Food or ambiance - which do you prefer?

When you dine out, are you more attracted to the food being served or the ambiance it is served in?  Not being much of a foodie myself, I vote for the ambiance.

My husband, Wayne, and I recently went to a local restaurant in our hometown of El Paso, Texas,  Our huevos rancheros were a hearty breakfast dish.

Huevos Rancheros

But oh, the restaurant decor.  It had all of the elements of traditional Southwestern style that brought back memories of visits to our neighboring country, Mexico.

Forti's Restaurant, El Paso, Texas

Because we arrived at the restaurant just at opening time, we were the second customers of the day. We had eaten at this longtime, family-owned restaurant several times before, but because the restaurant was almost empty at this hour, it was the first time we felt free to roam around and admire the decorative touches.

Forti's is a large establishment located in an older part of the city.  A palm tree  (yes, we do have a few palm trees in El Paso!) sets a tropical mood.

Entrance to Forti's

Coffee and complimentary tostadas and salsa began the meal as we began to appreciate our surroundings.

Chips and salsa

Tiled fountains are ubiquitous in Southwestern decorating.  We have one in our own courtyard and enjoy the soothing sounds of falling water most seasons of the year.  Fountains and courtyards come from centuries of Arab occupation of Spain through Mexico as the conquistadores came to the New World.  I see many fountains in front yards in El Paso, most of them even without water, a strong statement about the place of fountains in our Southwestern psyche. 

Traditional fountain

Statues of St. Francis of Assisi also often appear in Southwestern landscapes.  St. Francis is protector of animals, which makes me covet a statue for our garden even more.  We found such a statue once in Central Texas at a reasonable price but passed it up, a lingering regret!

St. Francis of Assisi

A replica of the famous Aztec calendar in Forti's reminds me of the civilization that flourished in Central Mexico when the Spaniards arrived in the 17th century.

Aztec Calendar

A round, convivial table in the bar with a mural on the wall takes me back to my younger days

when I ordered Tecate beer with lime and salt or Cuba Libres.  Nowadays I will have to enjoy the atmosphere with club soda and lime but perhaps even more with all senses intact and no morning hangover.

Bar in Forti's

And I had to take a picture of a neon sign for Pacífico beer for old times sake. I remember when I first started trying to recreate Southwestern style and collected several colorful beer signs of different brands of famous Mexican beers.

Neon beer sign

So if you are trying to give a nod to Southwestern style in your house or yard, you may be pleased at how just one of these traditional elements will start you daydreaming about Spain, Mexico and the Desert Southwest. I'm ready to return to Forti's the next time a little escapism from humdrum life is on the social calendar.