The story of Ruby Tequila.

Ruby only talks in parables. Like, “A tortilla a day keeps the doctor away.” Or, “Never trust a man who doesn’t like tamales.” So it’s always been difficult to learn the true story of how she came by all her recipes.

Here’s what we know. In the late 1800’s, cowboys and vaqueros took large herds of cattle up the Camino Real from Mexico up through Texas to the feedlots in Kansas City or Montana. The success of these cattle drives depended upon how irritated the Indians might happen to be feeling, if cattle rustlers were hung over, if the mosquitoes were hungry, or if the snow storms made the trails impassible. But the most important factor was the food.  If men didn’t like it, they’d just up and leave the cattle drive.

So, cooks were prized individuals. And the most famous ranch cook in south Texas was supposedly Manuel Pinero of the Hacienda el San Antonio whose tortillas  and mesquite grilled beef and chicken lured so many cowboys to the ranch, the owner felt obligated to make Manuel a partner. When he started simmering cuts of beef in water for hours and invented chili to pour on his tortillas, his legend was secure. Anyway, rumor has it that the beautiful daughter of the hacienda fell in love with the famous cook and they had a baby girl.  Named Ruby.

Let’s face it, Ruby is so old, she could be the daughter, the grand daughter, we don’t know. But our food is still made from scratch every day, the recipes are authentic, and we still serve up food like we’re feeding hungry cowboys. Ruby says, “Everything goes better with a poquito chimichanga.”

We’re clueless. 

Click here to read The Parables of Ruby Tequila