Tijuana Flats - Give in to Hemptation

Hello Foodie Friends,

I was recently invited to a special Food Blogger event at Tijuana Flats in Coconut Creek. Amongst the bloggers who attended were Shaina Wizov from Take a Bite Out of Boca, Tracy & Wayne Augustin from Two Forks & a Cork and Holli Lapes, The South Florida Sage.

We were all assembled there to try out 5 new menu items that are being rolled out for a limited time from July 9th - Sept 2nd. As part of their "Give in to Hemptation" campaign, each of the 5 dishes we tried had incorporated hemp seed into the tortillas. Why hemp seeds? Why not?!? They are, after all, high in protein and Omega 3's.

In case you didn't know the history about Tijuana Flats, here's a little background: Back in 1995, college student Brian Wheeler received a $20K loan from his dad; almost 20 years later, they have 101 locations in 6 states (90+ of them are located in FL). According to Jeff Rettig, aka "Junior", Tijuana Flats likes to think of itself as "Edgy, an Un-chain chain". They like to hang on to the inuendo and push the envelope. Junior proudly proclaimed that "something may offend you (here at Tijuana Flats) but it will never be the food."

The company held a contest in each of their markets asking each of them to develop two burritos using two items that were not on the regular menu and the following items that we were trying were from the winning recipes selected.

1. Adam Bomb

Like a Jalepeno Popper, served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce

2. Pie Roller

Kind of like an Italian Stromboli, it contained mushrooms & pepperoni, fajita peppers, lowfat mozzarella and Chipotle red sauce.

3. The Tree Hugger

This Vegetarian Burrito was made using a Cilantro Cream Cheese sauce, made in-house with crumbled tortilla chips, queso, cooked white onions, poblanos & mushrooms and put under the toaster.

4. Sweet Hemptation

This is Tijuana Flat's version of "Chicken & Waffles". Chicken pieces, churro, red onion, bacon, queso & maple syrup tossed in cinnamon sugar.

5. Banana Empanada

Banana pieces tossed in cinnamon sugar and stuffed in a lightly fried empanada shell and served with caramel syrup.

Jeff Rettig, aka "Junior", Director of Training with Tijuana Flats

Tracy Augustin proudly displaying a bottle of hot sauce she was lucky to win.  

Brandy Blackwell, Marketing Manager for Tijuana Flats welcoming all the bloggers

For a Tijuana Flats location near you, visit their website at: www.TijuanaFlats.com

Until we eat again...

  I send you delicious wishes, xo

Denise