"Practically a whistle stop on the old San Pedro X Hildebrand tracks, Mama 's Cocina is near enough to the railroad crossing to qualify as a railway depot. A small restaurant of only 3 or 4 slanted parking spots in front (more in back) off the busy Hildebrand road and 12 tables or so inside, the place had a comfy cozy air about it as we were ushered in the held open door by one jovial restaurant docent Hans who, as the cafe 'conductor ', greeted, gabbed with, served and cashiered the customers. Space heater 's were scattered about the place in red glowing unison to remove the chill on this cold and rainy afternoon. While we warmed up a bit and gazed at the menu, Hans brought us a small cup of complimentary soup that conveyed a slightly tomatoey broth and was brimming with small, orecchiette sized pasta shells. Campbell 's could not have made a better slice-of-life commercial if it had been a homey scene with Mom serving hot soup to her frozen, snow shedding children. The soup was a steaming, ruddy hued elixir that warmed both our stomachs and our hearts in gratitude for such thoughtfulness. Hans explained that all the ingredients used in the restaurant were prepared in house except for the canned pineapple. O.K. I 'll bite. Why was that? The answer was just a simple matter of cost versus frequency of use. That conundrum solved I could now concentrate on my plate of three splendid looking enchiladas with gravy, rice and beans. These bellwether corn tubes were well stuffed with ground beef and the gravy had a perfectly satisfying savory taste. M-m-m m-m-m good! (The Campbell 's reference is still mindfully fresh). Rice and beans and crispy taco were as homemade flavorful as one would have presupposed. Homemade corn tortillas supplied upon request were a toothsome cut above. It might have been something about the almost burnt orange painted room (I 'm a UT grad), Hans 's welcoming manner or the good food we hungrily consumed that made me order some breakfast tacos to go for later consumption knowing without tasting them that they were going to be good . . . even re-heated. And knowing that my wife was feeling a little under the weather, Hans wrapped up a generous portion of the soup she loved to-go gratis! All the aforementioned is definitely enough to have me whistling Mama 's Cocina praises as the little restaurant that could. It was one of those surprising and special eating experiences that happen ruefully only once in a blue moon basis whether it is in an expensive restaurant with haute cuisine or by the tracks with simple homemade with heart food."
