Dinner with the Rincon family at Sandry's, in Lucio Blanco

For the last year or so, my friend Jerry Flinn has been telling his friends, the Rincon Family, of Lucio Blanco about me. I have the impression that he's been saying a lot of good things about me to the Rincons, as he's told me that the Rincons say "Any friend of Jerry's is a friend of ours." It tuned out that Monday, September 25, 2006 I flew into Harlingen, Texas, and Jerry picked me up at the airport, and almost immediately, we were headed south to Lucio Blanco, Tamaulipas, Mexico to meet the Rincon family.

Photos: The temperatue is hot in Sandry's kitchen, yet Elena, Dora and Yoli are busily preparing a special meal for me. I still find it hard to fathom how some people can be so wonderfaul.

Rodolfo Rincon and his charming wife Dora, and their extended circle of family and friends, have lived in Lucio Blanco for all of their lives, which is more common in Mexican society than in the United States, as Mexicans aren't quite as mobile as Americans. Rudolfo has many family members who live in the Lucio Blanco area, including two brothers and a sister, and their families, plus countless friends. As a former mayor of Lucio Blanco, and a guy who's contemplating entering politics again, Rodolfo knows everybody in the area, and I mean everyone! If you want to anything about anybody, or anything about the state of Tamulipas, Rodofo is the guy to ask.

The Rincon family is typical of the emerging middle class in Mexico, as they own a beautiful two-story home and two fine restaurants, El Puerto, and Sandry's, and a taco stand that operates during evening hours, located next to El Puerto. To supplement his restaurant business, Rodolfo and Dora also own a trailer that serves as a mobile restaurant at area events, such as the St. Francis of Assisi festival that I attended. My friend Jerry met Rodolfo while dining one day at Sandry's a year or so ago, and have been best friends ever since.

Left: Oh yes, Elena, shows me another chilie rellano. Right: A Chile rellano is filled and battered, and ready to be cooked in Sandry's fantastic kitchen.

I had never heard of Lucio Blanco until the tragic collision between a propane truck and a freight train occurred on August 11, 2006. In California, we get very little news about Mexico, unless its political or drug-related, and I hadn't even heard about it until Jerry told me about it. If anything can be said good about the catastrophic explosion, it did put Lucio Blanco on the map.

Lucio Blanco, and the small neighboring towns of Control and Ramierz, are very typical of the sleepy little towns located on the south side of the Rio Grande River, in that their economy is based on farming and service industries that cater to the local population. Despite the gringo fear that Mexico isn't safe, nobody in Lucio Blanco locks their door, and some residents seem to personality leave their door open. Road's brother Rogillio has lived across the street from the police station, and he says being a police officer in Lucio Blanco is like being retired, as the only action is arresting the occasional public drunk. By the way, Mexican society has far less tolerance for public drunkeness than American society does.

Left: Chilie rellanos, which are already stuffed and battered, are cooking on Sandry's back burner. Right: I'm totally overwhelmed at the love and hospitality that my friends have given me.

I didn't know it until I got to Sandry's with Jerry that Rodolfo and his charming wife Dora were planning a special dinner for me, as a way to get aquainted and to welcome me to Lucio Blanco, and into the circle of family and friends. I had the opportunity to tour Sandry's fine kitchen and get a chance to watch Dora, one of her employees, Yoli, and a couple of other ladies prepare the feast. I couldn't believe the trouble these folks were going through, to prepare such a fine meal in my honor....

The fine meal started out with a bowl of some of the finest fish and vegetable soup that I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I asked Dora for her recipe, and she shrugged and gave me the list of ingredients that she uses. She says the secret to the soup is her homemade fish broth, which is easy to obtain, as Sandry's specialty is delicious fresh and saltwater seafood dishes. Dora adds in a few crushed tomatoes, some onion, cilantro and a little salt and pepper. Accoring to her, that's about it, as you mix the ingredients together and simmer until the soup smells right. She says her soup always changes, as she's always adding a "little of this, and a little of that," depending upon the ingredients she has on hand. Whatever method she uses, her soup is delicious!

Left: My dinner plate of enchiladas, carrots, a fresh tostada, and a chilie rellano, all topped with cheese. How can it get any better than this? Right: If my meal wasn't enough, they brought a plate of delicious tostadas. Nobody in their right mind could resist this delicious food.

After a couple of beers and a couple of bowls of Dora's delicious fish soup, the dinner arrived. What a dinner! The dinner consisted of chilie rellanos, enchiladas with mole sauce, baked carrots, shredded beef tortillas, covered with tangy queso, and a salad of shredded lettuce, sliced onions and tomatoes, and halved key limes. The chilie rellanos were the centerpiece of the meal, and I had the choice between cheese, ground beef, or seafood. How could I choose? ... so I had a sample of each variety.

Left: Jerry, friend "Nacho," Rodolfo, Dora and Edna enjoy the fine dinner at Sandry's. Right: Jerry is very touchy-feely, but to Edna's amusement, and my chagrin, he gets a bit carried away. Oh well, what are friends for?

The ladies put a lot of time and effort into this meal, and it was totally on the house, in my honor. Dora, Rodolfo, Edna, Jerry and I enjoyed one of the finest meals that I've ever eaten, prepared and presented to me by people that I'd only known a couple of hours. As the days went on, I was to learn what wonderful people the Rincon family are.

Web page design has been created by Eric's Enterprises, Inc., website design, and more...