Huevos rancheros is a breakfast option at Caitlin’s in Denver. (Photo by William Porter, The Denver Post)
If you have lived in the Southwest for any length of time, you’ve probably had huevos rancheros, the classic Mexican breakfast that has fueled the start of many a morning. Maybe you grew up eating the dish.
I’m a big fan of the dish, and one of my favorite Mile High iterations is found at , a little spot in a strip shopping center at 4379 E. Mississippi Ave. It’s just across the street from , the terrific bookstore geared toward children and young adults.
Caitlin’s version of the dish is a classic: corn tortillas topped with soupy, deeply flavorful ranch beans, a helping of hash browns, and eggs your way. Me, I get mine over easy. I like the magical moment when the yolks break and their goodness seeps into everything. And there is just a small garnish of shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes.
Huevos rancheros mavens know that what makes the dish is the chile sauce. At Caitlin’s, you get a choice or a New Mexican-style red sauce — the restaurant has roots in Albuquerque — or green chile. Being diplomatic, I go with “Christmas” style. The green typically has more kick, but there is something about its brick-red companion that has real depth. Oh yes, there’s grated cheese topping things off.
Don’t forget to ask for a side of flour tortillas to sop up any leftover sauce.
And if you’re really hungry, go for one of the breakfast bowls. Dubbed the Mile High, it comes in several varieties. It’s a trencherman’s special: a heap of hash browns smothered in chiles, cheeses, two eggs and your choice of toast, pancakes or tortillas.
Let out a notch in your belt and dig in. Now that’s a Denver breakfast.
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