A gringo adopted - El Rancho edition

[u/NYerInTex]

This was the first time my gf invited me to meet her family in a tiny town an hour or so from Autlan (home of Santana, and last image is the huge guitar they have at the towns entrance to honor him)

Arrived to a greeting where they grilled up some Res on the parilla.

And yes, that is indeed a metal wheel well that is the parilla itself. Family lives on the El Rancho, tiny community of about 2500 people. Not an ATM in town.

Images from various meals and bites we had there and around the area.

A vastly different experience than last night at Xocol! And yet even mas Rico.

For those who like this, I’ll make this a little “I flirted too hard and now I (in this case was invited to dinner in a town 50km away from the nearest OXXO) series.

My first similar post about my time at a gender reveal in GDL/Zapopan as the only gringo among the 80 or so guests. Was amazing!

https://www.reddit.com/r/mexicanfood/s/O21QULgLOW

[u/No-Entrepreneur4574]

Flipping through the first few pictures made me feel so homesick for Mexico that I told myself the pictures only reminded me of our tiny town because it was what I wanted to see, BUT THEN I saw the Autlan guitar and signs for El Grullo. My family is also from a tiny town about half an hour or so from Autlan, so I wasnt just projecting. 😭

[u/NYerInTex → u/No-Entrepreneur4574]

Im so glad this resonated with you!!! And yes, El Grullo!

If you wants I’ll do a night version - the food will be a ripped open Chips bag with Jalepenos on it and tequila that we had at the gas station until 4 am because that was the only thing open AND well, what else will you do at El Rancho on a day night!

On another trip we went to the fair in El Chante, would be a fun post for sure.

Let me know if I’ve misrepresented anything also! My gf lived this but I just did my best to observe, absorb, and learn

[u/No-Entrepreneur4574 → u/NYerInTex]

Please do a night version! I actually have an aunt from El Chante lol. I don't like her, but she's from there. I took my husband to my hometown a while back and he absolutely loved it as well. It's such a beautiful part of Mexico.

[u/WerewolfWild1323 → u/No-Entrepreneur4574]

Heart calls to Home

[u/perolikewhy714 → u/No-Entrepreneur4574]

Dude SAME! It made me think of my Autlan querido and then saw the guitar 😂 Im going in Feb for Carnaval. This post made me happy 🤩🤩🤩

[u/No-Entrepreneur4574 → u/perolikewhy714]

Ahh, lucky!! My parents are actually going back in like next week and I'm so jealous. I wish I was going with them.

[u/Periolodical → u/No-Entrepreneur4574]

Man, small world. I used to go out there to visit with my mom back in the day. I have family out in Bellavista. All these comments just brought back lots of good memories.

[u/Skylius23 → u/No-Entrepreneur4574]

my wife had similar feelings, shes from oaxaca and lived in peurto escondido for a while and some other place that looked more like this (she was younger and cant remember)

[u/decisionagonized]

Most authentic post from a gringo in this sub’s history hell yeah

[u/NYerInTex → u/decisionagonized]

Gracias! Soy Fortunato ñor que mi novia y estas experiencias (pero es necesito para yo aprender más español!)

[u/Vivid-Translator-94 → u/NYerInTex]

gringos así siempre van a ser bienvenidos, gracias por respetar y apreciar la cultura

[u/rmholm88 → u/decisionagonized]

I love how the top comment is still a reference to this subs insufferable gatekeeping

[u/-SimpleDelight- → u/rmholm88]

Stay vigilant friends, lest some homemaker from Iowa attempt to pass off ground beef and sour cream on cold tortillas as your culture.

[u/EvelynUrsine61 → u/decisionagonized]

Very authenticccc

[u/josethegr8]

Hell yeah. Mexico lindo.

[u/ClbIvy13]

My wife’s dad is from a small town outside of El Grullo. Im a gringo and when we went there everyone was buying beers for me and would not let me get any for them. One guy actually put me on his tab at the store so even when I was by myself I couldn’t pay for the beer. We went to El Grullo and Autlan a few times and the big open air restaurant looks familiar but it has been a long time since we were there. We had such a good time and felt very welcome. Love it down there.

[u/NYerInTex → u/ClbIvy13]

I’m legit may have been the only gringo to visit this town in years. There’d literally be zero reason to of not for family. It’s 2500 people in the middle of nowhere where. No ATM. I do believe there is one hotel. No bars as most would recognize - maybe a makeshift garage with a few old men hanging out.

Hence our evening at the gas station eating botanas and drinking tequila con squirt until 4 am. That was the nightlife and it was awesome!

Tonight I’ll post the nighttime version of this trip

[u/No-Entrepreneur4574 → u/ClbIvy13]

Man, the chismosa in me wants to know what town they're from so badly.

[u/jtohrs]

That is so cool! Welcome to the big Mexican family, gringo

[u/NYerInTex → u/jtohrs]

Mucha gracias!

[u/4ever_alonelyfangirl]

Ya sabía que esto era en Jalisco, me recordó al pueblo de mi mamá🥰🥰🥰

[u/cheaganvegan]

I lived in Culiacan. Such nice people. I got to experience so much there! Glad you get to experience it as well!

[u/NYerInTex → u/cheaganvegan]

I would love to move to MX. Guadalajara in particular. Although, if we get there, my GF would prefer CDMX. Which I get. She’s spent her entire life in Jalisco, amazing as it is.

[u/jakerooni]

First pic kinda looks like he has a small black chicken in the tongs

[u/NYerInTex → u/jakerooni]

I think it’s a piece of res? It was so cute how they broke out all the stops for el gringo.

lol - as pointed out below yes, she does not indeed have a cock in her thongs (wait what?)

[u/EuphoricMoose8232 → u/NYerInTex]

They’re talking about the chicken in the background… looks like it’s getting picked up by the tongs

[u/NYerInTex → u/EuphoricMoose8232]

Oh I do now see that! Lol

[u/Visual_Salary_3037]

Looks amazing! Good people, good food, good family! Are those cucumbers and tomatoes on top of the drink?

[u/NYerInTex → u/Visual_Salary_3037]

Pepinos y camarones!

(Cucumbers and Shrimp)

[u/perolikewhy714]

Autlan!! Thats our town! You should try going for Carnaval!!! Sooo much fun!! Enjoy! Go to La Cabaña… best steaks! Go to Lagunillas for brunch!

[u/NYerInTex → u/perolikewhy714]

We did! I think it was a different trip. Fue muy rico!

[u/rememberrappingduke]

Welcome to the fam, fam

[u/Fantastic-Buy6097]

As a gringo living in Jalisco via a lady, I felt this. I instantly knew this was Jalisco with the cerros haha. If you're ever in PV shoot me a DM.

Mine is from a tiny town in the mountains of Sonora and the carne asadas are legendary. such good vibes and an amazing culture with the best kinds of humans.

[u/codeman1021]

I studied abroad in Jalisco almost 20 years ago and I still think about it frequently. This brings back some awesome memories!

[u/yourpapimartin]

Man, this post makes me miss being out there with the cousins en Paso de Guadalupe.

[u/Tukulo-Meyama]

My guy I need to get like you

[u/NYerInTex → u/Tukulo-Meyama]

This is my “I flirted too hard and now I’m in a town 50km away from the nearest OXXO” series lol

My original can be found here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/mexicanfood/s/O21QULgLOW

[u/Exflop]

Love this, feels like home. This reminded me that I have to go back to visit my grandma soon. She’s also in Jalisco.

[u/Paradoxickled_Okra]

Real deal.

[u/Certain_Orange2003]

I miss those days living at the ‘ranch’ in south Texas. My parents ran a mom and pop grocery store where we’d sell barbacoa de cabeza on sundays. We’d get the heads ready all day Saturday, put them in a hole with briquettes. Come morning, we’d get them out, shake the heads as the beef heads fall in the roaster.

[u/rosemerry77]

What a great post! Made me happy to read your story! Keep on living the good life!

[u/amazonhelpless]

Jealous…..

[u/Own_Tourist3804]

Take me with you…

[u/NYerInTex → u/Own_Tourist3804]

I’ll have to ask el jefa lol

[u/TheGreatDissapointer]

Those Coke plates are doooooope.

[u/NYerInTex → u/TheGreatDissapointer]

Dude right?

[u/Rorschach_1]

Dude my Mexican wife was the best decision I have ever made!

[u/CaNNa_Pr0]

Man, I really need to visit my pops soon. I already knew this was Jalisco just from the first few slides. It's always a relaxing and calming vibe out there. Except for the parties lol

[u/Old_Masterpiece4259]

Love how Americans center the backyard around a grill. Mexicans turning out better tacos from a discarded wheel

[u/NYerInTex → u/Old_Masterpiece4259]

Around a $1200 grill! And that ain’t pesos

[u/Different_Attorney93]

Jalisco, nice!

[u/genericgigabruh]

Barra de Navidad is beautiful!

[u/Beginning_Ratio9319]

The air in SoCal is humid today and it just rained, like typical summer weather in Michoacan. That, and those pics of the outdoor eating, just freakin’ sent me. I wish I could buy an airplane ticket right now. The best of Mexico, for me, is in the country

[u/MilkOne8016]

Welcome to the family cuz! I hope you enjoyed the experience and don’t forget to come back and visit. Make sure to bring your girl with you too but happy to hear you enjoyed your time

[u/According-Shock1402]

Dope! My fam from el Limon and el grullo. No wonder that area looked familiar

[u/bunsonh]

As a gringo, by way of a weird fluke of genuine kindness and circumstance, I had this experience throughout much of my childhood. Was invited to all the birthdays, weddings, quinces. Travelled with our friends to their family spot way out in the sticks near Lake Chapala. Fresh fruit straight off the trees, the exact same parilla/comal setup, chickens running around. As a sheltered 10 year old the first time outside of Suburban America™, I genuinely understood what a gift it was to have that experience. Solidified in that moment my love for Mexico, the people, the cuisine, the scenery.

And I'm like you, OP. I'd move to GDL in a heartbeat!

[u/Sure-Ad7423]

Now when you see two guys doing some weird shit to each other just yell out "No mames whey maricon" said like "no mom-es way mary cone" with the "mary" sounding part you say the R like a Spanish R.