold colors. Should a beer ever be a MacGuffin in an Indiana Jones movie, I feel this one would be on top of the list.

A sniff reveals a mellow aroma of honey and herbs. In a sense it reminds me more of mead than beer, which is well and good, particularly seeing Dogfish Head itself describes it in a similar fashion.

Take a sip, and the beer laces your tongue comfortably. It's sweet up front, with the malts revealing themselves as the flavor peters out. Medium body and some minor carbonation makes Midas Touch instantly drinkable, and it's hard to believe this is a 9% ale. The alcohol is barely noticeable.

Overall I quite liked it, though the sweetness kind of got to me after a while. Half a bottle would have been enough. If I was a flaming sexist, I'd say this one would be a hit with ladies who prefer wine to beer. It has a feminine touch to it.

Recommended, certainly, though maybe not worth walking through the snow for.