Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1991)
FEATURE May 22,1991 THE CLACKAMAS PRINT Jose's Mexican Cafe a perfect 10 Review by David Harrison Staff Writer Is there a place left on earth that can give a hungry person a good meal, fast and cheap? Will it have fascinating atmosphere, friendly waiters and smiling wait resses ? Are there still people who can make works of art with a spat ula, and can you find them with out having to rent an airplane and parachute into hostile territory? Is there a “Perfect Restaurant?” Chez Jose’s Mexican Cafe is a good place to begin your quest. Squashed next to the Burlingame grocery store on Terwilliger Boule vard, the place looks so ordinary that most people pass it up. Little do they realize they are driving right past what may be, if the time it right, the "Perfect Restaurant.” On a scorching Oregon summer day, the Chez’s spicy good food washed down with an imported beer promises a glimpse of what heaven really is. The Chez Jose, with its off beat floor scheme, looks like a tornado swiped it from Corvallis and plopped it down in Portland. Fake marble pillars jut up ran domly around the cafe floor, fail ing miserably to touch the incredi bly high ceiling. Turquoise diner seats sprout around an L-shaped bar table wrapped tightly around the cooking space. Low hanging lights that seem stolen from a pool hall or poker table shine down closely on the tables. Somehow, little seed-shaped neutron bombs.. The food was a little slow in coming, although time passed pretty quickly with thewell-mixed margaritas. Although $4 for a “Jose’s Special Margarita” seems pretty stiff, it is definitely invalu able as a salve for the salsa. If you are pressed for time, the Taco & Chile Relleno combi nation dinner (#4) was the fast est, while the Burrito & Enchi lada combo (#2) spent so much time under the warming oven that the plate was dangerously hot Unfortunately, the Burrito & Enchilada combination plate was also the best dinner out of the three chosen. Although there seemed to be a little problem with "This place has a the ground beef that day (it was daring kind of tough and had an unpleasant tex ture), the chicken enchilada was character that something else. The cook some stimulates how managed to stuff the enchi conversation and the lada to bursting point with tender chunks of chicken, and still leave taste buds at the room for cheese and one of the same time" tastiest sauces that has ever graced an enchilada. Unfortunately, some -David Harrison of the precious stuff had leaked into the frijoles and rice by the After my lungs stopped smol time it got to our table. dering, I managed to get a taste of The Enchilada & Taco combo what the chips taste like, sans toxic dinner (#3) was ordinary, besides waste. They were excellent, crisp the exceptionally good cheese and free of the grease or oil that enchilada. One good thing to some Mexican restaurants seem remem ber is to a vo id the so ft shell to love layering onto their chips. taco. The ground beefs worst And the salsa seems to be addic qualities somehow get picked up tive, though extremely spicy. when eaten with a soft, textureless Somehow they managed to find a covering. This is a small point, way to make me like the coarsely though, and hardly noticeable when chopped chunks of tomato and compared to the rest of the fare. onion, and the spices and herbs Looking back, I regret most were pure heaven. If only they not leaving room for dessert, or could find a way to leave out the even most of my dinner. It’s not though, the tornado did an excel lent job in designing a warm, friendly diner. The place has a daring ki id of character that stimu lates conversation and the taste buds at the same time. Even shortly before closing, the place radiated energy. The waitress seemed to have corn chips in a huge straw basket on my table before I even sat down, and then placed a small bowl of salsa right next to it, very carefully. A good thing for the timid to remember would be to order the milder ver sion of the salsa. The salsa was so hot I wondered why the waitress didn’t use asbestos gloves. often in Portland that you can enter a restaurant starving and leave absolutely stuffed, with money still in your pocket. Din nerwill run from about $13 to $15 for one huge combination, a drink and dessert, depending on how generous you feel and if you manage to make it to the ice cream. Chez Jose is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10p.m. It would be best to go during the less crowded late evening, and be sure to remember a ravenous appetite. Besides the location we visited at 8502 SW Terwilliger, you might want to try ”.. .You might suddenly realize you have found the perfect restaurant. Otherwise known as heaven." -David Harrison the new Chez Jose East, at 2200 NE Broadway. If you are in the mood for a good cheap look at what the food is like, for $3.95 they will serve you what is, from all accounts, a truly legendary bowl of Chili Colo rado. Served with tortillas, chips and napalm-flavored salsa, this is a deal that should not be missed. Chip in about five more bucks for a bigger bowl, rice, frijoles and a great imported beer and you may suddenly realize you have found the Terfect Restaurant * Other wise known as heaven. Page 5 Event Calendar May IMO Student Art Show More than 100 CCC students will display their pointings, drawings, ceramics, jewelry and photography in the Pauling Gallery from 8 am. to 10 pro. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8 am. to 6 pm. Fridays. Exhibit open ing is Thursday, May 16, from 11 am. to 1 pro. For more information, call the Art Department at 657-6958, ext. 386. May 10-19 Native American Day« Environmental Learning Center. Saturday, May 18, 10*.m.-10p.m. Sunday, May 19, 10 a.m.-4 pm. Formore information, call 657-6958, ext. 351. Music in the Mall May 23 Guitarist Beth McIntosh performs country, jazz, and blues standards at a 12:30 concert in the CCC Community Center Mall. Free. For more information, call 657-6958, ext. 562. May 23 Vocal Jazz Night The CCC Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform in conceit at 8 p.m. in the CCC Community Center Malt $2 general admission, $1 for students. For more information, call the Music Department af 657-6958, ext. 434. May 24 25th Ann tvanary Evant Come help celebrate CCC’s 25th birthday! On this day in 1966, county voters created the college. Activities planned include a noon reception where people bom on this day are eligible to win a free class. Cake and refreshments will be served in the CCC Community Center MalL For more information, call 657-6958, ext. 538. May 27 Memorial Day: May 28 Ona Act Play “Sing to Me Through Open Windows’*. CCC McLoughlin Hall Theatre. 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 657-6958, ext. 356. Ona Act Play May 29 “Golden Fleece”. CCC McLoughlin Hall Theatre. 12 noon. For more information, call 657-6958, ext. 356. One Act Play May 30 “Ludlow FaiT. CCC McLoughlin Hall Theatre. 12:30 pan. For more information, Call 657-6958, ext. 356. A Collaction of Ona Act Playa May 30 AH three one act plays will be performed in the older listed above. CCC McLoughlin HaU Theatre. 7:30 pro. For more information, call 657-6958, ext. 356. Big Band Ball May 31 Put on your dancing shoes and step on out tonight! Music of the *30s ar.d *40s will be played by the CCC Jazz En semble. The joint will be jumpin*. 8-11 pm. in the Com munity Center MalL $10 couplc/$6 single. For more information, call the Music Department at 657-6958, ext. 434. Interested in special events at CCC? You can find out about workshops, sporting events, lectures, art exhibits, the ater productions and concerts taking place on campus by calling the 24-Hour Events Hotline at 657-6958, ext 688. If you would like to be included on our mailing list call 657-6958, ext 551, at AOACAAMAf M COMMttNITYCOLLtCC It took Galileo 16 years to master the universe. You have one night. It seems unfair. The genius had all that time. While you have a few short hours to learn your sun spots from your satellites before the dreaded astronomy exam. On the other hand, Vivarin gives you the definite advantage. It helps keep you awake and mentally alert for hours. Safely and conveniently. So even when the subject matter’s dull, your mind will stay razor sharp. If Galileo had used Vivarin, maybe he could have mastered the solar system faster, too. R« [yiWRlN Y UfastpicKup-safe as coffee Revive with VIVARIN! L------ y
