Cantina Steak Burrito.... Fresh and Flavorful

With Super Bowl 2013 a thing of the past, Monday morning dawned early as the kids readied themselves to get back to school.  It was probably something to do with my three days in the kitchen prepping for our 45 person super party, but the thought of packing lunches left my desire lacking.  Leaving my son with a, "Bring the guys home for lunch and I'll have burritos",  my husband looked at me like I was a little off my rocker.

Seeing his questioning look across the table I assured him, "I got this".  Last week the people at DailyBuzz Food approached me to review Taco Bell's new "Cantina Steak Burrito", and what better audience than a pack of hungry 16 and 17-year old boys?

While I must admit that fast food has been an infrequent stop for me for the last decade or so, Taco Bell and I have a history that takes me back to my college days.  Working nights at a department store after spending a full day at school, Taco Bell fit my budget and the classic Bean Burrito was a way of life.  Filling in with the occasional Crunchy Taco, Taco Bell became my dinner of choice for quite some time during those busy years.

As sometimes happens with good friends, Taco Bell's and my paths have drifted in different directions, and for the last decade or so our relationships has been more akin to distant acquaintances.  However, it was Taco Bell's newest addition, "The Cantina Steak Burrito" and its accompanying description of a burrito "filled with flavorful ingredients including citrus-herb marinated steak, premium Latin rice, flavorful black beans, guacamole made from real Hass avocados, roasted corn and pepper salsa, and creamy cilantro dressing all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla" that caught my attention.

Created by Chef Lorena Garcia, the passion put into the recipe is obvious in her videos found on the Taco Bell site.  "Born and raised in Venezuela, Chef Lorena Garcia credits gatherings with family and friends as a major career inspiration. Traveling to, and working in, places like France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, and the United States further honed Lorena’s cooking style and sensibilities. After establishing herself as a successful restaurateur and television host, Lorena brought her own personal “sazón” to Taco Bell® through our brand-new Cantina Bell™ Menu."  (credit, Taco Bell) 

Spending my post Super Bowl morning relaxing over a cup of coffee and the morning paper, I actually sent my husband to Taco Bell to pick up the burritos for the boys, and was greeted with "What do you have for us?" as the hungry pack swept into the kitchen.  Passing out the burritos, the boys sat around the outside table enjoying the mid-day San Diego sun, and I loved hearing their conversation travel from topic to topic as they polished off Taco Bell's latest offering.

As with teenage boys, not much of the conversation revolved around the food, but when asked their thoughts on the burritos I received rounds of thumbs up and happy smiles.  Making their way back to their cars it was Sam's comment of, "Same time tomorrow?" that had my heart, and off they went.

Overall conclusions...

• Teenage boy friendly?    Without a doubt
• Mom and Dad friendly?   Yes
• Bang for the buck?          Yep!  At around $5/burrito we call this budget friendly
• Convenience factor?        Very convenient - good for busy nights
• Size?                                Huge - I couldn't eat the whole thing
• Fresh ingredients?           Yes, with actual chunks of avocado (you all know how much I love avocado...) the fresh guacamole was my favorite part.
• Nutrition?  The sodium and calorie content being a bit high for my everyday consumption, this is a busy night and occasional fast food stop.  But the high dose of protein meets my picky approval.

Happy to have crossed paths after with my old friend after all these years, Taco Bell and I might not be quite as close as we once were back when I was in college, but we certainly won't be strangers anymore.  For those occasional busy nights when dance rehearsals or school activities run till long after the sun has set, the restaurant drive through makes this quick dinner easy on a busy mom, and with the burritos holding lean steak, rice, beans and a decent dose of fresh guacamole, the Cantina Steak Burrito works for me.

And on a side note... did you see the Taco Bell Super Bowl Ad?  I agree.... 

"Liv" Mas!!

 


This post is sponsored by Taco Bell. See how great our steak is when you try the new Cantina Steak Burrito. Because when it comes to a great steak burrito, it's all about the steak.