La Cocina at Pro’s Ranch Market

PRO's Ranch Market is on Central & Atrisco, NW. Although a large Mexican supermarket, there is a large eating area with communal picnic tables & the feel of being in a Mexican town's plaza. There are many choices from many eateries surrounding the tables: soft corn tortilla tacos, sopes, tamales, carne adovada, mole, whole rotisserie chickens,etc. There's a condiment bar with typical Mexican toppings: pico de gallo, 3-4 salsas, cilantro, lime wedges, etc. Diners & shoppers can order extra-large Aguas Frescas for $2.69, made fresh daily from real tropical fruits. There are many 100% refreshing Aguas Fresca to choose from (with samplings possible): Watermelon, Pineapple, Guava, Papaya, Melon, Banana & more, including the rice drink Horchata. Next to that stand is the fresh vegetable & fruit juice stand. Choose your various vegetables &/or fruits, & it's made for you. Alternatively, grab a tall glass bottle of Mexican Coca Cola - made with real cane sugar (& not high fructose corn syrup like in the USA). Be sure !

to pick up a stack of steaming warm fresh corn & flour tortillas, or some freshly ground (on the premises) masa to make your own tamales & sopes. (They have blue, yellow & white corn tortillas & masas. The masa is available both prepared - with shortening & broth - or unprepared, so you can add your own quality & flavors to it. I've added organic shortening, coconut oil, vegetable broth, etc. for healthier tamales.) In the deli section, there are red & green Mexican mole paste cubes - with which you can make absolutely delicious & authentic moles at home! The deli also has a large selection of Mexican cheeses & sour creams. Be sure to check out the store's wide variety of produce. Many fruits & vegetables are unique: nopales (cactus), fresh coconuts, & some produce you've never seen before. I have found (& bought!) 12+ foot long sugar canes, which the helpful employees cut with a machete into 3 pieces to fit in my car, & which they say is available in July. ~~ Sunday afternoons at the eatery have a festive atmosphere & are crowded with families. There are also 2 HDTV screens which seem to always be tuned to soccer games on GolTV. It'll probably be a great place to see the World Cup games this summer (2010), while eating great & authentic Mexican foods, all made fresh daily.