Such is Life is a fourteen-year-old Mexican restaurant on 24th Street in Phoenix, Arizona. Better known by its Spanish name on the building, Asi es la Vida, Such is Life, was recently reviewed on a local food blog that sparked my interest. Gourmet Mexican cooking is a great pleasure but far removed from what most people know as Mexican food. Smoked jalapeno sauces (chipotle) to the classic spicy nut and chili sauce known as Mole, foods cooked or dipped in these savory flavors distinguish Mexican cooking from all others. We started with a melted cheese appetizer loaded with poblano chili and mushrooms which we rolled into steamed corn tortillas and dipped into the tomatillo and chipotle salsas. I tried a combo stew platter with a portion of pork slow-roasted in an orange-based sauce along with chicken slow-cooked in mole. Caroline tried the Pescado A La Veracruzana – unfortunately, Asi es la Vida is not very kindly towards vegetarians. For dessert, I had a very nice Tres Leches Cake (3 milks cake) while Caroline had the much better, even great, crepe with cajeta (goat milk caramel sauce). This cajeta we enjoyed especially as it was the envinada or wine version of the sweet sauce.