Some of my earliest childhood memories are of traveling with my parents to Mexico and Central America. Little scraps of images and impressions, some of which I can no longer put into context, remain in the reassesses of my brain. I do remember the city of Monterey however. I remember stalking the city market, surrounded by sights and smells, all new and foreign. I even recall trying to bargain with the local merchants in my broken Spanish.

As a child visiting Monterey I subsisted on Mexican rolls and bottled Coke. Peanut butter and jelly suddenly became fine cuisine when spread over a bolillo roll. Market food was inexpensive and delicious, and it was generally pretty safe, even for foreigners, so long as you were cautious. The daily trip to the corner bakery was also a part of our ritual. I even remember gathering enough coins off the ground to afford a favorite pastry.

I’ve not been to Mexico in quite a few years. Today my Spanish isn’t really Spanish but mostly consists of what I remember from my high school Latin classes, which are oftentimes close enough to be understandable. But what brings this too ambitious attempt at nostalgia to the pages of tylertxdirectory.com? Well, a little piece of the Monterey market now resides in Tyler.

A visit to Super Mercado Monterey is definitely a cultural experience. The store has so many of the things I loved about the original including bottled drinks I’ve not seen north of the border, freshly rolled tortillas of numerous varieties, pastries, and of course those incredible rolls.

And no trip to the local market could be complete without a helping of street food cooked on the spot. Super Mercado offers a great lunch menu including favorites like a great burrito, (definitely not the microwaveable variety), tacos, tostadas, tamales, etc. The prices are great and the food is exceptional.

But the market isn’t all exotic favs. They also stock more conventional, familiar foods. In those cases I would probably stick with Brookshires or Walmart, simply because the prices are slightly lower on those common items. On most things however, the cost is real low. The charm of the place is both about the culture and foods. There is freshness, and an authenticity about the market. It’s refreshing to shop at a place that doesn’t feel like a national food conglomerate.

If the nostalgia of foreign travel and market places appeals to you, try one that’s right here at home. It’s not like being immersed in another culture but it is something a little different. Super Mercado Monterey is located on the west loop in Westwood center, ironically opposite Taco Bell.