Margarita Night
Friday is Margarita night, no matter where we happen to be. Mexican food is a real favorite, so I diligently search out and plan the best places each week. Recalling my first Mexican restaurant in 1968, it involved a road trip to Taco Bell in Springfield to try out the new restaurant, which was the first Taco Bell opened east of the Mississippi. They were founded in 1962 in Downey, CA by a guy named Glenn Bell. It was my first taste of real spicy food and really hit the spot after all those years of rather bland German food served in our area. It’s a taste I’ve craved ever since.
Unfortunately, Taco Bell did not serve alcohol, so my first margarita must have come a little later. Wonder why I can’t remember??
Our favorite Mexican restaurants have all sadly closed. One was Las Palmas in the Comfort Inn north of Lima along I75. We would invariably stop there on the way to or from our frequent trips back home over the years. Apparently the two brothers who ran the place had a falling out so the restaurant was suddenly closed about 8 years ago. They had the best pulled pork quesadilla in the world along with tasty chips, salsa, refried beans and rice. Because of driving, I never had an opportunity to sample their margarita before the place closed for good, but I’d bet it was outstanding. Ironically Las Palmas still has a facebook page, so hopefully the brothers will someday reconcile.
Our favorite Mexican restaurant near our home in Michigan was Old Mexico, a real authentic place owned by a crazy guy who walked around the restaurant with a belt of tequila shot glasses across his chest carrying a bottle of tequila. He would pour a shooter for anybody and everybody. Salt and lime were always handy to help wash the tequila down.
The place had a Mariachi band that really provided an authentic Mexican feel. One day the owner decided to just go back to Mexico, closing the place without notice. However, we discovered later that he owed back taxes so was literally deported back to the US to pay off his taxes. He started a small restaurant in a strip mall and begin serving the same menu, except without the liquor, as he couldn’t get a license due to his tax delinquency. We went back a few times and about a year later, his taxes were paid off and he again headed home to Mexico, never to be seen again!
While working at Ford, I had the opportunity many times of traveling to Mexico for business, from Mexico City, Hermosillo, Chihuahua and Monterey, plus also on vacation to Cozumel and Cancun. Having authentic Mexican food in-country was a special treat, as opposed to the Tex-Mex places in the US. The locals' favorite tequila was Patron, for which I quickly gained a taste. Patron margaritas are always the best.
Also, Mexican beers were special, of course, with a squeezed lime.
During one Ford test trip to Tucson, Arizona in 1974, we ventured across the border to Nogales, Mexico where we ate at an awesome Mexican restaurant call La Roca. The original building, Casa Margot, was built in the late 1800’s and served principally as a boarding house, but was eventually remodeled and La Roca opened its doors in 1972. Nestled into a natural cliff face, the restaurant is named after the natural stone that frames its main dining room. Constructed primarily of stone and concrete, the simple yet quietly elegant design fills you with the beauty of an old Mexican hacienda. And the rock formation with a trickle of water seeping down, offered cooling relief for the restaurant patrons. La Roca is a truly memorable place with great food and drink. Plus we made it back across the border without incident!
Let me know your favorite Mexican restaurant, as we’d like to check it out some Friday night!
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