On Fridays during Lent the well-known El Paso restaurant Carnitas Querétaro serves Comida de Cuaresma (Lent Dinner) specials that are among my favorite Mexican food experiences. Lent specials are provided for the faithful who wish to go without meat at least one day a week in favor of a fish or vegetarian meal. The restaurant says on the menu "It's time to be good," but I think it is also time to enjoy some delicious meals.

Two types of soup are offered in the specials, but my favorite is Lentejas, or lentil soup.

This soup is wonderful in its simplicity, with whole lentils, a few spices, and a dark broth. Served with Horchata, a rice drink with cinnamon, this is the start to a classic El Paso style Lent meal.

The main dinners are offered by themselves or as a package deal with soup and dessert (drinks are extra). Fish or shrimp is available, and there are three toppings offered for each one. One of the styles is Pescado Veracruzano, or Veracruz style fish with a tomato sauce and green olives.

The Pescado Veracruzano has a rather ordinary fish, but that is the good news (in El Paso, fish tends to be less than fresh). Even better news is the delicious sauce with green olives, chiles, and spices. I probably enjoy the Mashed Potatoes as much as anything on the plate, with a home made (not from instant potatoes) taste.

The Diabla Style Fish Fillet is also very good, but do not order this unless you like extremely spicy food.

Capirotada dessert tops it off, a kind of drunken bread pudding with raisins and the little sugar balls on top that are sometimes used on cupcakes.