Gateway: El Paso, TX

Right before I started my workshop, I was chatting with some of the attendees. Aquarius and Pisces, not that it matters. Capricorn Moon, all weekend long, which aligns with Pluto then squares the Sun for tension and resolution. Just an astrological footnote of sorts — it’s what I do.

What sets El Paso apart — to me — is the food. From world-famous Chico’s Tacos to various other avenues, must include Johnny BBQ on Doniphan. Still, the assumption, “It’s the ‘New Mexico’ style,” one person intoned, that’s an influence, but not always defining.

It’s much more than the New Mexico chili, though. Watching the owner put together a BBQ burrito, there’s the chili and BBQ, BBQ sauce, and the other mixes. Handmade tortillas.