Monday Munchies is supported by Botanica.
I had my first taste of Rosa’s Mexican Food Restaurant in 2015. I was working at Rainbow Guitars on Campbell Avenue and occasionally went on food runs for myself and the other guys I worked with in the repair shop. Rosa’s was a common go-to spot for the crew and I’m thankful for the experience.
Now, not every Monday Munchies needs to be an over-the-top culinary creation that leaves heavy-feeling effects on your belly.
If you’re looking for munchies that include some greens, give the Topopo Salad at Rosa’s a chance!
Rosa’s Topopo Salad includes a heap of lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, and then your choice of shredded beef or chicken. Plus, there’s a little bit of crunch hiding underneath all of those ingredients — a bean tostada.
For an additional fee, you can upgrade your protein choice to carne seca.
Brief History of the Topopo
The Topopo Salad is a large, mountain-like salad.
The Sunset Mexican Cookbook calls the topopo a “counterpart for our hearty chef’s salad,” but adds that it “takes the much more dramatic shape of a mountain or volcano,” and that it is “typical of the cuisine shared by the northern state of Sonora and next-door Arizona.”
Local foodie, Edie Jarolim, once described the Topopo Salad as “nachos on a health kick.”
Check out her June 2022 article “The Topopo Salad’s Footprint on Southern Arizona & Beyond.”
Rosa’s Mexican Food Restaurant is located at 1705 E. Fort Lowell Rd. #164. For more information, visit tucsonmexicanrestaurant.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
