Mexican food at Los Compadres in Long Beach is nothing special

Hard shell chicken tacos

Los Compadres in Long Beach seems to be a popular spot for Mexican food. Reviews on yelp are consistently good. The place was crowded for lunch on the afternoon of this review. Perhaps our party of about 40 had something to do with it.

The atmosphere was certainly festive. Colorful balloons decorated our tables. The dark wood interior was comfortable.

Of course, it is difficult to feed a crowd so big, and perhaps the hosts of the event were mostly responsible for the very limited selection options, but still.

Diners chose between either hard shell chicken tacos or hard shell potato tacos, that’s it. Aren’t hard shell tacos passé? California is the land of the luscious soft taco; hard shell tacos belong to the inferior realm of Taco Bell. Although the shells were tasty deep fried tortillas, all one could taste of the taco was the greasy shell.

Side dishes were rice and beans. The rice was too soft and tasted just like Rice-a-Roni. The beans were pintos and tasted overwhelmingly like chicken stock, not bad but not beany.

The guacamole was fresh but could use more spice, and at least one refill per table of four hungry diners.

The best part of the meal was the orange slice garnish.

Other diners who have more experience with Los Compadres said they come for the delicious ceviche. It did look good.

For now, though, this Long Beach restaurant reviewer and food critic gives Los Compadres just 1 thumb up.

Los Compadres
3229 East Anaheim Street
Long Beach, CA  90804
(562) 961-0061
www.loscompadreslbc.com


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You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Restaurant Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner and founder and director of Long Beach Grows.

Eggs, eggs and more eggs: a Long Beach Unified School District Science Fair project

Maya, a 4th grader from Minnie Gant Elementary

Eggs, eggs and more eggs: a Long Beach Unified School District Science Fair project

Home grown eggs have tall bright orange yolks.

Store bought eggs have dull yellow yolks that break easily.

Old eggs float.

Measuring the height of an egg yolk isn't as easy as it looks.

The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Science Fair was held Saturday May 21, 2011 at Cabrillo High School located at 2001 Santa Fe Avenue in West Long Beach near Admiral Kidd Park.

LBUSD students have been anticipating this event since conducting their projects and submitting them almost two months ago.  A total of 1,100 students (the number of registrants) represented 56 LBUSD schools, including 34 elementary schools, 10 K-8 schools, 10 middle schools, and 2 high schools. 

A total of 125 reviewers, including Boeing employees, LBUSD teachers, CSULB professors and students, and community volunteers, volunteered their Saturday morning to support and inspire our future generation of scientists and science-literate citizens. Each student presenter had the opportunity to speak with at least two reviewers.

In addition to the student posters, there were numerous interactive exhibits including an 80 pound cobra to pet, solar boats, wind energy devices, and robots made by student engineers.

Eric Brundin, the School District’s K-12 Science Curriculum Leader, said of the Science Fair

“It is a testament to our great schools and families that in spite of all the economic and employment challenges people face, our district Science Fair has stayed strong. We are still huge, one of the largest such events in the nation, and the excitement of our students is as strong as ever. That, after all, is what keeps us going.”

At least one of the projects was relevant to urban agriculture. Maya, a 4th grader from Minnie Gant Elementary, raises chickens at home and told all about her experiments to test the differences between store bought eggs and fresh home grown eggs. Onlookers were impressed with her knowledge of chickens and the obvious differences in egg shell integrity that could be seen as she “candled” eggs with a bright LED flashlight. Excerpts from her poster presentation and report are given in the slideshow.

Maya said of the experience

“I really liked doing a science fair project. I think I was actually lucky to be picked to go to the fair. It was cool doing it on eggs.””

Next year, maybe you too will decide to do a science fair project based on something to do with agriculture.

A gross store bought egg with a thin transparent shell.

A gross store bought egg that let the dye in.

For more information about future LBUSD Science Fairs

Eric Brundin
K-12 Science Curriculum Leader
Long Beach Unified School District
997-8000, Ext. 2963

Karen Connors
LBUSD Science Fair Steering Committee
(562) 997-8000, Ext. 2963

A mess of eggs.

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You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as  Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, National Science News Examiner, National Food Policy Examiner, and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

“Most hens are usually raised in crowded not very nice factories in small cages. Only some ever see the sun or go outside. These are called pastured. My hens are pastured and they have names and I love them.”

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

What is food security?

Community Food Security Coalition

Our government* defines food security as "affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times."

For some people, food security means to not have to worry about where their family's next meal is coming from, whatever that meal might be and for whatever reason, including poverty, homelessness, or absence of food even if money is no object.

Some communities are considered food deserts because they lack access to grocery stores. A food desert could be a small town in a remote rural location, or it could be a neighborhood within a big city.

However, food security is not merely freedom from hunger. One's diet might fill the belly but still be nutritionally inferior and actually cause harm.

Even access to a full service grocery store does not ensure food security, if one takes into account whether the food is stripped of its nutritional value by over-processing, whether it contains antibiotics, hormones, drug-resistant bacteria, or other contaminants that don't belong in our food. Food security requires that our food be safe.

Long term food security on a global and even local scale requires that we preserve the natural resources necessary to sustain our food supply.

With food insecurity comes serious health problems and other socioeconomic issues.

Food insecurity has been responsible for the demise of entire civilizations.

Without food, we die.

Earth is fast approaching its capacity to feed a global population expected to reach 9 billion people in just under 40 more years.

Thus, food security is the most important social issue of the 21st century.

I will address these and other issues relevant to the loaded term "food security." Stay tuned for more details to come.

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture


More information

Community Food Security Coalition
Food Deserts
USDA Food Desert Locator
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Enjoy this? Please share it and comment below even if only to say "Hi!"

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as National Food Policy Examiner, National Science News Examiner, Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner and founder and executive director of Long Beach Grows.

Copyright © 2011 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.