El Charro: Supreme Mexican Food Since 1922!

With award-winning chimichangas and five locations in Tucson, El Charro Cafe claims to be the nation's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Since 1922, El Charro has served unique and delicious Sonoran- and Tucson-style Mexican food and is a favorite on the lists of many Tucsonans.

I dined at the Speedway and Swan location last week and had the Mexican food experience I tend to expect from El Charro. I usually prefer the Court Ave. location because of its exciting and authentic atmosphere, but the tastes and the service are supreme at any El Charro location.

The grilled shrimp chile rellenos (pictured left) were among the most unique tastes at El Charro Cafe. For $10.95, El Charro serves up two rellenos (stuffed chili peppers) with Spanish rice and refried beans: a to die for combination. A to-go box was definitely needed for these!

Another menu favorite is the USA Today Chimichanga, which earned its name by being named one of USA Today's top 50 dishes. This giant carne seca chimi prompted USA Today Newspaper to dub El Charro "The Home of the Chimichanga."

My dining partner ordered a chimichanga he hadn't tried before: the grilled chicken and vegetable with guacamole (pictured below). This chimi featured juicy grilled chicken, peas, carrots, onions, radishes and broccoli. Of course, this entree is served with with Spanish rice and refried beans. A delightful medley of tastes!


El Charro also offers delicious combination plates ranging from $11.95 to $14.95. I ordered the "numero uno," (pictured right) $11.95, which included one cheese enchilada, one rolled chicken, carne seca or beef taco, refried beans and Spanish rice.
Combos with queso blanco enchiladas, shrimp tacos and chile rellenos are also available on El Charro's menu.

As a last note, I have to mention El Charro's world-class margaritas. Blended or on-the-rocks, El Charro's margaritas come in strawberry, peach, mango or melon flavors: all made with real fruit and a wide selection of tequilas. I ordered a melon margarita (or two) and I was definitely in the El Charro spirit!

A Visit to The Gallery in the Sun

A rusty metal gate adorned with kitschy tin can flowers welcomes visitors to the beautiful Gallery in the Sun.

Since the gallery opened in 1965, thousands of people have come to see the unique works of Ted “Ettore” DeGrazia.

Inspired mostly by native culture and the elements of the Southwest, DeGrazia’s early works were published in Arizona Highways magazine before he partnered with muralists Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco, who sponsored DeGrazia’s first solo exhibition in 1942.

His most recognized art pieces are those of “Los Ninos,” the wide-eyed Native American children printed on greeting cards in the 1950s and 60s.

The Gallery in the Sun houses six permanent collections of paintings that mark historical events and native cultures of the Southwest. Some 15,000 other DeGrazia paintings are in rotating exhibitions at the gallery, watercolors and oil paintings, sketches, lithographs, ceramics and sculptures.

Also housed at the Gallery in the Sun are some of the works by DeGrazia’s wife, Marion S. DeGrazia. The gallery began displaying her works last year as part of the “M Collection,” and still has some hanging in the main gallery.

Presently, the Gallery is showing a collection of Ted DeGrazia’s works in conjunction with Lent called “The Way of the Cross.” From February 6 until May 11, visitors can view the 15 original paintings that depict Christ’s suffering and crucifixion.

The crucifixion paintings were created in 1964 when a local reverend asked DeGrazia to paint Stations of the Cross for the Newman Catholic Student Center near the University of Arizona. De Grazia replaced the originals in the chapel with reproductions for insurance and environmental purposes.

The Gallery in the Sun will feature a new exhibition starting March 28. The “Todos Mexicanos” exhibit will feature over 50 black and white sketches of the daily life DeGrazia witnessed on his many trips to Mexico. These drawings feature recurring characters in DeGrazia’s works such as merchants, mariachis, farmers and children.

The opening reception will be from 6pm to 8pm in the main gallery and the exhibit will last through September 8.

Toltec wisdom and The Four Agreements

One of the most interesting cultures I have recently learned about is that of the Toltec.

The Toltec have been revered for thousands of years as men and women of knowledge in the southern regions of Mexico. Teotihuacan, the ancient city of pyramids just outside of Mexico City, is known as the place where “Man becomes God,” and remains the Toltec center of knowledge and spirituality.

Toltec knowledge combines the spiritual and the scientific, because they believe they both come from the same source and they follow the same universal laws. Toltec wisdom is not a religion, but is regarded as a way of life.

Toltec Nagual (master) Don Miguel Ruiz has made Toltec Wisdom part of American society. Born in Mexico and raised by his family of healers, Miguel Ruiz moved to the United States and began teaching and lecturing about the Toltec history of healing. Miguel Ruiz created the Four Agreements in order to help his students quiet their minds.

The Four Agreements became a New York Times bestseller and was on the New York Times Bestseller List for nearly ten years. What don Miguel Ruiz created was a toolbox of practical tools that anyone can use to help them incrementally change the way they view their lives.

“Americans are so fast-paced and don’t stop to think about what they say or how they act,” said Four Agreements fan Jessica Patricios. “I read The Four Agreements every year-or-so in order to re-instill those practices.”

The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
   Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
   
   2. Don't Take Anything Personally
   Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
   
   3. Don't Make Assumptions
   Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
   
   4. Always Do Your Best
   Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Below is a video narrated with excerpts from The Four Agreements, found on YouTube.com

Exploring in Tucson's Backyard

Tony Figueroa, 22, doesn't take Tucson's beauty for granted.

Having lived here most of his life, Figueroa has witnessed Tucson's brilliant sunsets, majestic wildlife and unbeatable weather. But there is one aspect of Tucson that Figueroa says is too often overlooked: the many places there are to explore.

One of Figueroa's favorite exploration spots? The majestic Chiva Falls.

"This is such a perfect time to explore Chiva Falls," Figueroa says, "Since winter was so cold, the falls are running that freshly melted snow."

And the best part about Chiva Falls is that is right in Tucson's backyard!