LA CAMPANA - THE TORTILLA WHISPERER
Sometime around 2007, my wife and I discovered La Campana. When we would drive past their location near I-27 and 26th, on any given morning, there would be a full parking lot. On what seems like a dozen occasions, we would say “We need to go by there for breakfast.” But the situation never presented itself. Work or parental duties or honey-dos would always get in the way. The final time we said the same “We need to try that place” we made a pact; the next morning we were going. We did, and we have never looked back.
On our first visit, the Joint was filled with police officers and tradesmen. #1 hint of a good Joint: Look for the cop cars and pickups/vans with ladders on them. They will never steer you wrong. First order of business, chips and hot sauce. THE Hot Sauce. It deserves to be capitalized. This is not like any hot sauce you have had anywhere else in town (I know it is technically salsa, I don’t care. I was born in Amarillo. It is hot sauce). I have no idea of the ingredients, but I know it is not your everyday, out of a jar, tomato and jalapeno afterthought that haunt so many restaurant tables. This is a green, potent, delightful concoction that I can only surmise includes green onions and tears of an Aztec God.
WARNING! Never try THE Hot Sauce until you have a drink. I assume due to it being made fresh, its spiciness fluctuates at each visit from “Pleasantly Tingly” to “Oh My God, Make It Stop.” Do not let my description dissuade you. Full disclaimer; I like spice, but have my limits. I would consider myself to like it hotter than the average person. Maybe not the average Texan, but the average person. I have friends that THE Hot Sauce even in its hottest form, is merely a blink to them. I am not this person. Once you have your drink, dig in. And don’t stop. If you have hit the motherlode of spice, it only affects you when you quit application. Then you struggle to make it end. The only remedy is to just keep loading up a vessel of a fresh made chip with the brew until you have to give up.
On our first visit, I remember my first flour tortilla. It was so large, it was folded into quarters to be able to fit into the tortilla server that it was delivered to our table in. They are so tasty, no matter my order, there will be a flour tortilla involved. As I was reveling in how good the tortilla was, the Tortilla Whisperer appeared from the kitchen. A small lady with flour all over her apron is the secret to these circles of delight. They are like no other tortilla I have ever had. Treat yourself to one. Or 6.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
Over the years and countless visits, I have tried almost everything on the menu. While their lunch and dinner offer some of the best Mexican Food in town, the breakfast is the standout. My go-to at La Campana is the Pork in Green Carne Guisada with scrambled eggs. Included are home fried potatoes and top-notch refried beans along with 2 of the Tortilla Whisperer's best work. *Note Tell-Tale Sheriff's Vehicle in the Parking Lot
But before the food was ordered, the chips and THE Hot Sauce arrived; I patiently waited for water to arrive so I could prepare for the analysis of today's spiciness. Yahtzee! About 5 chips in, you realize it is creeping up on you. Your nose starts to water, and you start gauging if you can keep going or will have to give up and power through the sensation until food arrives. You apply water which only helps until you swallow the water. You slowly keep dosing out a chip with hot sauce on it until you realize that you will run out of hot sauce before the food arrives and then panic sets in. I had to flag down the waiter so I could resupply my ammo. Do not get me wrong, the sauce is hot, but it is spectacularly delicious. It has a savory, umami, buttery flavor that has to be experienced to be believed.
When breakfast arrived, the pork was tasted and appreciated. I do not know if better pork in green exists. This is pretty damned near perfection. I began assembling a tortilla filled with eggs, pork, sauce, beans and potatoes. As I work my way around Amarillo, I will be sampling breakfast burritos to find the best ones in town. This is the current benchmark. It is warm, fresh, slightly spicy, and comforting. Everything is harmonious. The tortilla is a little on the soft side, so it has some difficulty holding together under the strain. You will have green sauce on your hands; plan accordingly. There is enough on the plate to create 2 burritos and have some beans leftover.
I have a soft, flour spot in my heart for La Campana. It has never disappointed me. It will not disappoint you either. Go experience THE Hot Sauce and please an Aztec God at your earliest opportunity.
2220 Canyon Dr
Amarillo, TX 79109
806-373-4486
Recommended Dishes
Pork in Green Carne Guisada
