What is a Torta?
A torta is a broad class of Mexican sandwich that is usually offered with many different choices of filling. A torta should weigh roughly the amount of Infinite Jest (paperback is fine), and you should be completely covered in it after just a few bites.” Tortas are so huge and messy that you really shouldn’t eat them in the company of those who would be scandalized by you licking your fingers (and hands and possibly arms) while you eat.
This torta photo has chicken and beef milanesa (meat, usually beef, pounded thin, breaded, and fried), tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, jalapeno, and Oaxaca cheese. And of course there is mayo on it. In case you weren’t keeping count, that’s all of the good things stacked between two halves of a special hoagie roll that are gloriously toasted and just substantial enough to mostly hold your sandwich together until you’re almost done, but not so substantial you can’t bite through it cleanly. The meats vary from sandwich to sandwich, but the condiments pretty much stay the same. Before you eat, as if all that weren’t enough, you slather that piece of awesomeness with freshly-made chipotle salsa.