Stories From the Casa

My days of drinking tequila shots on an empty stomach are long gone. These days I focus more on the flavors of the food and drink I put in my mouth rather than the effects they’re likely to cause.

That’s why I love Casa Alvarez. Not only do they have the best Mexican food  in Boulder, but they also mix some of the best margaritas around. What I’ve learned by sitting at the Casa bar is that not all tequila is the same. So now you can understand why I’m so intrigued by Casa’s upcoming Tequila Pairing Event on March 19 from 6-8 p.m.  It’s an all-inclusive evening that pairs Organic Republic Tequilas with Casa’s small plate specialties, such as their hand mixed guacamole tostadas, shrimp ceviche and crepes with chocolate sauce and ice cream. Yum!

Beyond the opportunity to savor these incredible flavors, you also will have a chance to learn from an expert what makes Organic Republic Tequila so special. You can count on Casa’s bartender, Mitch, to be serving up old favorites such as the O’Rita, as well as creating new ones.

Enough dreaming about the possibilities……

It’s been so long since driving down 30^th Street wasn’t a hassle that I hardly recognized my commute to work without all those cones, workers, trucks and dozers. Things on this side of town are looking up for March – and hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and bless us with more spring than winter weather, too.

         You know what this means, right? Not only can you add 30^th Street back to your favorite north-south routes through Boulder, but you also can add Casa Alvarez back into your favorite lunch stops. No extra time needed for traffic jams and crazy drivers who don’t know how to merge.

           While we’re celebrating how easy it is to get to work with our newly completed cone zone-​ free intersection, we wanted to let our customers in on the party, too. That’s why we’re offering a free soft drink from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. when you buy lunch through March 15. You can check out our Mexican food menu before you come and don’t forget to ask what specials are available for CASA Club members, too.

Did you know that once a month for the last 5 years Casa Alvarez has donated Mexican food, through a program called “Taco Tuesdays,” to Attention Homes?  Attention Homes, one of Boulder County’s oldest non-profit organizations, provides residential treatment, counseling, and safe shelter to at-risk youth who are just a step away from ending up in the juvenile system.

So, curious to know more about this, I called the executive  ​director of Attention Homes. I asked him what it means to him, and especially the kids, to have Casa Alvarez so committed to this program. He said that, “ the kids absolutely love Casa Alvarez’s meals because the food is delicious and they provide a variety and more than enough food. It benefits our program because it is free and it saves on expenses, and even our finicky eaters devour it. On occasion our kids are invited to the restaurant and it is a great treat for them; they rarely ever eat at a sit-down restaurant and they enjoy the night out. These times are very special for our at-risk kids. It is so generous of Betty and Ernesto to let 10 kids, plus staff members, order whatever they’d like from the menu. The Casa staff is always friendly and helpful with the kids and they go out of their way to make the kids feel extra special.” 

 I also asked Betty why she participates in “Taco Tuesdays.” She said, “these kids have had tough times in their young lives and when I see their faces and how much they look forward to it, how can we not be involved?​ The kids enjoy a Mexican feast and the party-like atmosphere gives them a fun, relaxing break from their daily routines. The kids are very appreciative, and eat like there is no tomorrow. It is such a small gesture to make and it gives such joy to a group of kids who need to know that we care.”

 I have to say, I was not surprised by any of the positive things Attention Homes had to say about Casa Alvarez. Believe me when I say that this is just one of the many ways that Casa gives back to the community. If you have ever eaten and hung out at Casa, you, no doubt, have experienced the generosity and friendliness of Betty, Ernesto and their entire staff. Betty and Ernesto are some of the nicest and most genuine people you will ever meet; as a community we are lucky to have them!​

Wasn’t it just Christmas and New Years?  Oh well, it’s time to move on because father time isn’t waiting for us to catch up. It’s time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day.  Many of you are thinking OMG another dreaded V-day without someone special and now, for the next several weeks, you have to see love in the air wherever you go, all the romance and roses stuff; it makes you hate the color red after a while!

Well ladies, no more sitting at home in your footie pajamas feeling lonely and depressed, eating an entire box of chocolates and guys, take off that old, favorite sweatshirt and stop watching reruns of “When Harry Met Sally,” eating chicken wings and wishing you were Harry!

This year, I may be your personal cupid (you can thank me later) because February 14^th is going to take on a whole new meaning. In Mexico, Valentine’s Day is referred to as Día de San Valentin or El Día del Amor y la Amistad, the “day of love and friendship.” It’s not just a day for lovers, it’s also for families and friends.  Now that’s awesome!  It’s a day for people to simply show appreciation and gratitude to the people they care about.  So… there’s no reason to feel left out if you don’t have a significant other.

Take off the footie pajamas and over-worn sweatshirt.  In fact, better yet, throw them out because it’s never a good look! Call some friends or family members and get over to Casa Alvarez on Valentines Day and treat yourself to a comforting, homemade dinner made with love from Ernesto and Betty with their all-inclusive dinner menu, including delicious desserts.

Grab a good friend, a lover or the entire family and celebrate a day of love and friendship.  Let them know you care, because what’s life without family and good friends?   Cheers to you this Valentine’s Day!

It’s a hard fact, but the football season is almost over and for some of you that is a good thing. For others, it will be nothing short of a life tragedy but until the BIG game is played and the championship team is awarded, all is well in the world for football fans. Oh I know, you have all of these huge life decisions rushing around in your head as the big day quickly approaches. You’re trying to speculate who you want to win but then you’re also thinking “who do you think will win,” which are two very different thoughts because you know when Monday morning rolls around, you want to be the winner of the office football pool. Somehow I think that would make your Monday feel like a Friday!

Anyway, back to the big Super Bowl decisions running around in your head like little annoying players tugging at your brain. You’re now thinking about where  you’re going to watch the game.  Who wants to be bothered with having everyone over to your place?  The size of your electronic device becomes vital in this endeavor. You know your own TV isn’t big enough and at times you have even thought of going out to buy a bigger TV for the day and then return it the next, but that would be just plain wrong. All you know is that the TV you watch the game on better be as gianormous as humanly possible because you don’t want to miss any detail. Then last but not least, you can’t wait to eat whatever you want and you won’t stop until the last play of the game. Then the holy grail of all thoughts starts to make your mouth water because, of course, it goes without saying that ice cold beer is a must when watching the Super Bowl.  If it weren’t there, it would be like trying to play the game without a football; it just simply can’t happen. And beer will make everything better whether your team wins or loses.

Well, being the problem solver that I am, I have the solution to all of your mind boggling decisions filling the sports part of your brain. Head on down to Casa Alvarez with your Pittsburg Steelers or  Greenbay Packers team jersey on (please, no Denver Bronco  jerseys because someone may throw a taco in your general direction). Gather your friends and family and make a day of it at the Casa.  Who says you have to tailgate in a parking lot?  Get there early and tailgate yourself on a bar stool and get the best seat in town. Enjoy watching the Super Bowl on the super duper, gianormous, large-screen TV, eat yummy homemade food, like Betty’s famous chili, AND special $1.50 drafts will be flowing for your enjoyment.

Best of all, the entire atmosphere will be fun, festive and rowdy regardless of what team wins because, remember, its how you play the game and, after all, its just a bunch a dudes slamming into each other over a little leather ball!