Crumbs in my 'Stache: Remembering Jalisco: a final look back.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

By Planet User

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-I heard through the grapevine recently that Restaurant Jalisco, one of our favorite dive Mexican food joints, had closed its doors.

For New Year’s Eve, shut out of everywhere else for a late-ish dinner, a small group of us went to Jalisco, located beside the Tienda Guadalupana market at 975 Alpine Lane, for some pre-party eats. As usual, there were few other patrons in the restaurant. In fact, the place was virtually empty until a large group trickled in.

What was good at Jalisco, named for the Pacific state in southwest Mexico, home to tequila and mariachi music? Well, it was not the expediency of service. It often seemed that an order for anything - more salsa, napkins, the margaritas that were sometimes mediocre and sometimes the best in town - was dispatched only after the server paused in some unseen back room, perhaps contemplating the film “My Girl 2,” which often played, over-dubbed in Spanish, on the restaurant’s lone television.

But the salsa, and the frijoles y queso, that eventually greeted each table, with a little salt added, was good. And the food was usually great, and at a fair price. One could even fill up on tacos and enchiladas a la carte for just a few bucks.

Plus, there was a certain feel there, a sense of low-key anonymity, that accompanied sitting in a repurposed, wrap-around vinyl booth with kitschy (is that ethnocentric?) framed posters hanging on walls painted a comfortably wretched tapioca green.
“There was just something about driving past Pica’s [Mexican restaurant] packed with ‘tourons’ in the summer, and then rolling into Jalisco,” said Planet staff reporter and noted foodie proletarian Sam Petri. “It was like an oasis of peace.”

No clear word on why Jalisco shut its doors last month, though a slow trade seems to have helped put them under.
Nonetheless, I wandered by the place the other evening and found carpenters wrapping up what looked to be a few weeks of renovation to the interior.

Inside I met Adriana Vazquez and Yolanda Lira, who are re-opening a restaurant there this week they call Las Azucenas (“Lillies”). Vazquez’s husband Jorge and a team of carpenters redid the place, most notably painting the walls a deep red, and generally spruced it up; a few simple paintings of white lilies on canvas hung spartanly. The two women, who have been friends since childhood in Los Tlaxcala, where the overwhelming majority of Jackson Hole’s Mexican immigrants come from, will prepare tamales and huevos rancheros for breakfast, followed by carne asada, milanesas, tortas, burritos and sopas for lunch and dinner.

They seemed like really nice people and I promised to return after they open, which should be by the time this newspaper hits stands.

Also, if you’re looking for some winter season food and drink deals, Old Town Grill & Fish Market (155 W. Broadway), has specials every day Tuesday through Saturday. Tuesday is oyster night, with dollar oysters and a draught beer included on a minimum order of $12. Wednesdays are ‘$3 mojito day,’ and ladies drink 2-for-1 on Fridays. Call 733-1888 for more information.

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Crumbs in my 'Stache: Remembering Jalisco: a final look back. | Planet JH News Article: Restaurants And Dining

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