Monica Flin: Catholic Entrepreneur

Monica Flin was the Grande Dame of Tucson restaurateurs. Her father, Jules Flin, was a stonemason who helped build Tucson’s St. Augustine Cathedral. Monica was the oldest of his eight children. She married and moved to Mexico, but returned to Tucson as a widow in the early 1920’s. Dedicated to family, she famously declared that “love should be the ‘first ingredient’ in everything she cooked.”

Monica established El Charro Café in 1922. At a time when women-owned businesses were rare, she was the chef, hostess, and waitress. Her determination was legendary; she often relied on short-term credit from local Chinese grocers, rushing out the back door to buy provisions for each customer’s meal before returning to cook and serve it. Meals cost about 15 cents!

Monica is perhaps most famous as the Inventor of the Chimichanga. While cooking near her young nieces and nephews, she accidentally dropped a burro into hot oil. Careful not to swear in front of the children, she shouted, “chimichanga,” a Spanish equivalent of “thingamajig.” It remains one of the restaurant’s best-loved specialties.

In 1968, she was forced to move out of her location near Congress Street to make room for the Tucson Convention Center. She moved El Charro into her family home, built by her father in 1896 on Court Avenue. The basement has original stones that he hewed and placed, and the decor includes both Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Therese of Lisieux.

El Charro is the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Her great grand-niece, Carlotta Flores, has grown the family restaurant into a Tucson institution!

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Carlotta Flores, Monica Flin’s great grand-niece, took on her Tía Monica’s legacy in 1972. The Si Charro Group now includes 7 restaurants, 2 event spaces, catering and online orders. Here is little Carlota with her Tía Monica:

A Weekend Visit to Tucson:

Attractions:

Start with the Turquoise Trail, a historical walking tour of downtown Tucson. The trail starts and ends at the Presidio museum, and provides a two-hour path to the most important historical locations. (The El Presidio National Historic District includes El Charro, which is right down the street!)

Presidio San Agustin del Tucson

(196 N. Court Ave., 520-622-0594) The fort dates back to 1775, and was the first non-religious European structure in Tucson. They have docent tours, as well as guided tours of the Turquoise Trail.

Hours vary based on the weather and season. (Check TucsonPresidio.com.) From October – April, it’s open 10 am – 4 pm.

Tucson Museum of Art/La Casa Cordova (140 N. Main Avenue, 520-624-2333) The Casa Cordova is adjacent to the main museum. It contains Maria Luisa Tena’s El Nacimiento, the largest and longest-running nativity scene in the Southwest. You and a special grandchild could spend a happy hour playing I Spy there! The Casa also contains a fascinating display about the Chinese groceries that were a part of the barrio back when El Charro got its start. There is also a fantastic brunch cafe at the museum.

El Tiradito (The Castaway) (420 South Main Avenue) People visit this adobe shrine to pray, asking for help with their problems. It is said that a lover’s triangle resulted in a tragic death in the 1870’s. Since the priest refused to bury the dead sinner, people came and lit candles for el tiradito. There is a popular Day of the Dead celebration here on November 1 each year.

Tucson Visitor’s Center is at 115 N. Church Avenue, open 10 am – 5 pm daily.

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A Quirky Pilgrimage to Tucson for Chimichangas

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