Now She's the Boss: Former Cashier Buys Franchise

Early jobs seem to have an outsized effect on people. That was definitely the case with Erin Bila, who was just 20 when she worked as a cashier for a few months at a California Tortilla location. Read More

Elizabeth Rojas and the New Era of Mexican Wine

Some stories develop slowly, like wine. One such story is that of Elizabeth Rojas Martínez, new director of the Mexican Wine Council (CMV), a woman whose passion for the land and wine has become her professional compass.  Read More

LRA Hosts Webinar to Prepare Restaurants for Immigration Audits

Are you ready if authorities ask to see your employee immigration-related paperwork? The Latino Restaurant Association is hosting a webinar: “ICE Audits, Testing Your I-9s, Identity Theft, & More: Is Your Restaurant Ready?” on August 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM PST. Read More

The Advocate: Aldaco's Owner Takes Action, Wins Award

Like most restaurant owners, Blanca Aldaco was fully absorbed in running her business as it grew in its first three decades. She had founded Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine in San Antonio, Texas, in 1989, and over the years collected dozens of awards from news media and community organizations, from Best Margarita to Best Dessert to Best Overall Food. Read More

Epazote: Humble Herb Enhances Mexican Menus

One word kept coming to mind when Simonne Carrasco and her husband, Chef Hugo Mendez, were deciding on a name for the restaurant they planned to open in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “We chose the name Epazote because it represents everything we stand for — authenticity, tradition, and deep-rooted Mexican culinary heritage,” Carrasco explains. Read More

Taco Bueno Raises a Half Million for Domestic Violence Charities

Tacos with a Purpose, a charitable program run by Mexican multi-unit Taco Bueno, has raised $487,449 to support the work of domestic violence non-profit organizations in the charitable program’s first year. Read More

Happy 60th Birthday, BE&SCO!

For more than 20 years, San Antonio-based BE&SCO Manufacturing has been a valued partner of el Restaurante. To help celebrate the company’s 60^th birthday, we reached out to Seth Huerta, Director of Sales & Marketing, to discover how this family-owned and operated company grew from a small equipment refurbisher into a leading manufacturer of tortilla, tamale and flatbread equipment used in more than 60 countries worldwide. Read More

Ask Pepe #18: When to Open a New Restaurant: Lessons from the Trenches

Opening a new restaurant is never a casual decision. It’s a calculated risk—one that requires a clear strategy, a tested concept, and a strong understanding of both your numbers and your customers. As someone who owns and operates several fast-casual restaurants and a catering business in San Diego,I’ve learned that expansion only makes sense when it’s backed by a mix of intuition, experience, and hard data.  Read More

Mundo Mezcal: November Festival to Highlight Mexican Spirit

In the land of agave, amid smoky aromas and ancestral tales, a new collaboration is born: Mundo Mezcal, a festival that pays tribute not only to a drink, but to an entire cultural universe woven together by artisan hands, Mexican soil, and community spirit. Read More

Kristalov: The Art of Drinking from the Right Glass

In the world of wine and spirits, every detail matters. From the origin of the grape or agave to the way the final product is served, every link in the chain builds an experience. In this universe of nuances and subtleties, Kristalov, a Mexican company founded in 2000, has positioned itself as a leader in specialty glassware. It's not just a glass, it's a sensory vehicle. And they know it. Read More

The Liquid Legacy of a Master: Jorge Martínez Cano and the Alchemy of Tequila

In the world of tequila, where tradition, science, and national pride are distilled into every drop, there are names that not only produce but transform. One of them is that of master Jorge Martínez Cano, a key figure in the modern history of this drink, which is much more than a spirit: it is a symbol, a culture, and a territory. Read More

Morelos Reclaims its Mezcal Heritage: 23 Municipalities Obtain Designation of Origin

After years of struggle, agave and mezcal producers in Morelos finally see a long-awaited dream come true: the recovery of the Mezcal Designation of Origin for 23 municipalities in the state. Read More

el Restaurante Again Chosen for Antojo Trade Expo Program

Exciting News! For the third year in a row, el Restaurante has been asked to publish the program for the Antojo Industry Trade Expo. We're working on a program that will be super useful to attendees, but also beautiful! Read More

The July/August Issue of el Restaurante is Here: Read it Now!

The new issue of el Restaurante is packed with articles about fusion cuisine, Mexican whiskey, the guest chef experience, using epazote in your cuisine, managing rising imported food prices, and more! Read it Now