Michael’s Grill and Taqueria
1126 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove
(831) 647-8654, michaelstaqueriapg.com
265 Reservation Road, Marina
(831) 884-2568
321 Main St., Salinas
(831) 754-8917, michaelsgrilltaqueria.com
In the 1800s, it was the Mexicans living throughout the West of what became the U.S. who had the greatest influence on what cowboys ate out on the range. They learned from the original cowboys, the vaqueros, who brought beans, potatoes, peppers and other New World ingredients to the campfire to create tasty, inexpensive grub. The first recorded Mexican restaurant in the U.S. was born in 1849 during the California gold rush. “El Farolito” was opened in San Francisco by a woman named Juana Machado who served up traditional enchiladas and tamales. Here in Monterey County we are fortunate to have Michael’s Grill and Taqueria, where the Mexican food is good, plentiful and won’t break the bank. You can thank the vaqueros and Juana Machado for influencing the cowboys, miners and the future of U.S. cuisine for giving Michael’s life over 150 years later.
