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Articles Food and Travel Frugal Dining
MESILLA, NEW MEXICO, USA – Were it not for the modern automobiles parked at the curbs, it would be easy to think you’ve stepped back in time when visiting historic Mesilla, New Mexico. The town square, flanked by territorial style buildings, looks much like it did back in the 1850’s when it was home to the likes of Pancho Villa, Kit Carson, Billy the Kid and Judge Roy Bean.
Ghost stories abound throughout the town, but some of the most legendary can be found inside La Posta restaurant, where you can also get some excellent authentic New Mexico cuisine.
Judge Bean and his brother Sam operated a freight and passenger service line from the building in the 1850’s. Following the Civil War the La Posta compound served as an important stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach Line. In the 1870’s and 1880’s the Corn Exchange Hotel, one of the Southwest’s finest, occupied the space. The hotelier’s widow continued to operate a hotel, restaurant, and other businesses here until the early 1900’s.
The restaurant’s current history began in 1939 when Katy Griggs (pictured right), a larger than life renaissance woman, opened La Posta.
Today the La Posta compound covers 10,000 square feet and includes some fascinating little shops along with the famous Southwest restaurant which is still run by Katy’s family. With so much history and so many colorful characters roaming in and out of the La Posta complex, it’s no wonder that staff and customers alike have had experience with ghosts here. Furniture and bar glasses move by unseen hands and shadow figures have been seen in the entrance hall.
The most annoying practice happens at night when the restaurant is closed. The angry ghost of a long dead outlaw opens the birdcages in the lobby, liberating the restaurant’s collection of exotic parrots.As a side note, some of the birds have been around since La Posta's beginning and, according to current owner Doreen Griggs, possess a colorful vocabulary – an ongoing auditory reminder of the colorful Katy Griggs. Katy was also responsible for the huge aquariums in the courtyard although only one sole piranha from Katy’s school of fish survives.
Women didn’t do things like start their own business when Katy Griggs did just that in 1939. Determined to succeed, in the early days Katy would use any gimmick she could to attract customers to her restaurant. She was one of, of not the, first offer diners free chips and salsa. It took a lot of grit and determination to make the restaurant the success it is, and with so much of her life dedicated to La Posta, it's not surprising that staff claim that, in addition to the building's other ghosts, Katy's spirit still ahngs around here too.
Authentic New Mexico Cuisine
The menu at La Posta does not change seasonally or purport to use only the freshest ingredients from the local farmer’s market. No, this menu and the recipes that create its savory New Mexico style dishes are exactly the same as they were when the restaurant opened back in 1939.
Curretn owner Doreen Griggs says “This is the kind of food you’d get in your Mexican grandmother’s kitchen.”
Doreen had a quite a challenge keeping the recipes consistent when La Posta’s matriarch of the kitchen, Panchita, a woman who cooked there until she was 91 years old, was readying for retirement.
"Panchita never looked at a recipe in her life," says Doreen.
Yet she instinctively knew just how much of this or that to add to create La Posta’s legendary food. Doreen explains they had to literally measure Panchita’s hand before watching her cook while taking notes to preserve the recipes for future generations of La Posta diners.
New Mexican cuisine like that served at La Posta relies heavily on chiles and eschews cilantro. All the dishes we had were excellent but we particularly enjoyed the Chili con Queso made with three different cheeses and New Mexico chiles. I’m not normally a fan of ceviche, but I loved it at La Posta – mild and perfectly seasoned.
In addition to traditional Mexican favorites, La Posta is also known for its steaks. They serve over 300,000 meals a year so you know they’re doing something right.
The bar at La Posta also merits mention. In addition to a large variety or premium tequilas they offer some terrific creative cocktails, particularly Margaritas. I especially liked the Pomegranate Margarita, but after a lot of sampling and debating our entire group decided our favorite was the Chilirita made with Besita Caliente Raspberry Habenero Sauce. This drink was flavorful with just a slight bit of heat on the finish to make it sublime.
You can visit La Posta for so many reasons -- the history, the ghosts, the unique shops and ambiance, the authentic New Mexico cuisine, or the creative cocktails. Come for all of the above. You’re guaranteed to have a good time.
La Posta de Mesilla is located at 2410 Calle de San Albino in Mesilla, New Mexico 88046. Phone 575-526-3524 or visit their website at www.laposta-de-mesilla.com.
Find out more about the historic town of Mesilla by clicking to www.OldMesilla.org.
For more information about visiting this area in general, contact the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau at 211 N. Water St. in Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001. Call them at 575-541-2444 or visit their website at www.LasCrucesCVB.org.
Articles Food and Travel Frugal Dining
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Ghost stories abound throughout the town, but some of the most legendary can be found inside La Posta restaurant, where you can also get some excellent authentic New Mexico cuisine.
Judge Bean and his brother Sam operated a freight and passenger service line from the building in the 1850’s. Following the Civil War the La Posta compound served as an important stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach Line. In the 1870’s and 1880’s the Corn Exchange Hotel, one of the Southwest’s finest, occupied the space. The hotelier’s widow continued to operate a hotel, restaurant, and other businesses here until the early 1900’s.
The restaurant’s current history began in 1939 when Katy Griggs (pictured right), a larger than life renaissance woman, opened La Posta.Today the La Posta compound covers 10,000 square feet and includes some fascinating little shops along with the famous Southwest restaurant which is still run by Katy’s family. With so much history and so many colorful characters roaming in and out of the La Posta complex, it’s no wonder that staff and customers alike have had experience with ghosts here. Furniture and bar glasses move by unseen hands and shadow figures have been seen in the entrance hall.
The most annoying practice happens at night when the restaurant is closed. The angry ghost of a long dead outlaw opens the birdcages in the lobby, liberating the restaurant’s collection of exotic parrots.As a side note, some of the birds have been around since La Posta's beginning and, according to current owner Doreen Griggs, possess a colorful vocabulary – an ongoing auditory reminder of the colorful Katy Griggs. Katy was also responsible for the huge aquariums in the courtyard although only one sole piranha from Katy’s school of fish survives.
Women didn’t do things like start their own business when Katy Griggs did just that in 1939. Determined to succeed, in the early days Katy would use any gimmick she could to attract customers to her restaurant. She was one of, of not the, first offer diners free chips and salsa. It took a lot of grit and determination to make the restaurant the success it is, and with so much of her life dedicated to La Posta, it's not surprising that staff claim that, in addition to the building's other ghosts, Katy's spirit still ahngs around here too.
Authentic New Mexico Cuisine The menu at La Posta does not change seasonally or purport to use only the freshest ingredients from the local farmer’s market. No, this menu and the recipes that create its savory New Mexico style dishes are exactly the same as they were when the restaurant opened back in 1939.
Curretn owner Doreen Griggs says “This is the kind of food you’d get in your Mexican grandmother’s kitchen.”
Doreen had a quite a challenge keeping the recipes consistent when La Posta’s matriarch of the kitchen, Panchita, a woman who cooked there until she was 91 years old, was readying for retirement.
"Panchita never looked at a recipe in her life," says Doreen.
Yet she instinctively knew just how much of this or that to add to create La Posta’s legendary food. Doreen explains they had to literally measure Panchita’s hand before watching her cook while taking notes to preserve the recipes for future generations of La Posta diners.
New Mexican cuisine like that served at La Posta relies heavily on chiles and eschews cilantro. All the dishes we had were excellent but we particularly enjoyed the Chili con Queso made with three different cheeses and New Mexico chiles. I’m not normally a fan of ceviche, but I loved it at La Posta – mild and perfectly seasoned.
In addition to traditional Mexican favorites, La Posta is also known for its steaks. They serve over 300,000 meals a year so you know they’re doing something right.
The bar at La Posta also merits mention. In addition to a large variety or premium tequilas they offer some terrific creative cocktails, particularly Margaritas. I especially liked the Pomegranate Margarita, but after a lot of sampling and debating our entire group decided our favorite was the Chilirita made with Besita Caliente Raspberry Habenero Sauce. This drink was flavorful with just a slight bit of heat on the finish to make it sublime.
You can visit La Posta for so many reasons -- the history, the ghosts, the unique shops and ambiance, the authentic New Mexico cuisine, or the creative cocktails. Come for all of the above. You’re guaranteed to have a good time.
Practicalities
La Posta de Mesilla is located at 2410 Calle de San Albino in Mesilla, New Mexico 88046. Phone 575-526-3524 or visit their website at www.laposta-de-mesilla.com.
Find out more about the historic town of Mesilla by clicking to www.OldMesilla.org.
For more information about visiting this area in general, contact the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau at 211 N. Water St. in Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001. Call them at 575-541-2444 or visit their website at www.LasCrucesCVB.org.
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