Tequila & Tradition

By Merilee Raynor

The El Charro Norte Way

The history and eclectic nature of Chino Valley, Arizona is baked into the foundation of El Charro Norte. Tucked back in the ranchlands of Central Arizona, the local restaurant serves up great food and drinks to hungry customers. Founded over 60 years ago, El Charro has been a beloved local gathering spot from its beginning.

For owner Gary Denny, the restaurant reflects his deep connection to the region and community, as well as his love of good food and superior cocktails.

With a mix of the spirit of the west and traditional Spanish and Mexican food, El Charro delights patrons with flavors that are firmly grounded in Arizona culture.

Denny’s roots in Yavapai County run deep, tracing back through long familial lines. Based in the Camp Wood area, his great grandfather was a cattle rancher in what is now the Prescott National Forest while Denny’s great grandmother was involved in mining and shopkeeping in Mayer. The pair raised their children and grandchildren on the same plains that the El Charro Norte restaurant now calls home.

Well known in the Quad Cities area, El Charro has been a staple for over half a century. The original El Charro restaurant was opened in Prescott in 1959 by the Denny family, and was the oldest Mexican restaurant in Northern Arizona. The original recipes of authentic Mexican cuisine were served for many years at the downtown Prescott location, attracting locals, travelers, and tourists alike.

Dedicated to maintaining El Charro’s history and reputation for delicious food, Denny took ownership of the restaurant from his aunt and uncle over 20 years ago. The Prescott location closed its doors a few years ago, but Prescott’s loss proved to be Chino Valley’s gain. El Charro Norte is the perfect place to go “for more of what has stayed the same,” said Denny.

For the past five years, Denny has continued El Charro’s reputation for delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine at the Chino Valley location. Guests can choose to enjoy their drinks and meals in the spacious dining area or on the patio. Since its opening, El Charro Norte has hosted countless community events, often featuring folk tunes, mariachi groups, and Mexi-Cajun shrimp and crawfish boils. The outdoor area is also home to horseshoe courts and Denny has expansion plans, with an eye to developing an extended event space to accommodate more community gatherings.

The location may have changed, but Denny remains committed to serving up the original recipes. Restaurant patrons can enjoy the same great dishes at the Chino Valley location, in addition to a few newer recipes drawn from Arizona’s history and Denny’s travels. After years of searching, Denny found the perfect Spanish chorizo recipe on a trip to Spain. He has also added New Mexico inspired dishes to the menu, including his delicious Grilled Shrimp Stuffed Avocados.

Denny relies on head chef Roberto Martinez and Phil Flores to create the reliable and long-established dishes of El Charro Norte, as well as the newer dishes. The food cooked up by Martinez and Flores reflects the varied culture and history of Central Arizona, with Spanish and Mexican influences intertwining with American fare to create a uniquely Arizonan flavor. With the kitchen in good hands, Denny spends most of his time focused on the books and the bar.

Denny grows his own herbs for the bar and kitchen, and those fresh ingredients find their way into both the food and the drink recipes El Charro is best known for. His specialty is the margarita. While he makes a mean classic margarita, he also likes to experiment with variations and has developed more than a dozen unique margarita recipes. With flavors ranging from peach to midori, there is a margarita for every taste.

It comes as no surprise that the margarita enthusiast serves 55 different tequilas, including one made by Denny, Almond Butterfly Tequila, or Mariposa De Oro Almendrado Anejo.

The house favorite is “an almond infused anejo tequila, with hints of Madagascar vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves,” said Denny. The tequila is so popular that bottles are available for purchase at the restaurant.

El Charro Norte is Denny’s ode to Central Arizona. From the mixed culture food to the inventive and extensive cocktail menu, El Charro Norte is ready to serve the cowboys, ranchers and families of Chino Valley that come in. Denny loves to see the Chino folks come in with empty stomachs, full trailers and the friendly demeanor found in the outskirts. Denny’s favorite time to be at the Norte is “when the cowboys roll in with horses in trailers and enjoy the food.” El Charro Norte is truly dedicated to great food, horseshoes, hayrides and hitching posts.

El Charro Norte’s The Peacemaker

Serves: 1

Method: Shaken

Minutes: approx. 3

Difficulty: 1/10

Ingredients

1.5 oz. Roger Clyne Canción Tequila, 1 oz. Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, 3 lrg. basil leaves, 1/2 tsp. minced ginger, 5 lrg. raspberries

Instructions

• In a cocktail shaker, muddle the basil, ginger and raspberries.

• Add tequila and liqueur and shake well.

• Pour over ice and enjoy.