For whatever reason, I’ve been attracted to Mexican cuisine ever since I was a little kid crafting El Paso taco kits in the kitchen with my Mom. Maybe it’s the way the spices hit me in a “hurt so good” kind of way,” with my taste buds craving more and more while simultaneously reminding me that I’m in desperate need of water. The heat makes my head itch and my lips burn, and yet I can’t ever say “No” to a good burrito — and I always opt for the hot sauce.

I recently visited a buddy in Phoenix, and was finally introduced to that mythical cuisine that can only be imitated in the Northeast — I finally had a “real Mexican burrito.” And damn was it everything I dreamed of — greasy chicken, warm guacamole and fresh-off-the-farm tomatoes for about half the price you’d expect. Wow. The sad fact was that, until then, I had never had truly authentic Mexican, just it’s minor league knock-off usually referred to as “Southwest.” It was like finding out that Santa Clause was actually just my Uncle with a fake beard, minus the crying tantrum.

Lucky for us, what downtown Burlington lacks in authenticity it certainly makes up for in options and price. And since this is a column about eating cheaply, I took my newly refined (and improved) taste for Mexican to the “big four” burrito shops in Burlington: Bueno Y Sano, Boloco, New World Tortilla and Moe’s, in hopes of finding the best burrito in B-Town.

I started at Bueno, which is actually a part of a small chain staying loyal to the Northeast. Their burritos are sort of oddly shaped — more ball-like than your typical burrito — a consequence of them loading as much as possible into their tiny wraps (like when Chris Farley tried David Spade’s coat on in “Tommy Boy” … “Fat guy in a little coat.”). I tried their steak burrito and though the meat itself was slightly overcooked, their pico de gallo was a nice touch and I was more than full when polishing off the final bite.
Bueno e Sano Price: $7.50 Grade: B+

The next day I tried out Boloco, another small burrito chain with a remarkably different atmosphere. While Bueno plays up the Mexican feel, Boloco is more modern inside and, if I didn’t know better, I would be surprised to find they sold burritos exclusively. I tried a regular-size buffalo chicken burrito and was impressed not only with the size but with how great I felt after eating it (always a risk when eating a burrito). That being said, I didn’t really taste much resembling buffalo chicken and felt as though the burrito itself was sort of bland. Not bad by any means, just not the Mexican … urr … Southwestern” taste I was expecting.
Price: $6.25 Grade: B

My next burrito experience took place at New World Tortilla. I’ve been going to New World for years and have had a pretty consistent experience: great idea at the time, wonderfully tasty as it’s happening, totally shitty, bad idea afterward. Unfortunately New World has a reputation of forcing people to the bathroom upon completion of one of their burritos. I tried my usual — their beef burrito — and as always it was incredibly tasty. And then I waited a half-hour and, well, ya’ know. You will like New World, but consider yourself warned.
Price: $7.25 Grade: B+

Last but not least was one of my old favorites, Moe’s Southwest Grill. In my opinion, Moe’s ultimate burrito, aptly named “The Homewrecker,” is as good a burrito you’ll find in Burlington and totally worth the extra travel time it takes to get there (though if you live in the UVM dorms it’s actually closer). With large heaps of steak, black or pinto beans, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce and cheese, The Homewrecker leaves me both uncomfortably full and strangely satisfied — everything a food coma is supposed to be. Though it’s not “real” Mexican, Moe’s Southwest Grill will totally suffice.
Price: $7.99 Grade: A

If you’re a 22-year-old post-grad still moseying around Burlington (like me), then there’s a good chance that you’re —um— not exactly rich. OK, you’re probably broke (again, like me). And given that you don’t have a ton of cash to burn on something like food, and because Burlington is so damn expensive, it can become easy to fall back into the Ramen diet that allowed you to survive through junior year.

Friends, it doesn’t have to be like this. Believe it or not, there is a way to eat cheap and delicious food in Burlington. As a B-Town native who has been wealth-challenged for some time now, I have plenty of experience digging around town looking for the best bang for one of my few bucks — and I’m going to help you out.

This is the first edition of a weekly column in which I give you the inside track on the best food deals in Burlington. After all, there are so many food spots to sift through downtown that it can be hard to find exactly what it is you’re stomach is growling for. This problem can be exacerbated immensely if you’ve got nothing more than a ten-spot in your wallet.

• Bushey’s Bill
• Roast Beef sandwich: $5.75
• Mountain Dew: $1
• Chips: $1
• Cookie: $.65
• Tax: $.76
• Total: $9.16

I should be up front by telling you that I’m not a “foodie.” I’m sort of picky, I’ve dined at very few (if any) four-star restaurants and, if I could, I would eat a fresh grinder everyday for lunch. Seriously, I love sandwiches. And there’s one sandwich joint just off Church Street that can deliver the goods in a cheap, timely fashion, leaving your lunch craving (and your checking account) satisfied. I’m talking about the Mad Hatter.

Located on Bank St., Mad Hatter is the ultimate neighborhood sandwich shop. The dudes that work here are incredibly fast and friendly, the veggies always taste fresh and they have more than enough loaves of bread to choose from. (Tip: Try your sandwich on one of their baguettes — they’re money, baby.)

As for their deli selection, Mad Hatter features Boar’s Head meat. I have a buddy who is a butcher, and he tells me that Boar’s Head is top of the line deli meat. Every sandwich I’ve ever gotten from the Mad Hatter has been loaded with Boar’s Head meat, which is great because it’s such a bummer when you unwrap a sandwich to find that it’s basically all lettuce. Trust me when I say that this will never happen at the Mad Hatter.

If fresh roast beef isn’t your thing, don’t sweat it. Mad Hatter also offers veggie sandwiches and salads made to order, some killer chili for the cold months and, if you have a sweet tongue, they also have a variety of cookies to choose from. Though I suspect they’re bought from Costco, there’s really no better way to finish your sandwich than with a raspberry-filled pastry.
While Mad Hatter doesn’t boast the gourmet specialties common in other sandwich shops downtown (such as Red Onion or Top of The Block), it does the simple sandwiches the best. In fact, the simplicity of their menu is its greatest strength; sometimes it’s the minimal, uncomplicated sandwich we prefer, the kind our mom would send us to school with. Mad Hatter is a lot like this, only way better. Sorry Mom.

So what is this gonna’ cost you? Relax. Mad Hatter sandwiches almost never reach upwards of six bucks (?!), and the salads are even cheaper. Congratulations, my friends. You’ve staved off hunger for another day.

The photograph of Tenzing on the summit of Mount Everest is commonly regarded as the single most important image in the history of mountaineering. Today it exists as an artifact of human achievement. Even so, few bring attention to the creative tool that made such an image possible.

My mother in downtown Athens, Greece. A non-smoker she accepted an offer for a single cigarette drag. I have yet to see her with a cig since. Needless to say she hates this photograph.

An ancient Olive tree stands among ruins at the Sanctuary of Athena in Delphi, Greece. Photos by Basil Tsimoyianis

The Kodak Retina IIa camera was produced in Stuggart Germany between 1951 and 1954. The small size, durability, and image quality of the Retina IIa was a remarkable achievement in human ingenuity. These traits made the Retina a favorite among explorers and set the precedence for modern portable cameras. Today Retina cameras can commonly be found at antique shops, used camera stores, and on eBay for around fifty bucks.

The Kodak Retina IIa, explained. Click to embiggen.

Note: Sir Edmond Hillary is believed to have used a Retina II on Mount Everest, which is nearly identical to the Retina IIa

While the band has since developed its own songs, style and reputation, it started out as just a way to have a good time – and secure plenty of booze. “We initially started playing so we could drink for free,” said Baribeau. “We were more drunk then.”

If audiences mind the fact that the guys have mellowed out since their debut, it certainly doesn’t show. At a recent Friday night gig at the Radio Bean in downtown Burlington, the quartet performed their piano-driven garage rock with a vengeance, playing songs off of their upcoming record to an enthusiastic, dancing group.

But they haven’t always played to a full house.

“We’ve played some great shows, but we’ve also played a fair amount with just the bouncer [at the Monkey House],” said Baribeau. “There’s a really responsive crowd at Radio Bean. We’ve worked our way into the community. At first it was just our friends coming to the shows, but there’s a point where we start to see people who we haven’t seen before.”

Their progress in Burlington has been encouraging enough to convince them to stay in town. “We’ve done such a good job here; we’re trying to get our feet down. It’s hard to get anywhere as a DIY,” Baribeau said.

For Villanelles, it definitely comes down to fun. The bandmates are a group of good friends who simply enjoy playing music. “I like that we all hang out anyway. In other bands, it’s just the music. Here, the music doesn’t come first,” drummer Seth Gunderson said.

As the band continues to build its reputation, new challenges have arisen. One of the biggest hurdles that the band faced recently was a change in personnel. Last August, the band replaced their former drummer with Zane’s brother Seth Gunderson – a particularly difficult transition because the Villanelles were in the middle of recording their latest album. “We were able to salvage some of it, but they’re such different drummers,” Borden said.

Even though a hardship, changing drummers eventually proved to be the right decision. “We’re writing songs quicker, which helps live shows,” Seth noted. “We’ve became more discerning, super picky,” Zane remarked.

Lead Guitarest Tristan Baribeau. Photo by Bailey Cummings

The subject of the new album remains a sore subject for the four close friends. After losing a summer’s worth of work, the members of the band are adamant that they must finish their album first before they can think about the future. “When we first starting writing the album, we thought it was going to be five songs,” Baribeau said. Local music star Ryan Power, who is recording and mastering the album, pushed them to do a little more – and suddenly, they had a ten song album.

“We’ve already shelled out a thousand. We just need to finish the album,” said Baribeau.

The band saw creating the album as a learning process. After listening to each song dozens and dozens of times, they were able to better understand their music. “The best part of the process was taking a hard look at ourselves,” Borden said.

The songwriting process has gradually become less difficult. “Ever since last summer, songwriting has been easier,” Baribeau said. The songs tend to build off of an initial riff, or piano lick, according to Seth. “For our favorite song, it was super quick,” Baribeau said.

Transportation however, remains a problem. Even as the Villanelles have made a name for themselves, lack of a car has left them scrambling to make it gigs. “There are constant transportation issues. We have to rely on our significant others, who have vehicles,” Baribeau said. Still, the situation has ultimately played out well for the Villanelles. In the course of driving from the gig to gig, the band has met many other bands who have toured in Burlington, and they hope to book shows with these bands on an East Coast tour.

“We want to contact bands that we’ve hooked up with. To network, we put up a lot of bands [in our house.] It’s like being a kid and trading Pokemon. I’ll give you my Pikachu for your Charmander,” Baribeau joked.

More than just an enjoyable pastime, the band has turned into a lifestyle – even an addiction – for some of the members. “Playing shows is the best drug in the world,” Baribeau said. The devotion definitely shows in their live shows. When the members of the Villanelles step up on the stage, they find themselves in a unique mindset.

“[At the beginning of a show,] I drop off into a different world,” Seth said. In reference to this, Baribeau mentioned that he feels an enthusiastic sense of anticipation. “Sometimes I have to leave,” he said.

“Remember that time we were way too drunk?” Zane asked Baribeau. “Tristan and I got into a guitar fight onstage, smashing guitars…and Seth was videotaping.”

They hope that the new album will give them a newfound sense of direction. “We’re shopping the East Coast. Even if someone wants to give us a 50 press of seven inches,” Baribeau said.

Don’t worry about not being able to pay for the as-of-yet-untitled release. “We’ll leak the album ourselves,” Seth laughed.

Updated 3/16/2010 to correct a mis-quote.

Photographer Josh Lee spent an afternoon with The House of LeMay as they prepared for Mardi Gras 2010 in Burlington, Vt.

Photos by Bailey Cummings & Josh Lee