We were walking past an El Salvadorian restaurant the other day and reading the menu posted on the window, wondering if we should stop by for dinner after our walk. On the sidewalk, a young man who we guessed might be a chef there was taking a smoke break. Watching us trying to make a decision he broke into a big smile and gave us an impromptu education on the cuisine and some of the signature dishes. We were back an hour later, hungry and ready to try some of what we had heard about. The food was amazing and the prices very reasonable. Every sauce was made from scratch. The attention to detail that went into preparing the dishes was amply evident.
The young man served us, made us our drinks and also introduced us to three different jalapeno sauces - each distinctly different from the other. If not for him taking that smoke break exactly when we were passing by, we would have never discovered this place. Once we got home, I checked the reviews of the restaurant. It turns out that the establishment is highly rated and has been featured in a ton of local and not so local publications. The young man who explained to us how a papusa is made and why we must try it is the chef-owner of the place.
The experience made me think about happenstance in life and how being at the right place at the right time opens certain doors that lead to paths we would not have otherwise taken. That evening we would have walked on and never known what we had missed. Masa Harina may now become a staple in my kitchen.
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