THE 19TH HOLE By Carey Sweet


23 miles of delicious


OLD PUEBLO FEATURES MORE THAN 50 MEXCIAN EATERIES, BUT HERE ARE FIVE 5-STARS TO SATISFY SU APETITO


W


hile many city’s tourism websites offer restaurant


guides, VisitTucson.org goes straight to its star dining attraction: Mexican food. An entire online Food & Drink section is dedicated to that glorious cuisine of chiles, corn, meats, beans and spices that is famous in this “Old Pueblo” about 65 miles north of Nogales, Mexico. In fact, Tucson claims


23 miles of Mexican food, spanning more than 50 authentic, mostly family- owned restaurants across its many districts ranging from Westside to Congress Street, Catalina Foothills and beyond. Certainly the Sonoran


city is most famous for its El Charro Café, celebrating its 95th anniversary this year. El Charro also was named one of the 10 best Mexican food restaurants in the U.S. by Money Magazine in 2016. This year too, National


Geographic designated Tucson as a “Best Winter Trip 2017,” specifically “for the food,” and especially for its “affordable eats” including its signature Mexican dishes. And as if food lovers needed any more convincing about Tucson’s culinary charms, in December of 2015, the Old Pueblo became the first city in North America to be honored for its “gastronomy” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural


This colorful wall leads to El Charro Café, where diners (below) sample cuisine from the oldest continuously run Mexican cantina in the country.


Organization (UNESCO). To which we say, “eat


up,” and enjoy the culinary- cultural fiesta. Here are five top choices to stir your apetito.


El Charro Café Tia Monica Flin served her first carne seca enchiladas in 1922, and today, Carlotta Flores, Flin’s great-grandniece, carries on the tradition. That makes El Charro the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family, according to Flores. There’s more lore, too —


culinary researchers argue this point, but Flin took credit for inventing the chimichanga decades ago, saying that while frying a taco, she accidentally dropped a ground beef burro into the burbling pan. El Charro’s classic Sonoran


cooking is so popular that now, the Flores family owns five Tucson-area restaurants. That carne seca is still the star, though, as marinated,


20 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2017


lean Angus beef dried naturally in the Sonoran sun, then shredded and grilled tender with green chile, tomato and onion. Enchiladas Sonorenses


are another mouthwatering tradition, featuring native corn masa cakes drowned in red chile sauce, while Flores offers her own updated recipes such as cage-free chicken breast stuffed with melted queso casero and fluffy corn tamale, all grilled then topped with creamy raja sauce and fire-roasted green chile-avocado-corn salsa. Some good things will


never change, however. Nearly 100 years ago, Flin made her ground beef tacos by folding a patty in a tortilla and frying it, then garnishing it with peas, radishes and Mexican cheese. That delectable treat remains on the menu today, and, as Flores promises, always will. 311 N. Court Ave., Tucson,


(520) 622-1922, elcharrocafe.com.


Crossroads Restaurant For 81 years now, the family owned eatery has attracted crowds for its bargain priced, belly-filling fare that brims with flavor. Staples like hot sauces and salsas are homemade, and entrees are huge, such as the duo of bacon-wrapped, shrimp stuffed chiles that are fried, then smothered in spicy melted cheese with rice, beans, and avocado salad all served in a pretty pottery fish-shaped dish. The funky décor is part


of the appeal of the crowded, cheerful place, with red vinyl booths, red and yellow walls trimmed in fake brick, hanging ferns and Aztec art. Don’t expect anything too fancy on your plate, either, just messy, soul satisfying thrills like barbacoa chimis swimming in tangy enchilada sauce, sumptuous posole stocked with creamy hominy, and silky beef cheek or rustic tongue tempting for you to bundle in warm tortillas. 2602 South Fourth Ave.,


Tucson, (520) 624-0395, crossroadsfinemexican.com.


Café Poca Cosa For an upscale feast, this chic bistro warms the senses with a rust red, ivory and chocolate color scheme and sleek furnishings. Chef-owner Suzana Davila warms hearts and stomachs with her creative cooking, changing her chalkboard- posted menu twice daily.


www.azgolf.org


VISITI TUCSON


VISITI TUCSON


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