Geronimo Plaza

Chillin' at Geronimo Plaza - it was 40 degrees with a 15 MPH north wind.

Weekdays 11AM - 2PM

Two kinds of food are offered: made at home-brought to sell, and made on the spot.

I arrived at The Plaza about 1 PM February 2, 2011. Three food vendors were left. Romelda sold home made. Toby and Nikki sold on the spot made. Both were sold out of the burritos most of us craved. There was a Mexican food truck I did not patronize.

I bought a popover from Romelda who also sold tamales, enchiladas, pork chops, etc.  I buy, run and eat. Romelda makes a soft, not too thick fry bread. Her beans are not the peanut butter consistency many are, They were a little runny. As I headed out of town through Peridot, peeling back the foil wrapper, I got some of those runny beans on a finger. I tasted them and was happy with my choice.  Later, I managed the popover and foil and succeeded eating on the road. Popovers are not like cell phones. Nobody calls and distracts you. It all about the eating. San Carlos is not known for heavy traffic or traffic jams. I felt safe. Romelda also had a full line of sodas, diet and regular, and sweet tea. I got sweet tea, no ice plus lemon. $3.00.  I'd buy again.

Toby took orders, cash, and delivered, Nikki ran the dough, hot oil and prep. I had two tacos. Shells lightly cooked, meat, lettuce and tomatoes. El Pato to taste. El Pato is the national hot sauce of San Carlos. The place runs on it. I love the hot taste and the arty can. The tacos came cupped in foil. They were easy to eat on the run, crispy and sweet. I lost two tomato fragments and one lettuce chunk as I ate. Great assembly Nikki. It's heartwarming to see a man and woman working together the way Toby and Nikki do. $2.50

I will celebrate the day, wherever I am, when Native American Indian people begin modifying the basic food ingredients to fight diabetes. That day is dawning and will arrive.

A lot of Eastern AZ and Western NM were made the Western Apache Homeland, provided they settle down and stop their marauding ways. When valuable resources were found, the government shrank the Apache homeland. Most know the name of Geronimo, who took a number of his people and left the reservation desert lowlands.  In 1886, Geronimo and a few  Southern Chiricahua followers were shipped, first to Florida, then  Oklahoma.

Related Apache who stayed, plus Yavapai, and Tonto, Warm Springs, Coyotero, Pinal, and Aravaipa Apaches were settled near the Fort San Carlos army post.  In 1921, Superintendent Kitch began building a community named Rice several miles north of Fort San Carlos. Stone cutters were hired.  They quarried and sculpted the local tufa stone, constructing scenic Rice.  Kitch began the registered Hereford herd and  ranch,  foundation of the Apache cattle industry.  Coolidge Dam, built on the Gila River narrows 1924-28 holds water to irrigate the Gila River Reservation, and the Florence/Coolidge areas.  In 1928, Silent Cal stood on the dam, gave a very short dedication speech and Fort San Carlos disappeared under San Carlos Lake.

What does that have to do with ethnic food?  Rice became San Carlos, and the main business area in town is Geronimo Plaza.  When you eat at The Plaza, you are customers of successful business people, frequently women, making 200% or more daily on their investment in raw foodstuffs.

These micro businesses, on every reservation, sell mostly the same foods. Fry bread, fry bread wrapped around beans (popovers), fry bread wrapped around beans lettuce and cheese (Indian tacos), and burritos. There are variations. I believe these foods are derived from the staples the U.S. Army and its contractors provided, or did not provide to Indian people:  lard, beans, flour and a little beef.  I could be wrong.  The ladies worked their magic, and rez cuisine was born.  The lard has given way to vegetable oils, but this is the food a lot of Indian people live on. The Apache also make dishes from acorns, beef, corn and squash. I doubt you'll find them at The Plaza.

Why travel to San Carlos and eat at Geronimo Plaza?

1. You grow when spending time with new people.
2. Drive to Coolidge Dam, stand where Calvin Coolidge stood, and view the amazing eagle sculptures on the dam buttresses and the unique dome construction of Coolidge Dam.
3. If you go to Coolidge Dam in winter, you might see a bald eagle.
4. Record large mouth bass are caught from San Carlos Lake
5. I'm giving up my favorite date spot in this review. I like taking Honey Bear BBQ, Sweet D, and get our world in perspective from the Nantac Rim.
6 Some nights you may hear the Dry Lake bull elk whistling in the dark for their hoped-for beloveds. The Milky Way dimly lights Ash Flat.
7. You may see mountain lion in the back country.
8. Coyote likely.
9. A hawk may grab a meal as you watch.
10. Wild turkey or javelina likely, depending where you are.

Be sure to buy a recreation permit