Behind the Scenes: St. Andrew's Lunch

Now, I love food almost as much as I love people, and spending the majority of my life in Arizona you become accustomed to eating alot of Mexican food.

And after you've begun to eat alot of Mexican food you get very picky, you want only the best, most authentic flavors and freshness when it comes to Mexican food.

The Border-Beaters make their lunch plates
Nicole Cassese

At the St. Andrew's Clinic in Nogales, the volunteers, many of whom in the
kitchen are of Mexican lineage, cook up a fantastic lunch for all the volunteers, doctors and press :). While the doctors are off helping and the people are rushing into the church, the kitchen and grill crew are hard at work too. in fact when the day begins at 10 am, the crew begins their cooking.

Lunch Time!
Nicole Cassese

After 2 hours of cooking, reporting, healing, whatever it is you are doing at the clinic, you work up quite an appetite. By noon the food is ready, smelling delicious and calling your name.

Inside the ladies have prepared about 14 different dishes ranging from crab ceviche, corn and pasta salads, to baked beans, Mexican rice and roasted vegetables.

The lunches at the St. Andrew's Children's Clinic even have a reputation that precedes them!Three weeks before even going down to Nogales I had heard rave reviews from all the volunteers and staff, in fact it made me wonder at one point . . . are these people just in it for the food? ;)

After piling the side dishes and salads up high you move to the outside tables where you find the carne asada, chicken, homemade tortillas and all the fixings.

I piled my plate high and quickly moved with my fellow reporters to a table, anxious to see if this much hyped lunch was truly going to live up to all the great things I had heard.

I basically just started digging in and throwing all types of combinations in my mouth. Let me tell you, right here, on the record, best Mexican food I have ever had in my short lived life!
T
he crew outside begins preparing their carne asada and chicken
Nicole Cassese
Honest to god, it was all fresh, perfectly crafted, and delicious in everyday. The meat was tender, the rice was spiced to a t, the pasta salads made me swoon.

the crew gets ready to handle the chicken
Nicole Cassese





Marinated chicken gets thrown on the grill
Nicole Cassese
After having my fill, I'm delighted to tell you, yes, there were desserts!! Pineapple empenadas,
chocolate flan cake ( a thick chocolate bunt cake with a layer of caramel flan on top on it) , pineapple upside down cake, and a yellow cake with what tasted like a homemade butter toffee icing of sorts.

If your the type who likes to volunteer, this clinic may just be for you. if your a food enthusiast? even more so!
The clinic runs on the first Thursday of every month, for more information visit their website, and if you see the kitchen crew...send my love.
ooh and mail me some burritos.