The U.S.A. Tour - Rancho Bravo / Seattle

As we entered the hostel in Seattle, lumbered with our heavy bags upon our backs, strain permeated my legs with each step up the carpeted stairs. Morale was down and I was riddled with fatigue. My stomach was hungry and let out a barbarous growl as we reached the lobby where my eyes drifted across the room to focus on a laminated piece of paper blu tacked to the front counter. 'Seattle Food Tour', it read in bold letters. Suddenly my energy levels rose. I lifted my head and read what the tour entails, then, just as I thought all my food dreams had come true, I saw we had missed the tour by a day! Energy levels decreased back down. However, never to be defeated, I continued reading where it listed the locations of the tour stops. 'Rancho Bravo - 2nd best tacos in North America'. Ding! My energy levels back up again. If they have the 2nd best tacos in North America, that means there can be no logical reason as to why their nachos can't be just as good! Right? 

Come Saturday we walked the hills of Seattle in search of Rancho Bravo. I urged myself along with the anticipation of nachos at the peak. My legs powered on.

I could see my happy nacho rainbow forming as we approached 1001 Pine St. I was very excited. Standing out front, it was a definite, don't judge a book by its cover moment, with it's 1990's Burger King facade, tiled floor and plastic bench seating. 

"One horchata and one nachos with carnitas please". Nervously I waited, and out came what seemed to be a little chunk of gold in a grey cardboard bowl.

The first thing I noticed was its colouration. The cheese that covered the top was not an artificial bright orange colour that had adorned so many of my American nachos in the past. Could they be using a cheese with a lower fat content than if I ate a block of butter? An American first. The cheese coverage was near perfect, and the melt and grill factor made the hills of cheese acquire a golden glow. Diced tomatoes and onions were esconed amongst the crispy chips with sliced jalepenos scattered around the dish. A large dollop of sour cream and a side of guacamole topped it off, and when I thought all was near perfect, I tasted the the perfectly cooked carnitas. The most glorious meat to complement this dish. 

So does Rancho Bravo warrant the title of 2nd best and the popularity that comes with it? Hek yes! Look, I'll say it. Best Nachos I have eaten in America! Oh yes I did... Now that's a title they may want to replace their '2nd best' with.

So in conclusion I say, bravo Rancho Bravo for fulfilling my American golden nacho dreams. Bravo.