By Anna Frost
As I clutched onto the railing of the ferry in a desperate attempt to keep the cool evening wind from blowing me clear across the deck, I could see the shoreline of the island fast approaching. The setting sun cast light and shadows in the sky, highlighting the clear, blue water and the houses and trees lining the shore. I was minutes away from arriving at the Vineyard Haven dock, and my thoughts turned to a single, all-important question: What would I eat for dinner?
In that moment, I walked onto Martha’s Vineyard completely blind – in the gastronomic sense. Ironically enough, I had planned my four-day road trip from California to Massachusetts to include many notable food pit-stops, but I had failed to do any research about the eateries where I would spend my entire summer. I wondered what was in store for my palate as I pulled into a parking lot between the local Stop ‘n Shop and what appeared to be a pizza shop that had already closed for the evening. I later learned that most of Vineyard Haven’s quaint selection of shops close by 6:30 p.m., especially on a Wednesday. I wandered up the street, onto Main Street in Vineyard Haven’s cozy downtown area and was greeted by more dark storefronts, except one.
For the small act of being open at 7 p.m. that Wednesday evening, along with the giant burrito I was served, La Choza Burritos now has a special spot in my foodie heart. The entire take-out restaurant is about the size of a living room, with the kitchen taking up the majority of the space. The front part is taken up entirely by a queue that can fit about 10 customers – if they chose to get especially cozy – and upon reaching the front, a cook will shout over the counter to find out whether you wish to dine on a burrito or burrito bowl, and which meat you would like to include. Then, toppings of your choice are added, along with rice and beans, and the burrito is rolled up in foil and handed over. Though the style of service at La Choza is similar to the well-known burrito chain Chipotle, the flavors are bolder and less generic. For the same price, La Choza makes a superior burrito
The biggest shock came when, after paying $9 for my meal, I found that the burrito weighed at least a pound, possibly two. Needless to say, a burrito from La Choza will feed the hungriest of people.
As I sat in a little gazebo on the beach near the ferry dock and took my first bite into the monster of a burrito, I thanked the food gods for a good first meal on the island and hoped for many more to come.
Two weeks into my three month stay on the island, I have learned that the towns on this island are a haven for comfort food and fine cuisine, as well as most things in between.
