485770 Sat Feb 02 16:54:06 -0800 2008 27 3 California 0 3359587 This was/is on the old highway into Calexico, stopped there frequently as a kid (ok, a long time ago); they made a "puffy" quesadilla, the likes of which I have never seen elsewhere. Anyone have experience with such things and if so, where? Sat Feb 02 16:54:06 -0800 2008 31795 ibstatguy 1 3360360 if by 'puffy' you just mean thick and made with fresh masa (not from a tortilla) they are fairly common and sometimes called 'estilo DF' (Mexico City style). but I am guessing that you really mean puffy, with lots of air, in which case the only thing I can think of that sounds at all similar are the puffy sopes at La Fogata in Salinas, that I first read about in this post by Melanie Wong: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/89248 They are good, and unique in my experience....I could see someone calling them a quesadilla if they had cheese instead of meat.... Sat Feb 02 23:22:39 -0800 2008 3359587 10158 susancinsf 2 3361276 no to the first and yes to the second in terms of the description your provided. The "quesadilla" name was applied to the dish by the restaurant and the only filling was cheese. Sun Feb 03 11:22:35 -0800 2008 3360360 31795 ibstatguy 1 3362694 I am very familiar with those quesadillas because I grew up in Imperial Valley and they are a staple out there. They are called "Special Quesadillas" and are made with a raw flour tortilla that has quesadilla cheese inside and the edges are crimped up like an empanada and they are quickly deep-fried. I make my own and there are still some places in El Centro that you can get them. You can find them at Celia's where you can get them with Chili Relleno sauce poured over them - they are soooo light and crispy there (located at the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Adams Ave) and La Salsa (4th street and Adams Avenue). There used to be a little drive through type shack on 4th street that you could grab one and get for the ride back to San Diego but it changed hands...don't know if the new place has it. A lot of the restaurants in the area carry them but those are two of the best places to get them. Mon Feb 04 04:52:23 -0800 2008 3359587 133818 LisaSD 2 3363333 Thanks!! Mon Feb 04 09:07:51 -0800 2008 3362694 31795 ibstatguy 2 3411848 LisaSD ~ I too grew up in El Centro and now live in Idaho. I am CRAVING a Special Quesadilla! Would you mind sharing your recipe for making them yourself? Also, I'm not familiar with quesadilla cheese. I always thought they just used jack cheese. I would be forever grateful!! Tue Feb 19 00:55:55 -0800 2008 3362694 167422 Bystander 2 3413081 Lisa - are you sure about that location for Celia's? I don't think that Adams and Imperial intersect. Thanks again, may head up to La Salsa today... Tue Feb 19 10:15:59 -0800 2008 3362694 31795 ibstatguy 3 3414677 ibstatguy - Lisa is right about the site for Celia's. The intersection used to be called 4 Corners, by the locals. I ate at Celia's when I visited the Valley a couple of years ago. I think it's run by some of the people that used to work at LaHacienda, now that it's closed. Celia's is excellent. Tue Feb 19 16:27:25 -0800 2008 3413081 167422 Bystander 2 3413724 Holy cow! I grew up in ElCentro as well and haven't thought of the "special quesadilla" in years. I used to get mine at a place next to the Crest of Fox & Crest theaters on main St. Has anyone had one here in SD? Tue Feb 19 12:35:56 -0800 2008 3362694 82566 Kico 1 3415885 None here in San Diego that I know of...but I'd like to teach them ALL how to make it so I don't have to! Bystander, you're right. Celia was a waitress for a lonnngggg time at the Hacienda Imperial airport location and started the restaurant when the Hacienda was torn down. The Hacienda was revived in the meantime and is open on the corner near the courthouse. I heard they were building a new location back in Imperial though. As for your request for a recipe for Special Quesadillas, get a bag of La Pina flour if you can find it and make the tortilla recipe on the back of the bag. Put some cheese strips in the middle, fold it over, put water around the edge and crimp the edges and deep fry. No biggie! The Queso Quesadilla is made by FUD or Cacique but you can use Monterey Jack if you can't find them. The Queso Quesadilla cheese is more like a mozarella. Wed Feb 20 05:14:48 -0800 2008 3359587 133818 LisaSD 2 3423127 Thanks so much for the info, Lisa. I'll check around for that brand of flour; we have a large hispanic population here so several stores carry specialty things for their culture. I'll keep my fingers crossed but I'll still try to make them regardless. Really appreciate the help. It's also nice to hear from others that are from the Valley. Thu Feb 21 22:55:24 -0800 2008 3415885 167422 Bystander 1 3415894 ibstatguy, Adams becomes Evan Hewes Hwy after you cross Imperial going west...that's probably why you thought that. Celia's in on the north side of the street. Wed Feb 20 05:17:59 -0800 2008 3359587 133818 LisaSD 1 3425669 We used to get these at a taco stand "Acapulco" on 3rd St. in L.A. (not the chain). The recipe we use to make them is 1/2 jack cheese 1/2 cheddar cheese in chunks. Spread flour tortilla with cream cheese (yes I really mean cream cheese) and add cheese and ortega green chiles. Roll up tortilla and secure with toothpick and deep fry in pan of oil that covers 1/2 of the rolled tortilla. Fry to golden brown and turn over to fry the other side. Fantastic!! but probably not heart healthy. Fri Feb 22 16:14:15 -0800 2008 3359587 88654 hungerpains 1 3431518 hungerpains, that sounds good too! If it is made with a tortilla that is cooked, then your restaurants version is basically just a fried quesadilla. The "special" quesadilla starts out with a "raw" piece of dough...that's what makes it special. I'm telling you, it could be a huge marketing phenom if someone would do it here in SD... Mon Feb 25 04:10:44 -0800 2008 3359587 133818 LisaSD 1 3759511 I can't believe no one mentioned Camacho's out on Wahl Rd!! I used to live in El Centro about 25 years ago, and I still dream about their Special Quesadillas. Split on open and shove some guacamole and frijoles in there...ummm!! How about the carne asada from the market on 4th? Anyone have a good recipe for that marinade? Sat Jun 07 17:39:45 -0700 2008 3359587 198807 sissyv 2 4471516 I TOTALLY AGREE!! CAMACHO'S!! I also really like the special quesadillas at La Fonda. I've been looking for a recipe for these because you can't find the damn things anywhere but the valley and I am seriously craving a special quesadilla and some good horchata. Tue Mar 03 21:20:45 -0800 2009 3759511 271570 whitneyxx 1 3903759 I am from the Imperial Valley and the best special quesadilla's are from La Hacienda (next to the court house). They have the best carne asada burittos and quacamole! I make the special quesadillas from time to time --make tortilla dough, fill it with monterey jack and seal it up and deep fry it in LARD...only way you can get that great flavor...does anyone know any good carne asada recipes from the valley...we order it from Kennedy's Karne, but very expensive to ship. Sat Jul 26 11:52:05 -0700 2008 3359587 213340 Brandi 1 3904961 Brandi, if you live in the San Diego area - Kennedy's Karne has a location in Escondido. Most carne asada in the valley has ReaLemon juice with garlic, salt and pepper (some add cilantro). That's it! Sun Jul 27 02:32:51 -0700 2008 3359587 133818 LisaSD 1 4160257 Hey there- found this site and saw the talk about the "puffy qesadilla". All the locals know they are called "special quesadillas" (especial). The recipe belonged to a Mr. Caro and his family and is over 50 years old. The only place you can find them is in the Imperial Valley. There are 3 women who can make them like they should be made. One of them being married to Mr. Caro before he passed. I found a trademark on the "La Hacienda" Original Especial Quesadilla. They are the best thing you ever tasted. You can serve them with Chile Rellano sauce or guacamole or you can slit them open and stuff them with whatever you like. You can of course have them shipped anywhere. They are really tasty and kind of a comfort food for me. email auntie.linda@verizon.net for info. I will try to find the website. So glad I found this site. Sun Nov 09 14:41:44 -0800 2008 3359587 238610 LINDA HOPKINS 2 4162851 thanks - will await word on how to order Mon Nov 10 15:10:14 -0800 2008 4160257 31795 ibstatguy 1 4341704 As an ex desert rat I can't understand how the Vallley's special quesadilla hasn't found its' way into other parts of the country. They are the only known bribe to get my children to visit El Centro in mid August. My youngest carries a picture of one from Camachos on her cell phone and is continuing to search for special quesadillas every time she visits a Mexican restaurant. My family tried the special quesadillas at Celia's,La Hacienda by the Court House(where El Sombrero used to be) and Camachos on our visit last year and the one closest to the old LaHacienda quesadillas was Camachos. We always eat ours plain- of course a bit of Camacho's enchilada sauce might end up on the edge though that usually ends up being added to the machaca burrito. Tue Jan 20 10:46:55 -0800 2009 3359587 258930 mommyla 2 4348427 I wish there was a place over here in San Diego where I could find those quesadillas... Thu Jan 22 12:59:14 -0800 2009 4341704 31795 ibstatguy 2 4474592 I never thought I'd see a discussion of Imperial Valley special quesadillas on chowhound! I, too, am originally from El Centro. My family lived all over the country but went back in 1964 and has been there ever since. These days I go down to visit them every week or two and we generally have dinner at Camacho's, La Hacienda, Celia's, etc. It's a rare meal where no one orders a puffy, tender, delicious special quesadilla. If you find yourself driving along the 8 freeway someday, I highly recommend a stop in El Centro for lunch or dinner. Do it soon, before EC becomes a Sandy Eggo suburb and the young people start losing their charming manners. Wed Mar 04 18:41:43 -0800 2009 4341704 77350 sbritchky 1 4608280 I agree with Linda Hopkins. Special Quesadillas were invented in Imperial Valley. There are at least 6 restuarants in Imperial Valley that serve them. Camacho's, Celia's, La Hacienda El Centro, La Hacienda Imperial, Nana Dora's Brawley and El Zarape in Imperial. I have never seen Special Quesadillas anywhere else but Imperial Valley. Not even in Mexicali, Mexico a city of about a million people just across the border from El Centro. I think the original La Hacienda (now closed) in Imperial made the best Special Quesadillas. Sat Apr 18 23:10:51 -0700 2009 3359587 283817 rogerconejo 2 5197826 I think it's safe to say that every Mexican restaurant in the Imperial Valley serves special quesadillas. I know that even places in Holtville serve them. Sat Nov 21 00:14:48 -0800 2009 4608280 1126248 msamaha 1 5078465 We lived in Imperial Vally most of our lives. We retired to Colorado and missed the local food including quesadillas. We decided to try to make some. We went to Wal-Mart. They had the following ingredients. La Abuela Brand Ready-to-Cook Tortillas These are raw, uncooked tortillas....not the ones already cooked and we use for burritos or tacos. Weslaco, TX www.la-abuela.com La Chona Quesadilla Mexican Shredded Cheese www.sigmafoods.com Houston, TX We put the cheese on a tortilla, folded the tortilla in half, sealed the edges with a fork, cooked on high heat in olive oil. They were very, very similar to those in Imperial Valley in such restaurants as Camachos Place, Celias, La Fonda, etc. The package said you can seal the edges with milk or eggwash. We are happy campers. Sun Oct 04 13:32:28 -0700 2009 3359587 1113873 McPhee100 1 5197828 I think special quesadillas should STAY in the Imperial Valley! If they came to San Diego everyone would know about them and they wouldn't be as special anymore! Sat Nov 21 00:16:58 -0800 2009 3359587 1126248 msamaha 2 5198414 I would dearly love for them to be here in San Diego Sat Nov 21 10:03:17 -0800 2009 5197828 31795 ibstatguy