One night in the 1950's a county singer named Marty Robbins was traveling between Nashville and Phoenix. Late one night while driving down Doniphan Drive, the main road between El Paso and Albuquerque, he pulled into the parking lot of Rosa's Cantina. It was closed so he peeked into the windows, stretched legs and looked across the badlands of New Mexico.
This stop inspired him to write his western ballad "El Paso". The song "El Paso" was released in October of 1959 and was the number one country & western song of the year. Ever since then Rosa's Cantina has been world famous.
We pulled into Rosa's Cantina at 10:55 AM on a Friday in September and Rosa's Cantina passed the first test. The parking lot was full waiting for the 11:00 am opening. The diners consisted of some staff from the power plant across the street and other locals and probably a few tourist. I felt like a tourist because Avis had given me a car with California plates. Can you imagine, Texas Bob driving a car with California plates. NO!
Let’s take a tour of my lunch plate:
At 12:00 o’clock is something I’ve never seen on any combination of a combination plate. What is it? “Chili” with cube of beef. It was very good. At 3:00 o’clock is ice burg lettuce with a slice of tomato on top. What is under the lettuce? Refried beans. At 6:00 o'clock is two beef enchiladas. (very good). Then at 9:00 o’clock is a single beef taco on top of a bed of Spanish rice. And at 11:00 o’clock; a bowl of beef broth with “stuff” floating in it.
All with a glass of unsweet ice tea, or your beverage of choice, all was very good.
28 Sep 2018