I was expecting the restaurant, Tom's Burgers, to be a little run-down “hole in the wall.” I expected it to be filled with all the same old patrons that had been there since the place opened, wearing the same clothes and eating the same food, but with brand new teeth and hips. I walked to the counter expecting to order the standard burger; beef patty, cheese, with maybe some lettuce and ketchup. After reading the menu a bit, I came across a menu item that stood out among all the rest, Mexican Jambalaya.
The Mexican Jambalaya was prepared in layers. The bottom layer consisted of Fritos, or whatever similar corn chip Tom's uses, followed by the chili and cheese, topped off by lots of shredded lettuce and a bit of diced onion and tomato.
The corn chips provided a nice, crunchy counterpart to the meatiness of the chili. The chili was hearty and filling if only a little bit greasy. It was almost as if the oil was in there intentionally for the corn chips to soak in and create a completely different level of heartiness. The fresh vegetables on top gave the jambalaya a lightness and the lettuce added a cool, crisp texture. The mixture of the heavier components with the lighter components completed the dish in a nice balance. The only thing that was missing from the dish was rice. I feel that the bouncy texture of steamed rice mixed with all that was going on in Tom's Mexican Jambalaya could give it that one little kick it needs to become a full entree. Still though, Mexican Jambalaya from Tom's is the kind of menu item that can bring on a rush of feelings and memories for anyone that grew up with it in their school's cafeteria.
