# What was this dip (Mexican restaurant) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387 "2012-08-23T15:19:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/1 "2012-08-23T15:19:30Z")
We dined at a small-town Mexican restaurant last week. Food was decent enough (though my portion appeared to have been cooked in water from the Dead Sea; as we had just spent several hours lugging stuff in hot, humid weather the salt was actually a good thing). When we sat down, they brought us a bowl of tortilla chips, along with two bowls for dipping. One had a standard, unremarkable red salsa (perfectly edible, just nothing memoerable). The other appeared to be a bowl of sour cream. However, on tasting: while the consistency was exactly like sour cream, the taste was quite different. Just a little bit tangy, and the aftertaste had just a hint of spice but no real heat - and it was _sweet_. Not like melted-ice-cream sweet, but definitely not a savory dish. And on closer visual inspection, it wasn’t pure sour-cream white either, I think there was a slight off-white tint as if from spices or whatever. It did not taste cheesy (some random googling mentions a dip that involved melted white cheese). ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/2 "2012-08-23T15:23:39Z")
Maybe Crema Mexicana? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/3 "2012-08-23T15:36:05Z")
Another vote for crema. Google images for _crema pastelera_: did it look like that? The name I gave is for a Spanish version used as a filling for pastries (hence its name, “pastry cream”); from checking Mexican recipes other times that the Mexican version got mentioned they seem to be quite similar in preparation although they get used for different things. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/4 "2012-08-23T16:49:50Z")
That’s what I was thinking too. I’ve never seen it served that way but we have it in our house. I don’t care for it. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/5 "2012-08-24T00:19:12Z")
There’s a mexican place around here that has something like that in addition to salsa. I’m not sure what it is (most people mistake it for ranch, but it doesn’t seem ranchy to me) but I don’t really care for it and stick to the salsa. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/6 "2012-08-24T00:21:58Z")
We make a dip of equal parts mascarpone and (unsweetened natural) yoghurt, which seems to match your description of the taste. Could that have been it? ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/7 "2012-08-24T00:36:30Z")
Different mexican thing: At a salsa bar at a local place there is an incredible salsa that is very basic. It looks like carrots, onions and jalapenos in vinegar. It isn’t thick and tastes incredible. It sounds and looks simple, but the taste is a little more complex. What’s the name for this? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/8 "2012-08-24T01:55:41Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > We make a dip of equal parts mascarpone and (unsweetened natural) yoghurt, which seems to match your description of the taste. Could that have been it? Hmm - could be. I seem to recall mascarpone has a very mild flavor, not cheesy at all. Maybe something like that with some added spices of some sort. Some googling turns up descriptions of how to make crema mexicana, which sounds similar (cream plus a bit of buttermilk or yogurt, allowed to culture overnight). ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/9 "2012-08-24T03:29:05Z")
> [@tomcar](#): > > Different mexican thing: At a salsa bar at a local place there is an incredible salsa that is very basic. It looks like carrots, onions and jalapenos in vinegar. It isn’t thick and tastes incredible. It sounds and looks simple, but the taste is a little more complex. What’s the name for this? Sounds like _jalapeños en escabeche_ and that is the way many canned jalapeños come . Or possibly _fruta en vinagre_ which will have the chiles and carrots, onions etc. and may have other vegetables or fruits. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/10 "2012-08-24T03:30:40Z")
Our _crema fresca_ is fresh cream aged until it thickens. It is kind of an unchurned butter. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/11 "2012-08-24T05:20:22Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Hmm - could be. I seem to recall mascarpone has a very mild flavor, not cheesy at all. Maybe something like that with some added spices of some sort. Mascarpone is not cheesy-flavoured at all. In texture it’s perhaps more like Philadelphia cream cheese, but with a bit of sharpness in the actual flavour - in fact it may be what PCC was based on, for all I know. ---
**Author:** ![Matchbooks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Matchbooks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matchbooks)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/12 "2012-08-24T17:20:00Z")
Was it white salsa? There’re a couple different recipes out there for it online. I’ve made one that was primarily sour cream and cumin, but googling I see there’re ones using Miracle Whip, which may account for the sweetness. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/13 "2012-08-24T17:23:04Z")
> [@Matchbooks](#): > > Was it white salsa? There’re a couple different recipes out there for it online. I’ve made one that was primarily sour cream and cumin, but googling I see there’re ones using Miracle Whip, which may account for the sweetness. B’wuh? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/14 "2012-08-24T18:43:38Z")
> [@Matchbooks](#): > > Was it white salsa? They’re a couple different recipes out there for it online. I’ve made one that was primarily sour cream and cumin, but googling I see they’re ones using Miracle Whip, which may account for the sweetness. We have a very good Mexican restaurant locally that serves the white stuff------and your description and the ingredients sounds correct to me. I always wondered what it was. I wonder if it’s one of those specialties of a certain state in Mexico, much like you can get goat at Oaxacan restaurants, but not at many others. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/15 "2012-08-24T23:36:54Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > We have a very good Mexican restaurant locally that serves the white stuff------and your description and the ingredients sounds correct to me. I always wondered what it was. You’re talking about Azteca, aren’t you? 🙂 I’ve been wondering what that stuff was, too. Personally I think it’s hideous. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/16 "2012-08-24T23:46:51Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > You’re talking about Azteca, aren’t you? 🙂 I’ve been wondering what that stuff was, too. Personally I think it’s hideous. Yes. I wouldn’t say “hideous,” more like “strange” “intriguing” or something else. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/17 "2012-08-24T23:59:32Z")
Well, it definitely tastes like it has Miracle Whip as a base and I’m a mayo gal so it’s a bit off-putting to me. Love their regular salsa, though. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/18 "2012-08-25T18:55:48Z")
> [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > You’re talking about Azteca, aren’t you? 🙂 I’ve been wondering what that stuff was, too. Personally I think it’s hideous. Hmm… The place I was talking about was Grand Azteca. Wonder if the two are somehow related. I have to say Grand Azteca has just about the most hideous website around. It looks like something from the geocities era. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/19 "2012-08-25T19:03:40Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Hmm… The place I was talking about was Grand Azteca. Wonder if the two are somehow related. I believe the Grand Azteca has a bigger engine, longer wheelbase, and more cupholders. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387/20 "2012-08-25T23:02:58Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Hmm… The place I was talking about was Grand Azteca. Wonder if the two are somehow related. Not related. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-dip-mexican-restaurant/632387.md?page=2)