Steve recommends: tripe soup…

Oh yeah I do.  In my world, there is nothing better than a steaming bowl of beef stomach soup.  Summer, winter, fall, spring, it’s always in season baby. 

Four of the best in my world:

1. The current favorite:  pancita, Taqueria Cielito Lindo, 29 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY.  Lindo’s Mexican version is comprised of beef stock heavily reinforced with chile. The depth of the chile infused stock is perfectly offset by the fresh garnish of cilantro, chopped onion and fresh squeezed lime.  Plus, there’s always a nice piece of beef trotters for your gnawing pleasure.  Served with fresh corn tortillas.  A meal in a bowl for $12.  I also recommend a Jarritos limon soda.  It just…goes.
   
   
2. The gold standard, my go to soul food option: mondongo, Mi Tierrita, 340 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY.  A lighter Colombian version without chile.  The chefs at Mi Tierrita use their soups as nature intended: a hearty, delicious home for whatever leftovers happen to be floating around the kitchen, so there is usually a slight variation involved.  There’s always an a-ha moment when you find an ingredient that was not in the last bowl you had: chunks of rotisserie chicken, pork hocks, peas, carrots.  The only constants I have seen so far: tender tripe and potatoes that have soaked up the soupy deliciousness until nearly bursting.  It’s all good and even better when you float some of their signature fresh hot salsa (cilantro, chile, lime) they bring to the table at the start of your meal.
   
   
3. The very good version that’s close enough to work to go there for lunch: pancita de res, Cinco de Mayo, 3725 Middle Country Road, Calverton, NY.  Similar to the pancita from Lindo’s with a somewhat lighter stock.
   
   
4. You will always remember your first: flaki, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.  Needless to say, this Polish version is lacking the chile reinforcement and bold flavors of the versions from Latin America.  As Agnes is fond of saying, “I have added the secret Polish spices to this dish: salt and pepper.”  But, that does not mean flaki is lacking in flavor.  It has a great sour edge that sidles up perfectly to ice cold beer and rye bread with butter.  I am making a mental note to make a visit when we’re in Canada again.

So, this list needs to be much, much longer, any good tripe in your world?