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A Seat at the Table

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It’s ugly, messy, comes in a Styrofoam container and hits your stomach like a rock, but the sauce-drenched sandwich known as torta ahogada may be the single best thing I ate this summer. I know, that’s a bold statement. After all, if you have been following this column, you know there have been some pretty amazing food adventures in the last few months.

There was the barbecue in L.A.’s Little Korea, the purple potato and bacon pizza from Avant Tapas and Wine in Buellton, and just two weeks ago there was the amazing whole hog cooked Memphis-style at Margerum Wine Co. But the Torta Ahogada from the newly opened California Tacos, in Nielsen’s Center at 606 Alamo Pintado Road, in Solvang tops the list for a few reasons.

First, it’s cheap and huge. For $6.99, you get a sandwich that would make any dietitian quake in their boots. The novelty of torta ahogada is also a big selling point. I haven’t been to every taco stand in the area, but of the ones I have visited, this is the only one serving tortas like these. California Tacos’ cooks start with a crusty roll, much harder than the typical bun found on most tortas. Then they add beans and pork carnitas inside the sandwich, along with all the other standard torta fixings. Finally, the whole sandwich is sunk in a spicy tomato sauce so deep it makes submarine sandwiches blush and covered with white onions.

I had my first one about a month ago at the grand opening of California Tacos. The Uribe family, who owns the restaurant, was kind enough to put me on the list of dignitaries and media who got to try a first meal for free. Even though their menu is filled with tempting items, I knew early on that the only thing for me was the mysterious torta ahogada.

The ahogada at the end of this sandwich’s name translates to drowned – and no, it is not a loose Spanish translation of hoagie, as my “just enough to get in trouble” grasp of the language originally led me to believe.

Announcing the Clarence Day Scholars

Thank you to a new scholarship program launched this fall, Rhodes hosted the top 10 freshmen of Memphis and Shelby County high schools. The Scholarship Program of Clarence Day, a partnership between Rhodes and days, will meet 100% need 10 students from the region financial (tuition, room, board and books) for four years. Each student will also receive support for a "learning outside the classroom" experience in the metro Memphis, such as service, research or internships.The Day Foundation was established by Memphis businessman and philanthropist Clarence Day '52, died in 2009.

The program combines the passion Clarence Day to encourage young people to be the best they can be and to make Memphis a better place in an institution for which he was deeply worried. Thanks to the generosity of the foundation day, the scholarship program of Clarence Day ensures that the talented students of Memphis / Shelby County, regardless of income, have access to a world-class education, liberal arts and the possibility of a positive impact on Memphis.

Day Scholars are required to meet Rhodes’ rigorous academic standards, maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average, remain on track to graduate in four years, live in accordance with the Rhodes Honor Code and complete one summer fellowship activity.

Elena Mosby , who attended Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, says she initially was attracted to Rhodes because of “its commitment to academic diversity and adherence to an Honor Code which is unlike any other. Also there is an incredible commitment to service. Being a resident of the Memphis area, I’m extremely grateful for the Day Scholarship because now I have the opportunity to give back to my city and be a student at the best liberal arts college in the nation.

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