In Chile-Heads Digest, v.4 #423, I wrote: >Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 17:52:59 -0400 >From: The Old Bear <oldbear@arctos.com> >Subject: [CH] Boston: Mexican Cuisine at the Forest Cafe > >Well, I've mentioned this little neighborhood bar several times and >decided it was worth passing along the menu. Keep in mind that >this place is in an urban store-front, about twenty-five feet wide >and is split down the middle between the "cafe" and a bar. . . Well, I have been duly chastised by other aficionados of Cambridge's Forest Cafe for presenting only the basic menu and not the more exotic speciaties which are featured regularly. A quick trip to my archives produced the following supplemental menu from one weekend a while back: LOS EXPECIALES ------------------ SOUP ---- Sopa Princesa $2.95 Cream of black bean and chipotle chile over tortilla rajas and Mexican cheese. Sopa Tarasca $2.95 Traditional tortilla soup from Michoacan with thickened cream, chicharon, aged cheese and fried chile garnish. APPETIZERS ---------- Botana De Longaniza $4.95 Smoked mountain-style sausage served with red and green sauces, Mexican cream and guacamole. Ejotes $4.95 Fresh green beans pan-cooked with garlic, lime and coarse ground salt. Ensalada Cesar $4.25 Traditional Romaine lettuce and garlic crouton salad with homemade dressing and shaved parmesan. ENCHILADAS ---------- Enfrijoladas $10.95 Mexican cheese enchiladas baked with a vegetarian black bean, chipotle chile and hoja santa sauce. Enchiladas Trotsky $10.95 Blue corn and smoked cheese enchiladas with a Michoacan tomato sauce, crema Mexicana, fresh and dried cheeses. Enchiladas Xochitle $11.95 Mexican cheese, fresh and wild mushrooms and fresh spinach filled corn tortillas, baked with a chile serrano and fresh cilantro sauce. ENTREES ------- Atun Tamulipas $13.95 Pan cooked yellow fin tuna with fresh chile, bacon, mushrooms, garlic, onion and the most Mexican of herbs "epazote". Pescado Con Pipian Verde De Acuyo $13.95 Tonight's catch with a sauce of tomatillo, chile serrano, roasted pumpkin seeds and the anise-like herb "Acuyo" known throughout the cooking of Tabasco, Veracruz and Oaxaca. Cabrito Enchileno $11.95 Tender goatmeat cooked on the bone in a richly seasoned chile ancho sauce with northern spices. Served with fresh pico de gallo, hot tortillas, white rice and a bowl of our special drunken pinto beans. Salpicon De Pollo Teracita $11.95 Poached and shredded chicken breast pan-seasonsed with garlic, onions, black and gold olives, tomatoes, raisins, almonds, fresh jalapeno, mushrooms, and Mexican aromatics. Served with fresh guacamole, hot tortillas, salad garnish, stewed black beans and white rice. From Puebla. Tinga Poblana $11.95 From Pueblo with a Oaxacan touch: Poached and pulled chicken breast pan-sauteed with garlic, onion, chorizo sausage and smokey chipotle chiles in a light herby tomato sauce. Served with black beans, white rice, and salad garnish. Camarones Con Tequila Y Mango $13.95 Pan-cooked shrimp with fresh jalapeno, mango, papaya in a gold tequila orange parsley sauce. Camarones Con La Lola $13.95 Pan-cooked large shrimp with garlic, onion, fresh chiles, Mexican aromatics, white wine, cracked pepper and toasted bread crumbs. Served with black beans, white rice and salad garnish. Pescado Encacahuatado de Otzimba $13.95 Tonight's catch with a smokey hot peanut sauce seasoned with clove, cinnamon, and cumin. And for those who would like a second opinion, see the newspaper review from the Boston Phoenix on the web at: <http://www.bostonphoenix.com/alt1/archive/food/reviews/02-22-96/MEXICAN_CUI SINE.html> Cheers, The Old Bear