Emily Kanagy
English 121
Food essay
My dad has always been the out doorsy type, he lives for every possible Colorado sport known to man and turned me onto several of them. The divorce agreement stated i was to visit him every other weekend and eat dinner every Wednesday. Eventually that schedule faded with my increasing social life and his increasing distance, town by town, my farther moved further away from me. Not to get away from me but for job necessity and marriage choices. Irregardless he has always tried to instill his love for hiking, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and skiing (in my case snowboarding) into me. When i was young i only liked walking in meadows or taking an easy bike ride. For the past 8 or 9 years he have lived in Buena Vista. Ever since he moved to Buena Vista my liking for his adventurous activities and the patterns that developed from them changed both my view on many out doors activities and bond with my dad.
At first i hated it and thought i would never have fun with my dad in a one stop light town. My dad took me to do Colorado sports like mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, rafting. In my freshman year of high school my dad took me snowboarding for the first time. by sophomore year i was going ever weekend. Snowboarding became a new passion and challenge for me. I started to see the beauty of the location once my eyes were open to the adventures to be had. While i still enjoy all the spring and summer sports, it wasn't until i found snowboarding that i felt like going out of my way to participate. I would either, go see my dad at copper while he works and ride with friends (being from evergreen, snowboarders are their own group) or going home with him to eat and relax. Weather it was after snowboarding or rafting, what we ate and drank when we went home to relax added routine to the rarity of our time together. Mexican burritos from a “ Roach Coach” in Leadvil are a must at least one of the nights i stay with my dad. A hispanic couple and their kids (possibly hoped the boarder) run it. It is a small trailer with “lo mejer en comida” written on it, or “the best in food.” It is called “the roach coach” in Leadvil and surrounding towns and has the tastiest burritos and freshest green chili i have ever tasted.
Most tourists are afraid to even stop there, but the locals know the quality and authenticity. My Dad, Stepmom and I always get the same thing, three barbaqoa burritos ( one no onion) and a side of green chili to go. The seasonings on the shredded beef that fills the inside of the burrito is so flavorful and the beans complement it wonderfully. The green chili is mouth watering! All the peppers are grown in the owners garden 5 minutes away from location. Nothing comes out of a can, (apparently that would be an insult to real mexican cuisine). I could drink the green chili if wanted, but i prefer to put it on any food i can come up for it to be good with. My dad eats there all the time, but for me, “Roach Coach” is a rare treat. The winter time, during snow boarding season, is when i most often get to indulge on this wonderful meal.
Ever since the freshman year of high school my dad has worked for Copper Mountain Ski Resort and i have been able to get a free season pass. It created a way for me to enjoy my new passion without paying an arm and a leg. Finally there was something my dad and i could both love, pass time with together, provide opportunity for me to stay at his house and satisfy my social life. Being from Evergreen, up in the mountains, most of the people i grew up with hit the slopes at least a couple times each year. It was easy to find someone to ride with me on the days I was there and my dad was working. Also my dad could get some good deals. As many weekends as i could i would go to copper Friday evening or Saturday morning to inevitably stay at my dads. Once by dad was off work I would go to his house for the night. (friend in toe or not). Our routine from the time we leave copper till i go home is the same every time.
From Copper to Buena Vista you go over Independence Pass and through Leadvil. Once my Dad and I leave Copper he calls in our order to the roach coach. Each time he says “Hey! This is Don from Copper calling, we need three barbaqoa burritos, one with no onion and a side of green chili to go. Okaaayy, grasias see you soon, bye”. We pick up dinner and arrive home at my dads house at the base of Mt. Prenston, Harvard and Yale. My Stepmom is home, hungry and waiting. I get my stuff and the eccentric dogs happy to see me settled. While i warm up the Burritos and chili, my dad mixes some of the best margaritas i have tried. We sit, eat, talk about what ever stupid topic my stepmom wants to gripe about or nit- pick at. Luckily she goes to bed after dinner, so bringing food home got her out of our hair faster. Once dinner is cleaned up my dad and i refresh our drinks and head to his hot tub. It is beautiful and relaxing out there. You can see the colligeante peaks against the sky and the snow glowing in moon light. The amount of visible stars is breath taking and the air is fresh and crisp. Its located in a corner against the back of the house which blocks most wind. My dad and I pass the time talking and watching the constellations slip across the sky. The fact that he and I have drank a margarita or two since i was 16 made me trust my dad with the things i hid from my mom. My mom has never even gotten drunk. Once we are all pruney we head inside to watch what ever is on comedy central. I lay on the couch and watch with my dad until sleep over comes him. then I myself am off to bed. The rarity of our time, of me getting Roach Coach, of our routine that serves as structure to my time in his home, and the chance to see the immense amount of starts, wouldn't be the same without our Mexican food and drinks
If we didn’t go to roach coach or indulge in margaritas i would still go to my dads, but it wouldn't be the same, nor would i have the memories tied to those tastes. The routine it creates makes me feel more at home at my dads house and less intimidated by and hateful towards my stepmother. Also not coming home with dinner and having to make it means more of our night tip toeing around my stepmother and less time enjoying each other. The fact that my dad drinks, let alone lets me drink, is the opposite of my life at my moms house. Its a nice break, makes me feel more open with my dad and like he and i have an understanding. He knows that kids my age, drink, smoke and party and he is open to the fact that i do. Therefore i feel like i can trust him with more details of my life. Even though as i was growing up were didn’t spend much time together now we can bond with a mature, understanding relationship. For the rest of my life i will associate good margaritas ( my dads are the best ) and good green chili with my times spent with my dad. That must be why a barbaqoa burrito, green chili and a margarita is my favorite meal.
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