Cup XII: Weren't We a Luverly Bunch of Loroco-Nuts?

Tea: Valentine, steeped a bit too long.

Music: Harry Connick Jr., "It Had to Be You"

Time: Night.

First Foodspedition today, to El Pulgarcito in Merriam. It's a tiny Salvadoran place, with which I have fallen head over palate in an odd sort of love.

"Five white people," Brian said. "This must be some kind of a record."

We were three of the five: One with green hair, one with red and one with none. Had I avoided the sun a little more this summer, we could have put our heads together and done a pretty creditable imitation of an Irish flag.

Three Anglos in the same booth at El Pulgarcito constitutes a curiosity, although I've been part of a larger group. Clan Steve takes up five spots at the counter, and one day an excursion that started with my friend Scott and his son grew to include his wife, her mom and two more kids.

It was Aubry's first visit. Brian and I have been converts for a while, although we took separate paths to this bit of culinary enlightenment.

Aubry didn't get the full Salvadoran experience, though. They switched the music over from Salvadoran to whitebread bland (yes, that's you, Star 102), and the waitress spoke more English than Spanish. Still, Aubry's a new fan of El Pulgarcito.

We all ordered pupusas, the specialty of the house, and each of us got at least one with white cheese and loroco. (Yes, I could describe pupusas, and loroco, but that's what the links are for. Go on, click. Don't make me do all the work.) I also got a pork tamale, because I'm a sucker for just about anything wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed.

The waitress brought a large jar of curtido, sour and spicy Salvadoran slaw, which is an outstanding topping for both pupusas and tamales. Here's a recipe.

The pupusas (with various fillings) and tamales (chicken, pork or corn) are two bucks each, making them leading contenders for best cheap eats in Kansas City. There's a more extensive menu, including a whole fried fish, and I'll get to it all eventually.

Despite the soft "rock," which detracted a bit from the overall atmosphere, the Foodspedition was a great success. Next up, who knows? The only given is that we'll be going somewhere independent.

Big chains are fine for bicycles and keeping vicious dogs from sinking their teeth into innocent backsides. But for restaurants?

Not so much.