We visited this 2012 James Beard Award winning American Classic in the early afternoon for lunch. Located on the west side of El Paso, just off the interstate in a semi-industrial area, the H&H is an old, cavernous car wash with multiple, covered bays and high ceilings, to handle trucks. The look is all business and like it had been there for 50 years. In one corner is a small building with a sign “Coffee Shop”. The door on the main street side is sealed so you park on the side and walk through the car wash area to get to the other door.
Two older gents are sitting on folding chairs outside the door and greet you on the way in. Inside there is a cash register just to the right of door and a counter directly in front of you with maybe 8 stools. Only one stool was occupied by a pretty young hispanic looking woman in business attire working her smart phone. There are three tables along the front wall to the left of the door. We sat in the last one, behind three guys talking business alternately in Spanish and English. The kitchen is behind the counter and has a grill and stovetop and a large refrigerator and pantry towards the back. There are pictures on the wall of famous guests including basketball coach, Bobby Knight. All in all, it was a tiny, cramped space.
Rick's Mexican Plate
The waitress who is also a cook came over and took our order. I got the “Mexican Plate” which was a combination of a beef taco, a cheese and pepper enchilada, refried beans and rice. I thought it tasted delicious and fresh. In the NY Metro area I often find the refried beans hard and pasty and the rice dry. At H&H the beans were soft and fresh and the rice warm and flavorful. The enchilada was the highlight with still warm and soft cheese that had a lot of flavor. Joan ordered beef tacos and felt they were nothing special, though fresh. We both had ice tea that was cold and unsweetened.
Taco Plate
Our bill came in at just under $20 and when we went up to the cash register, the waitress knocked on the door and a stocky Anglo man of around 60 came in from where he had been sitting outside to ring us up. I mentioned the Awards event in May that I had attended and he said that his brother and mother were there for the family. He gave credit to his brother for taking over the coffee shop years ago and making it successful. He was very appreciative and surprised that they got the award saying “you just make good food and if other people want to say something about it, they can”. He was excited that I had been at the event and offered me a free hat or mug. I took the mug and Joan took a picture of us together in front of the shop.
American Classic Coffee Cup
Good Morning, Friends!
Thinking about you just now as I was coring strawberries. In fact, put down the knife halfway thru and came to write you this note
[…Was so glad to be doing it…Thought about how glad I am to have a simple life…]
Then thought of you and thought about how my butt would be so tired of a car seat by now. Hope your stamina is better than mine!
Love the updates and appreciate the thread/the theme of the trip…I use that “theme” approach in my artwork….Work a theme, then move onto a new one…
…But you can’t drop the theme yet! There are still miles to go and meals to consume!
and people to share it with, like me!
Have a good travel day.
Love, Susan
Rick, I swear you can make a connection wherever you are, esp if great food is the medium!