and London, England
are world cities I plan to visit again and again. I love the fact that each of these cities is composed of distinct neighborhoods, and each neighborhood offers its own atmosphere, culture, shops, music, and restaurants.
Would it be possible for my husband Wayne and I to discover a new neighborhood in our home town of El Paso, Texas, where we have lived for many years?
Wayne had recently done business with a tool repair shop in a section of our city that we seldom visit, an older, established neighborhood near the downtown area. The shop owner recommended "El Jacalito" ("The Hut") as the best restaurant in the neighborhood.
As part of our ongoing research to find the best huevos rancheros in the city, we decided to seek out "El Jacalito" for breakfast. (For the uninitiated, huevos rancheros are eggs served on a fried corn tortilla and topped with some variety of chile sauce.)
The exterior of the restaurant looked promising as we drove up and parked.
And the interior had a decorative 1880's type metal ceiling that is often found in older buildings in the Southwest.
The restaurant walls were colorfully decorated.
"El Jacalito" appeared to be a local eatery, with solitary diners, groups, and families all having a quiet breakfast.
The service was swift and efficient, with new steaming breakfast dishes emerging quickly from the small kitchen located at the back of the large dining area.
Wayne couldn't resist the traditional huevos rancheros plate.
I ordered the migas, scrambled eggs with chiles, onions, tomatoes, and tortilla chips.
The food was delicious, but the best part of the meal was having it in a different restaurant located in a different neighborhood of our town.
It wasn't Auckland, Los Angeles, or London, but it was a new cultural experience for us. I'm now convinced there are more adventures to be had closer to home if we are willing to explore and place our trust in serendipity.
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