My Mexican Love Affair...

The wind whipped against my face as I walked to meet a friend for an early birthday celebration.  We met up at the Ritz in Toronto after an indecisive hour of back and forth over a deciding on a new spot to enjoy on a spontaneous Wednesday night in the city. After a glass of champagne and a menu that just didn’t speak to our taste buds. We hopped in a cab and decided to check out a new spot I’d been hearing of - Fonda Lola.

From the second we walked through the door, we were whisked a thousand miles away… the table benches were made of stacked skids, around the room hung hearts in bird cages. The warmth of the room so welcoming and soothing we quickly forgot about the blistering Canadian Winter that lay outside the door.

I approached a man to ask for Andres, the mysterious man I’d connected with several months prior on twitter but never met. The man turned and greeted me with the warmest brown eyes and a smile. “Andres, I am he”. I explained how we knew each other, and within moments, we were seated at an intimate table for three. Andres placed a bottle of fine organic tequila in front of us, and said “we must drink tequila”. 

I could not put a finger on it, but I felt immediately within the presence of a soul I’d know for a very long time. Andres placed 3 shot glasses on the table and poured each half full. He picked up a glass and said “Salut!”. We stopped to inquire about a lemon. He chuckled and smiled gently, and said “that my friends is not how you drink tequila. We will sip it.” He went on to explain that the world had a misconception of the fine art of drinking tequila. He pointed out the instinct to take the shot then inhale and squint in the sting of the alcohol afterburn. With the most romantic of tongues, he explained. “take a sip, exhale through your nose, then through your mouth.”. Just like that, there was no afterburn. It was smoother than wine…My curiosity was peaked, my mind wide open.

Andres entertained my friend and I that evening, taking us a world away from the city for a few hours to an authentic Mexican Experience. While we were busy mulling over the menu and debating what we would share, he was busy cuing the kitchen to serve up his very best. The lightest and most exquisite Guacamole, a flavour packed Kale Salad, the menu went on… Every item tickled our tastebuds, and every word he used to beautifully and lovingly describe his menu touching our hearts. This was a whole new kind of romance…

We had butterflies, simply mesmerized soaking up Andres passion and love for fresh authentic Mexican food and fine tequila. I fell head over heels in love dish after dish. From Organic, to Reposado, to Anejo, I fell deeper in love with Tequila. 

We could not help but hop into a cab late in the evening with that satisfied, happy, in love feeling. It was the kind of connection that makes life rich and full. That moment in the day when something lights your soul on fire. Not only did I discover the best Mexican Food, Tequila, and Margarita’s in the city, but I also got the chance to relive that feeling… Thank you Andres and the incredible team at Fonda Lola. I will be back!

I look forward to falling in love again tomorrow and every single day for the rest of my life. <3