To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.

For me, burritos are a lot like pizza – even frozen ones you buy from the store can still be pretty good. But when you get one that’s fresh, and made with great ingredients, they transform into something amazing. Such is the case with this week’s feature.

But for you folks out there that are a little timid when it comes to spicy, just seeing the word habanero might have your eyeballs sweating through your eyelids and hair catching fire. But don’t let the word here fool you. In this case, Elements extracts all the fruity and citrusy notes from the habanero without going overboard in the heat department.

But before we get to where the habanero hits, let’s give you the lay of the land, starting with the al pastor (pork). It gets marinated overnight before being roasted on a spit for about four hours until the ying and yang of crispy exterior and juicy interior meet in the middle.

It’s combined with their scratch-made rice and beans, cheddar cheese, guacamole, and habanero salsa before getting rolled up in a large flour tortilla. You also have the option to add either their house made red or green enchilada sauces (or go Christmas-style and do both). It’s finished off with their Casablanca sauce which is a mixture of avocado, cilantro and lime.

There is no wasted space when it comes to the filling. Everything shines, with the pastor beaming the brightest. It’s beautifully seasoned and counterbalances the rice and beans to perfection while the guac and salsa provide yet another counterbalance of cool and spicy.

The beauty of the two sauces is the flavor spikes with the slightly smoky red sauce doing work against the bright and acidic green sauce. The creamy avocado sauce is like a cherry on the sundae, adding the perfect note to end each bite.

Elements Eatery and Bar is located at 3310 Lake Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe. For more information and menu items you can reach them online at elementstahoe.com or by phone at 530-650-9004.