Southwestern Cultural Mix Has A New Player

Street side door of Salt + Honey Bakery Cafe

Happening upon a new restaurant in my home town of El Paso, Texas is one of my secret joys, bad for the waistline but great for the spirit.  My husband, Wayne, and I discovered Salt + Honey Bakery Cafe soon after returning from a trip to Ireland, when our fun meter was still going strong.

Salt + Honey Bakery Cafe is located in a restored building in what is known as the Five Points area of El Paso.  The location is in an older neighborhood which has recently begun to undergo gentrification. I have great memories of the area, which used to have one of the few department stores in town, a Sears store, and a movie theater, the Pershing, which always brings pleasant memories of childhood.  Now an upscale coffee shop and several new restaurants can be found, among them our new discovery.

As we walked into the bustling Salt + Honey Bakery Cafe, my first impression was of a well-stocked bakery case, multiple seating areas, and light colored wood. Part of the original black and white small tile floor was still in evidence in the main cafe, and a hardwood floor had been added in another area.

First impression of cafe

Ah, Toto, we were not in El Paso anymore.  I could almost imagine I was in Los Angeles near the Grove/Farmers Market area, where my son, Clayton, and his girlfriend, Melissa, live. My hipness quotient went up considerably just by being a customer at the Salt and Honey.

One quality I like about El Paso is our mixture of people of different nationalities, social groups, and languages.  I wouldn't say we have reached cosmopolitan status, but we are a border city and a bit of a melting pot. The seating in the cafe reflected the concept that all are welcome.  A counter was available for customers who want a quick cup of coffee and one of the scrumptious-looking homemade pastries.  

Counter customers

The counter seating  reminded Wayne of the old-fashioned drugstores of his youth.  We vowed to return some morning soon.

Techies are welcome.

For those of us tied to our electronic devices (and who isn't these days?) stations are available with plenty of light and plug-ins to commune with your favorite electronic friend or even human one.  

Customers wanting a softer seat and a living room atmosphere can sit on a sofa in one area of the cafe, while traditionalists can sit at regular tables.  Seating by the front window would have been perfect for me to look out on the street and watch passers-by. 

But how about the food, you may be wondering.  I found many items on the menu to try, surprising for the picky eater that I am.  The Salt + Honey offers choices for all-day breakfast, brunch and lunch. Breakfast choices include Vanilla Chia Pudding, Baklava Pancakes, and The Londoner. Some of the brunch items are Hummus Avocado Toast (my choice), East Coast Bagel, and La Huevona.  La Huevona is a egg dish (huevos are eggs in Spanish), but the joke is that huevona is a slang word for "lazy" in the El Paso area.  Lunch items include The Black Friday, Summer Burrata, and, of course, a hamburger (not your father's hamburger, to be sure). More information about the cafe is available here.

The Salt + Honey is a place where different cultures and influences come together— 

Middle Eastern, international, traditional, and modern.  I'm ready to return already!

A Bit of Southwestern Serendipity

The restaurant reviews in our local newspaper, The El Paso Times, are tailor-made for readers like me.  I love to try out new restaurants, not so much for the food, but more for a different dining experience.

"Indulge your taste buds in Las Cruces" read the article's headline. So much the better, I thought. Here is a good chance to travel to a neighboring city and really try something new.  Las Cruces is located in the state of New Mexico, about 60 miles from my home town of El Paso, Texas. During the hour's drive, the mind relaxes as farms, pecan trees, and homes built with pleasantly rounded corners come into view.

We located the Indulgence Bakery and Cafe in a small shopping center on Main Street. The newspaper article mentioned that the Indulgence had risen from the ashes of a former popular bistro on the same location.  I heard several locals complimenting the restaurant manager and giving best wishes for continued success for the bakery.

The article also mentioned that the Indulgence is like being in a friend's home. I felt it was very much like relaxing in the kitchen of a friend who was a very good cook.  The Indulgence's varied menu made ordering a challenge, a very different experience from eating in chain restaurants that have proliferated in our area, where food is often pre-packaged and, well, boring.

The Indulgence decor was unique as well.  A chalk message on the wall gave a mouthwatering list of baking ingredients, as well as a slogan, "Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy."

  

The walls were attractively decorated with copper pots and pans

and a old-fashioned coffee poster.

We ordered coffee and made our decisions from the menu.  A new restaurant experience called for a fresh breakfast choice, so I threw dieting to the winds and ordered strawberry blintzes.

My husband, Wayne, the traditionalist, went for biscuits and gravy served with scrambled eggs and hash browns.

The bakery counter had a steady stream of customers.

Maybe it was the cream puffs that were the big draw?  The two lemon ones we ordered for dessert were, in a word, luscious.

I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant, with all types of local customers.  The waitress was friendly and found time to chat with us.

"Serendipity"  (what a great word!) is defined as "good luck in finding things not sought for."  At the Indulgence, we found not only breakfast, but also a relaxing, memorable place to return to soon. Getting out of one's rut is good for the soul!

You know you are a Southwesterner if ...

Is the Southwest lifestyle unique?  Does it differ from other U.S. lifestyles?  Here is my take on those important questions.

You know you are a Southwesterner if ...

You start looking for the first spring blooms right after Valentine's Day each year.

Cactus bloom

Mexican Bird of Paradise

Wildflower

You put a little bit of chile on almost everything you eat.

Perhaps I should begin with the explanation that the southwestern spelling of the name of those hot peppers is  "chiles."  My word processor inevitably marks it as a spelling error. The concept of chile encompasses many varieties of peppers, some fresh, some dried, some whole, some powdered. At a basic level, we have red peppers and green peppers.  In New Mexico, my neighboring state, if you want both red and green sauce on your enchiladas, you ask for "Christmas."  

Both colors of peppers come in various degrees of  "bite," hot, medium and mild, although one man's medium may be another man's hot. I have learned this fact through painful personal experience.  Many times in my life I have had occasion to croak the Spanish phrase, "Me enchilé," which translates to something like "I just ate too much hot chile."

A small amount of chile can perk up almost any type of food —scrambled eggs, tuna salad, turkey sandwiches, corn on the cob, pozole, even chocolate bars. Eventually, Southwesterners find themselves saying, "This dish tastes great, but maybe it could use a little chile?" 

You don't own many winter clothes.

When my husband, Wayne, and I were preparing for a train trip across Canada in January of this year, I came to the realization that I was probably going to freeze to death if I didn't buy winter clothing to pack for the trip.  A person can survive in the Southwest with only a light coat, used only for a few weeks of the year.

I now have a closet full of down jackets, sweaters, boots, scarves, hats, gloves, and fleece-lined tights that will probably languish there until our next trip to another part of the country or the world. And I recently bought another light down jacket from a Canadian retailer just to be safe.  

You relish a multicultural atmosphere.

If you are a native Southwestern, you may identify yourself with any number of ethnic groups. Each culture adds uniqueness to Southwest culture.  You may wear stunning turquoise jewelry made by Native American artisans.  You may celebrate Christmas with a nacimiento  (nativity scene) as well as a Christmas tree.  Or you may mark special occasions with a chuck wagon barbecue dinner. And I'm only mentioning the cultures that I have first hand experience with. Why choose just one culture when you can enjoy the best of all cultures?

Are you a bona fide Southwesterner?  

What's so special about a southwestern springtime?

Ahh, springtime in the Southwest is like no other springtime I know of. One day winter is still with us, with heavy comforters on the bed, thermostats set to 70 degrees, and long sleeved shirts. The next day we wake up to 80 degree temps, brilliant sunshine, and a blue cloudless sky. And the calendar tells me it is mid-March. I find myself rummaging through the closet for something appropriate to wear. My warm weather clothes look pretty tired after last year's long summer.

I throw open the doors and venture out to see if Mother Nature thinks it is springtime.  She has been kinder than I feared after a freak hailstorm last October.

Creosote Bush

A gangly creosote bush in the front yard is covered with small, fragrant yellow blossoms.  As a bonus, the nearby area has a crop of volunteer creosotes. I counted over thirty of various sizes. What a satisfied feeling to know I won't have to buy a creosote bush in the nursery, priced at $30.00.  As a matter of fact, my husband, Wayne, is threatening to chop down some of the smaller creosotes because Mother Nature provided us with so many.

Fairy Duster

The Fairy Duster, located in a neglected part of the yard, is covered with pink blooms that look like, you guessed it, tiny dusters that Tinker Bell might use.  This plant is so generous, requiring virtually no care.

Desert Marigold

And before leaving the topic of easy to care for native plants, this Desert Marigold appeared voluntarily in a part of the yard we dubbed the Tucson Yard.  This plant requires very low water usage. I suspect if I watered it like other plants, it would not survive.  It's always a joy to see where it is going to pop up each year. The Desert Marigold has a mind of its own and does not like to be disturbed.

Sunset Heights Garden

I was pleased to see native plants emerging in an area we nicknamed "Sunset Heights," after an historic neighborhood in El Paso where you can also view the western setting sun.  The pumpkins are real, but they didn't grow there.  I hated to toss them out after last November, and they did provide some color through the dull winter months.

Climbing Rose Bush

Blooming climbing roses are one of the harbingers of springtime.  This plant grows in a bed surrounding the swimming pool, and often presents us with blooms throughout the year.

Potting bench in backyard

Springtime means lots of empty pots are available for new plantings.  The former residents of the pots didn't make it through the hailstorm or winter weather. Fortunately I don't remember which plants they were, so I don't have to mourn their loss too deeply.

Springtime weather means living al fresco.  A new seating area in the vegetable garden under the pear tree provides a place to admire the tomatoes, jalapeños, pattypan squash, tomatillo, oregano, and sage that we planted this year, with fingers crossed for an abundant harvest.

Seating area in garden

I'm thoroughly enjoying each day of our southwestern early springtime.  Until the spring winds arrive.  But that is a story for another day.

Rosa's Cantina - El Paso, Texas

Sometimes it takes out of town visitors to pry you out of your comfort zone.  Our friends, Charlotte and Pierre Thibaudeau, visiting from the province of Quebec, mentioned they think of us every time they hear the Marty Robbins 1959 song "El Paso."  And can we go to Rosa's Cantina as one of our outings, they suggested? 

My husband, Wayne, and I had never been to Rosa's. although we had heard good reports recently about the quality of the food.   Taking guests to a restaurant that hasn't been thoroughly vetted can be a dangerous practice.  But the online reviews looked good with four stars, so we piled in the car and headed to West El Paso. 

A sign on the side of an old rock building announced that "Rosa's Cantina Food" adds life.  As if on cue, when we opened the front door and walked in, Marty Robbins was again singing "El Paso."  Two gentlemen who entered as the same time were discussing the history of the song.  And as we sat down, I heard two other customers exchanging information on the legendary El Paso basketball coach for the University of Texas at El Paso, Don Haskins (1966 NCAA champs).  Wow!  Were we part of a Chamber of Commerce tour?

The restaurant was spacious with ample seating at tables covered with red-checked tablecloths.

A large bar at the back of the restaurant was empty at the noon hour, but I imagined that nighttime brought life to that area.

Our table opted for iced tea all around and two orders of nachos.  Ordering nachos in El Paso is often like a role of the dice.  Too often one is served a plateful of commercial corn chips with canned yellow cheese poured over the top.  But fortunately, not this time.  The nachos were picture perfect, corn tostadas topped with refried beans, grated cheese, lettuce, and tomato, with side containers of guacamole and sour cream.  Sliced pickled jalapeños were not included, but the waitress cheerfully provided a plate of them (fresh!) on request.  Our friend Charlotte speculated on the amount of calories contained in a plate of nachos, but I extolled the nutritional value of beans, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapeños, perhaps relieving some of her guilt.

The feeling of being a tourist must have affected all of us in the group.  Yes, souvenirs were for sale.  How about a sign for a garage wall to remember our visit? Yes, Pierre thought that would be just the thing.

Wayne checked on buying a T-shirt for a friend from Virginia but decided to wait until short-sleeved shirts were available.  (El Paso springtime warm weather has only recently arrived, so only long-sleeved were on sale.)

As we left the restaurant in high spirits, Marty was again singing "El Paso."  Just in case a reader of this blog post hasn't hear the song, here is a YouTube video that will have you singing about my home town.

"El Paso"

Slowing Down Southwest Style

Is your hectic life style getting you down?  This blog post describes a short trip my husband, Wayne, and I recently took to alleviate that very problem.  Fortunately, the Desert Southwest provides multiple opportunities for short, relaxing getaways.

We left early on a Thursday driving east from El Paso, letting wide open spaces and distant mountains bring us out of our morning stupor.  Before we knew it, we had arrived in the small West Texas town of Van Horn.  Margie's Bakery provided us with coffee and breakfast.  Another hour and a half drive, and we were in Alpine, Texas, home of Wayne's alma mater, Sul Ross State University.

Our first stop was at the Museum of the Big Bend, located on the attractive Sul Ross campus.

Museum of the Big Bend

We learned about Native American pictographs, early settlers of the region, and mining operations.  I especially enjoyed the depiction of a primitive kitchen.

Settler's kitchen

We arrived at our final destination, Ft. Davis, in the afternoon and checked into a room in the Orchard Suites of the Limpia Hotel.

Limpia Hotel, Ft. Davis

The next three days we spent like typical tourists, sightseeing, shopping, and dining, We also found the quiet atmosphere conducive to writing and were glad we had brought laptops to work on our next book, Forts, Farbs, and Phantoms. 

Both Alpine and Ft. Davis are built around impressive courthouses.

Courthouse in Ft. Davis

Courthouse in Alpine

We had a variety of dining experiences, from a small restaurant in Alpine that had great food along with their own ideas about how to prepare and serve it,

Restaurant signs

to the elegant Bistro at the Hotel Limpia for an evening meal.

Bistro, Hotel Limpia

Short drives around the area provided many photo ops.

Ft. Davis, wonderfully preserved from the 19th century

Windmill and tank

Horses, waiting to be fed?

Deserted House

Mattie, a Blue Heeler visiting from Virginia

What I can't depict in photos is the blissful peace of the Alpine-Ft. Davis area.  We slowed down and let time flow on its own.

Now my mind has a happy place to return to as I face the everyday challenges of a busy life.

How to enjoy a 70 degree winter day

The month of February is just beginning in my home town of El Paso, Texas.  I'm  deeply troubled by the thought of at least two more dreary months of winter weather. But the morning newspaper promised a 70 degree day with no wind.  Could Mother Nature truly be so kind as to give us a brief respite from winter weather?

I tentatively opened the back door to the porch where the feral cats find their daily food and water. Yes, a chill was definitely missing from the air.  So I opened the kitchen door to the courtyard and left it open. Next I unlocked the bedroom door to air out the upstairs.  My spirits were beginning to soar.

One of my greatest summertime joys is walking around the yard to admire each and every plant. But a month or so had passed since I had even ventured out of the house. A freak November hailstorm wrecked havoc on our property. I didn't even want to look at plants with frayed leaves, broken pots, and dented and scarred stucco walls.

But the beautiful, warm, sunshiny day lured me outside.  I wanted to find something that was blooming, if only to remind me that spring will be here again this year.  Here is what I discovered.

Vinca major

The vinca major vine under a grape arbor is looking much healthier than it does in the blazing heat of summer.  It even managed to put out several bright purple flowers.

Alyssum

Alyssum is another plant that seems to prefer winter weather.  Several clumps of white alyssum are growing around the yard, and, on more humid days, you can catch their sweet aroma.

Hearts and Flowers

Hearts and Flowers is a hardy plant that is growing in many different locations in our garden.  It is so easy to propagate that I have to laugh when I see it for sale in plant nurseries.  Often I pull up large clumps of this plant and throw them in the trash because it becomes invasive.  But this winter I was happy to see Hearts and Flowers flourishing and even putting on small pink blooms where the sunlight hits it.

Pyracantha

The pyracantha bush that I bought on sale at a nursery that was closing has flourished through many years.  In autumn, it is covered with orange berries that turn bright red in the winter.  A welcome sight!

Rosemary

Rosemary is another plant that thrives in the winter months.  When it is happy, it produces small blue flowers.  Rosemary is great to use as a rub for pork chops or to bake with roasted root vegetables. The distinct aroma of fresh rosemary reminds me of the gypsy women selling sprigs of rosemary to tourists in Granada, Spain.

Agarita

The spindly agarita bush in the front yard is also enjoying a respite from the scorching summer sun. It is putting on small red berries that can be used to make agarita jelly by more dedicated cooks than I.

Finding plants surviving under difficult conditions, and even prospering, gives me inspiration that we humans can do the same.  Dark, cold, windy days may be ahead, but we know that sunlight and colors and soft breezes will greet us with the first days of springtime.