Posted by Wes /
Having never visited the state of Montana, I had no preset expectations of what kind of food I would, or should, encounter in the Big Sky Country. I flew to Bozeman for a virology conference related to my graduate work. I had a few free afternoons, and, thanks to the free shuttle that ran practically all over the whole city, I was able to make a quick commute downtown from the campus of Montana State University for coffee and quick eats.
With a small unassuming space on Main St., La Tinga will draw you in nose first if you happen to catch a whiff of the fresh corn tortillas walking by. As you walk in you will be transiently hypnotized by the large mirror that helps to artificially expand the small space. A genial, tall middle-aged man will greet you and enthusiastically tell you about the menu if you’re a newcomer. If he recognizes you, he will probably even make an effort to get on a first name basis. This happened to me on my second visit; the wrong name was called but I still appreciated the effort.
Tap water sits around the counter from the cash register beside a large bowl filled with aromatic fresh cut onions and cilantro. The first day I ordered 3 tacos, sampling from the selections on the menu: carne asada, la tinga (pork), and chicken & potato. The latter included blunt warning on the menu that it was seriously spicy. Each taco cost no more than $1.50 with a bit more added for extras like sour cream.
On my second visit, I was happy to repeat a sampling of tacos, but the dry erase board with specials called my name with the special of the day: two adobo chicken tacos with beans and rice for $5.50. The rice was fried but didn’t have any tomato sauce or heavy spices, which was fine with the salty beans. It was another great plate with fresh tortillas, tender slow cooked meats, and a delicious, traditional, well cared for sauce. Rounded out a tamarindo agua fresca, this was truly satisfying meal.
