We’re coming up on Mexican Independence Day, or Día de la Independencia Sept. 16, so before we dig into our restaurant news this week, let’s have a quick history lesson.
Cinco de Mayo is well known around these parts as a holiday for partaking in Mexican cuisine, but it is often mischaracterized as the Mexican equivalent of Fourth of July. It actually commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
Día de la Independencia celebrates Mexico’s campaign for freedom from Spanish colonial rule. The date coincides with the day in 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest from Dolores, Mexico, delivered an impassioned speech beseeching his countrymen to reject colonialism and fight for independence. Dolores was later renamed Dolores Hidalgo in his honor.
Hidalgo’s declaration is now called “el Grito de Dolores,” meaning the cry of Dolores, and every year the country’s president delivers a version of this rallying cry in Mexico City before ceremonially ringing the bell Hidalgo rang over 200 years ago. Mexico declared independence Sept. 28, 1821.
And as there’s a national dish associated with Día de la Independencia on offer in Fort Worth, we’ll start there.
Don Artemio serves up Mexico’s national dish
Those looking to taste chiles en nogada will find it served at Don Artemio for the next several weeks. Adeliz Amaro, a hostess at the fine-dining spot in Fort Worth said the restaurant sticks to tradition and uses a recipe that dates back to before the 1800s. She said this dish represents the Mexican flag with its stuffed green poblano chile, creamy walnut sauce and sprinkling of red pomegranate seeds.
“We like to pair that specific dish with champagne,” she said. “Champagne or a nutty white wine.”
Chiles en nogada is closely associated with the Mexican Independence movement. According to an article from the Mexican newspaper La Jornada de Oriente, Puebla nuns are said to have invented the delicacy to serve during a state visit from the emperor of Mexico, Agustín de Iturbide. The publication noted that academics have said there are no official records or documents to date or trace the exact origins of the meal.
Don Artemio began serving the special Sept. 3 and Amaro said they usually keep it on the menu for around a month.
3268 W. 7th St., Fort Worth; 817-470-1439
Anniversary buffet and activities at La Cabrona
La Cabrona is celebrating its first anniversary with their usual Sunday brunch buffet, live mariachi music and drink specials, but with bonus activities — face painting and a photo booth — 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 14. Their regular menu shows some classic fare such as flautas, quesadillas, chiles rellenos and carne asada. There’s also a less-expected option in tacos de nopalitos, which features roasted cactus in red pepper sauce with cilantro.
On Saturdays, they do an 11 a.m.-3 p.m. brunch, which includes regular menu dishes and a few extras, including barbacoa, huevos revueltos, chilaquiles and menudo as well as pozole soups. Sundays are a little different, with a $35 all-you-can-eat buffet 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
2933 Crockett St., Fort Worth; 682-224-2560
Weekend brunch at Paloma Suerte
If you’re wanting to start the festivities early, there’s weekend brunch at Paloma Suerte, one of Tim Love’s many Fort Worth dining spots. Technically, this Stockyards establishment is serving Tex-Mex, but when I saw sopapilla French toast on the menu, I figured people might want to know more about it. Of course, they also have breakfast tacos and huevos rancheros, along with chilaquiles rojo, migas and enchiladas.
For the adults who aren’t driving, they have seven house cocktails, including two iterations of bloody marys as well as sangria and mezcal carajillo. The latter is made with cold brew, Licor 43 and Ilegal Mezcal.
Brunch is served 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
122 E. Exchange Ave., Suite 280, Fort Worth; 682-267-0414
Margaritas and chiles en nogada at Mercado Juarez
Another Tex-Mex eatery, Mercado Juarez, is celebrating the holiday with chiles en nogada Sept. 12-16, and is pouring half-price margaritas alongside a live mariachi performance during dinner service Sept. 16. House margaritas are $3 until Oct. 15.
Notable ’ritas on the cocktail menu usually vary from $7.49-$11.99 per regular-sized pour, include a proprietary “Mercado mix,” and are served over ice. The Superita features Hornitos Plata tequila, Cointreau and lime juice, the Sauzarita is their Sauza gold tequila-based version and the Mercarita has Sauza silver. All are available in large sizes, and Sauzaritas and mercaritas are available in pitchers for $39 and $32.99 respectively.
1651 E. Northside Dr., Fort Worth; 817-838-8285
We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to erin.ratigan@fortworthreport.org.
Erin Ratigan is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in narrative news features. You can find her on X @erinratigan.
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