Paper #1 Final

Brittany Conolly

Comm. 208

Paper #1

 

Pierce Street in Sioux City, IA has many of the well-known places resting on its cement sidewalks. These places range from old historic buildings and banks to amazing restaurants. One restaurant in particular that many high school students, college students (like myself), and other people around Siouxland enjoy the caliente Mexican taste of the delicious La Juanita’s.

 

Most people call it the familiar name of La Juas or Juanita’s. Whenever I here the name of the little Mexican joint I crave the juicy asada tacos or the cheese and bean stuffed burritos. This hole in the wall, somewhat dive eatery, can fulfill any average Joe’s lunch craving or any drunken college students late night snack craving.

 

As I enter the back door of the restaurant I descend a flight of stairs, approximately 18 stairs down. I am greeted by the red and white brightly painted walls, the retro red and white tiled floor, the fresh smell of cooking tortillas, and the murmur of Siouxlanders eating their fresh Mexican cuisine. Inside I walk up to the long, white cluttered counter where the “official” order taker is yelling out random orders in Spanglish to his cooks. I wait for my turn to order, and as I am giving my order I can admire the hard workers behind the counter steadily, yet briskly putting together the food orders. After I order I find a seat along the far wall next to the pop and water machine. Sliding down into the cool bench seat also colored a bright red seat with a, somewhat, clean white tabletop. To the right of me sits a young lady with her obnoxious child, and as they eat they chit chat to each other about what they are doing later. The woman has a friendly face, and looks as if her day may have been quite tiring. I ask her if she has eaten at La Jua’s before and without hesitation says, “ Si, my brother is one of the cooks. I love coming here, and I do probably, eh, twice a week.” That alone makes me smile and laugh a little because, like most people, this little joint fulfills the hunger of many people in the area.

 

Just as fast as I sat down my order is up on the same counter I ordered at. I approach the fabulous smelling food and along the way grab the authentic hot sauce next to the register to douse my food up with. I return to my bench and eat my tacos in peace. As I am doing this I do not fail to admire the surroundings. Even though this restaurant may appear as a dive, unfriendly, usually crowded place the truth is it is homey and comforting. Yes, there are business people in from 10 to 1, the bums and high school student skippers here from 11 to 3, then on the weekend nights the drunken college students, but this is what makes it homey feeling.

 

As I ascend the same stairs I came in on, I take a look back at the children running around the jukebox, and the workers still breaking a sweat in the back. I trace my steps back to my car parked in the back parking lot filled with a few trucks and beat up cars. Pacing myself on a full stomach back to the car I look around at the brick walls lined with some graffiti and La Jua’s sign. The cement, perhaps, overused black top at one point, has many broken pieces in it, and there in the back is my car waiting there for me. I pull away full but still excited for the next time I get to enjoy a delicious burrito, taco, or platter of nachos from this home town, Mexican hole in the wall.

 

 

 

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