El Paso’s Rainy Weather Sparked a Caldo Shopping Frenzy

There are a few things you can count on when it rains in El Paso: flooded streets, people forgetting how to drive in the rain, and just about everyone suddenly craving a big bowl of caldo.

I thought I was being smart by deciding to make caldo for dinner yesterday. Turns out, I was a few hours too late because half of El Paso apparently had the exact same idea.

El Paso's Rainy Weather Has Been Insane

The last 48 hours in El Paso have been WILD. Between the nonstop rain, gloomy skies, and flooding across the city, it almost feels like we're living somewhere other than the Sun City.

The storms have caused some serious damage, too. Scenic Drive was closed after a massive hole opened up in the roadway, streets across town have been flooded, and our unofficial lake at Album Park has made its grand return.

El Paso has been experiencing record rainfall, with even more storms expected to roll through the Borderland. And while the rain has certainly caused its fair share of headaches, there's one thing El Pasoans can agree on: This is perfect caldo weather.

READ MORE: El Paso Has Its Own Unique Way of Making Hot Dogs

Rainy Days in El Paso Call for a Big Pot of Caldo

Now that we're officially in fall, the timing couldn't have been better to bust out the big pot and make some caldo.

There's just something about a gloomy, rainy day that makes a big bowl of caldo hit differently. Whether you prefer caldo de res, caldo de pollo, or whatever recipe your family has been making for generations, it's practically a requirement when the weather gets like this.

And yesterday, I was ready to make some caldo de res.

Joanna Barba

We had a power outage here at the radio station, so I ended up heading home early. Naturally, I decided to take advantage of the unexpected free time with a little nap.

Well, that nap went on a little longer than I planned!

By the time I woke up and decided caldo was going to be on the dinner menu, I had no idea that I was already WAY behind the rest of El Paso.

READ MORE: El Paso's Signature Scent is Rain

El Paso Had the Same Caldo Dinner Plans

I headed to a local meat market to grab what I needed, only to discover they were completely out of the meat I wanted for my caldo.

No big deal. There are plenty of meat markets in El Paso, right?

Well, the second meat market was out, too.

And then the THIRD!

At each stop, workers told me that earlier in the day, while I was enjoying my nap, customers had been packing the stores looking for the exact same thing: meat for caldo!

I couldn't help but laugh because it was as if the entire city had collectively decided what was for dinner, and nobody bothered to tell me to wake up earlier!

Thankfully, I didn't give up on my caldo dreams. R&S Grocery & Meat Market eventually came to my rescue and had exactly what I needed!

R&S Grocery & Meat Market

Unfortunately, by the time I finally got home with all my ingredients, it was already too late to start making caldo. Anyone who makes a good pot knows that you can't rush the process!

So, caldo has officially been moved to today's dinner menu, and with more rainy weather expected, the timing might actually work out perfectly.

The lesson here? When it rains in El Paso, don't sleep on your caldo ingredients. Literally.