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| Brownsville Observer Editor, 1966-67 |
A group of us, between the ages of 19-21, experienced together what I consider the Golden Era of Dining in Matamoros.
We never thought much about it in the 60's with so many other things occupying our minds, but the disparity between the currencies of the United States and Mexico allowed us to wine and dine like royalty in Matamoros though most of us made servant's wages.
My sister Sandy worked at the S&H Green Stamp Store on Palm Boulevard, her friend Alma Buentello at a liquor store near Fort Brown, Tom Robinson at the Exxon station, Rosalio "Chalio" Rivera at Whitman's Army Surplus.
During those years I worked at the rapidly-declining Valley Inn Hotel on Central Boulevard as a bellman/night desk clerk/switchboard operator.
Occasionally joining us were Ignacio "Nacho" Estrada, who sold clothes at Mr. John's Men's Shop and dressed impeccably, as well as Danny and Marilee Krause from McAllen.
Also in our group was the most beautiful African-American girl in Brownsville, Gloria Turner from West Saint Francis Street.
Everyone knew that my preferred place was the Texas Bar, a wonderful restaurant on the square. The menu above, showing dinner prices at $3.25 U.S. was from a later period.
In the 60's dinner at the Texas Bar was $1.50 with your choice of two entrees; filet mignon, pheasant under glass, frog legs, fried chicken, etc.
Included as appetizers were guacamole and chips, a plate of cut-up celery and carrots, bolillo bread and butter and, of course, cacajuates.
Catty corner across the street from the Texas Bar was the U.S. Bar with a similar menu, but I never took the group there. It was a Chevy/Ford, Mantle/Mays type thing. You either ate at the Texas Bar or the U.S. Bar, not both.
We avoided the Drive Inn like the purple plague as we considered it the domain of Winter Texans, but did frequent Papagayo's for lunch, just across the tracks via the old bridge.
Las Dos Republicas, a softly lit venue with very comfortable booth seating was a favorite for drinks and conversation.
For a change of pace, we tried the Chinese food at the Santa Fe a couple times. No complaints.
El Senorial had the 3-layered drink ladies liked.
Eventually, I "discovered" La Linterna Verde, much as white Europeans "discovered" America. The Green Lantern, as we called it, was a quaint taco place with bird cages on the ceiling, featuring tacos de pollo con mole, the best I've ever eaten.
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| Jim Barton, Alex Guerrero |
The late Alex Guerrero once told me La Linterna Verde was one of his favorite places too.
Memories
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories, sweet memories
Memories, memories
man, you aged badly, dude.
ReplyDeleteslim in a Sears rack suit and now bald and fat.
que gacho es tu dios, guey!
Still camped out in front of your lap top waiting on our next story, Duardo? That's so cute, but also sad. The herringbone suit is from Mr. John's Mens Shop in Brownsville. Unlike you, I never bought clothes at Sears, Wards or Walmart.
DeleteI can still taste the taquitos outside El Nuevo Laredo, El Mapis and El Golden House! Delicious.
ReplyDeleteTio Nachos, La Linterna Verde (next door to hermanos Ramos barbershop) were my favorites . I don't think they carded 14 year old boys Circa 1970.
ReplyDeleteWe were teen girls going to the Matamoros discos, like Crazy Lazy and their all-you-can-drink margaritas in pitchers. My friends and I discovered Matamoros a bit later, amazed there was no bartender, everyone serving themselves neverending free margaritas. Menudo and Thalia blasting on the dance floor. Remember getting very sick my first or second time there, kept going to the pitcher table over and over. We all ended up sick the next day but this was all before 9/11, before the recessions, back in a time everyone was happy and optimistic and no worries about the future.
ReplyDelete