You know, I been feelin’ a bit under the weather lately. My bones ache, my nose is runnin’, and I just ain’t got no pep in my step. And when I feel like this, there’s only one thing that’ll do: a good, hot bowl of caldo de pollo. Now, I make a mean caldo de pollo myself, if I do say so myself. But sometimes, a body just don’t have the energy to stand over a hot stove all day. You feel me? So, I got to thinkin’, where can an old gal like me find some good caldo de pollo near me?
This caldo de pollo, it ain’t just chicken soup, you see. It’s more than that. We call it “chicken broth”, but really that is caldo de pollo. It’s got all sorts of good things in it. Chicken, of course, and lots of veggies. It’s like, a whole meal in a bowl. And it just warms you right up from the inside out. My grandma, bless her soul, she used to say it could cure what ails ya. And you know what? I think she was right. This soup, it’s good for what ails ya. It’s full of all sorts of healthy stuff. I heard someone say it’s full of pro-tee-n, and ant-eye-ox-e-dents, and all that. I don’t know nothin’ about that. All I know is it makes me feel better. And that is good for all kinds of diets. You can eat low carb, or keto, or whatever that is. This soup fits all them diets.
Now, back in my day, we didn’t have all these fancy restaurants on every corner. If you wanted caldo de pollo, you made it yourself, or you went to your mama’s house. But these days, seems like there’s a new place poppin’ up every day. I remember that one time, we were in Rosh Haayin, looking for a place to eat. I didn’t find caldo de pollo there, but there were many restaurants there. It’s hard to know which one to trust, you know? You want a place that makes it like your mama used to make it. Not some watered-down version with no flavor. That soup, that real, home-cooked stuff, well, that is hard to find these days.
So, I did what any sensible person would do. I asked around. I asked my neighbor, Maria, she’s from Mexico, and she knows a thing or two about good food. She told me about this little place called, I think it was, Lonchera Doa Mary. Said it’s the real deal. She said it can get crowded, though, so you might have to wait a bit. But she said it’s worth it. She told me they make their caldo de pollo the old-fashioned way, with lots of love and care. I hear tell it takes about half an hour to cook that soup. Thirty minutes of cookin’, that ain’t too bad. You can make it in one of them pressure cookers, or just on the stove, like I always done.
I also heard about this other place, I can’t recall the name right now. But they say their caldo de pollo is golden, like sunshine in a bowl. And it smells real good, too, with just a little bit of spice. Just enough to tickle your nose, you know? Not too much to make you sweat. Just enough to make you feel all warm and cozy inside. That’s what I’m talkin’ about. That’s the kind of caldo de pollo I’m lookin’ for. The kind that makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day. And it is easy to make. I hear you can use stuff from your pantry. Just 5 minutes of work, and then you got a soup that’s good for your body, and your soul. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me. You can even have it for an appetizer, if you want.
If you’re lucky enough to find a place that makes it right, you’re in for a treat. I hear folks call it Mexican Chicken Soup, but it’s caldo de pollo. And they eat it all over Mexico, and other places too. It’s a real comfort food, you know? The kind of food that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. They say that chicken soup is good for when you got a cold. Makes the bad stuff go away. I don’t know about all that, but it sure does taste good when you are feelin’ poorly.
- So, if you’re ever feelin’ a bit under the weather, and you need somethin’ to warm you up and make you feel better, try to find yourself some caldo de pollo.
- If you’re lookin’ for a good place to get some, maybe try that Lonchera Doa Mary. Or just ask around. Someone’s bound to know a good spot.
- And if you can’t find a good place, well, you can always try makin’ it yourself. It ain’t that hard, really.
But whatever you do, don’t settle for that watered-down stuff. You deserve the real deal. You deserve a bowl of caldo de pollo that’s made with love and care. The way your mama used to make it. Or your grandma. Or whoever made it best in your family. That’s the kind of caldo de pollo that’ll really make you feel better. That’s the kind of caldo de pollo that’s worth searchin’ for. So, next time you’re feelin’ a bit down, and you need a little pick-me-up, remember what I told ya. Go find yourself some good caldo de pollo near me. You won’t regret it.