Advice from La Tejana in Times of Uncertainty

Has your business been affected by the changes wrought by the presidential administration and the deportation orders? You are not alone. Thousands of Hispanic businesses are experiencing the same uncertainty. Learning from the experiences of others, such as Antonio García, owner of La Tejana, can help you deal with this distressing situation. Read More

Chef's Table: Mexican Restaurants Take Differing Approaches

Does a chef’s table make sense for your restaurant? It’s a question more and more restaurateurs are asking as they search for ways to stand out from the crowd in today’s challenging culinary marketplace. Read More

The March/April Edition of el Restaurante is Now Available!

Good news! The March/April edition of el Restaurante has been published. This issue is packed with articles, including guidance on making memorable Margaritas; ideas for amazing empanadas, such as the Quesa-Birria Empanada from Chica in Las Vegas; and

great ways to incorporate rum into a Mexican/Latin bar menu. Read More

20 Months After Fire, El Maya Back 'With More Confidence'

Do you remember the first week your restaurant was open? Probably a ton of work, mixed with excitement and, hopefully, satisfaction. Now put yourself into the shoes of the owners of El Maya Mexican Bar & Restaurant in Frostburg, Maryland. They opened on Valentine’s Day 2023 and experienced all of those emotions until, days after opening, a serious kitchen fire shut down their new restaurant. Read More

Webinar: What You Need to Know About Immigrant Workers in 2025

Making sure you have enough employees is always essential. But in these times of rising deportation fears, making sure you are hiring immigrants legally and protecting their rights is more important than ever. Read More

Free Sample of Simply Agave

 If you serve Margaritas in your restaurant, you probably use a lot of agave nectar. Not all agave nectar is created equal, however, and Simply Agave wants you to try their nectar to prove that point! They are offering a free 16-ounce sample to any Mexican/Latin restaurant interested in trying it. Click here to request a free sample.

LRA Raises $41K for Displaced LA Restaurant Employees

The fires that ripped through the Los Angeles area last month greatly impacted many restaurant workers who suddenly found themselves without jobs. Read More

James Beard Report Highlights Stresses

The 2025 Independent Restaurant Industry Report from the James Beard Foundation reveals an industry at inflection as it faces challenges across multiple fronts. The report is a nationwide study providing a data-driven look at the current state of independent restaurants and their outlook for 2025, examining factors from rising costs and labor challenges to shifting consumer behavior. Read More

A Quick Switch: 7 Months After Opening, Maximo Restarts

When a relatively new restaurant closes its doors and announces it is redesigning, customers usually suspect the restaurant didn’t make it and is closing for good. So when Maximo, a restaurant in Houston that’s part of the Local Foods Group, shut its doors on December 22 after being open just seven months, customers probably wondered if they had seen the last of it. Read More

Free Registration for el Restaurante Readers at Texas Restaurant Show

Good news, registration is open for the 2025 Texas Restaurant Show, and readers of el Restaurante can register at no cost. The event is July 20-21 in Houston. Read More

Long Island's Taco Fresco: Recipes are 'Return to Past'

On December 30th, Taco Fresco opened its doors to the public in Babylon, New York. The restaurant is the creation of a dream team in which each one brought their best talents. Read More

Bankruptcy: On the Border

The owner of On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 5. Read More

Owners of Orlando's Tamale Co. Expanding Business and Family

 In 2012, Fernando and Jennifer Tamayo opened the doors of the Tamale Co. in Orlando, Florida. Now the couple are growing the business...and their family.  Read More

A Story of Dinosaurs, Desert and Wine

Wine offers us unforgettable experiences, including wine tastings, visits to wineries and wine routes. To delve deeper into this world of wine, our representative in Mexico City, Alfredo Espinola, interviewed Salomón Abedrop López, president of the Mexican Wine Council (CMV) and owner of the Hacienda Florida winery in Coahuila, Mexico. Read More

Impressive Empanadas

On three Sundays in February, Chicago Empanada Mama became more than a full-service restaurant. It became a culinary classroom that hosted “Empanada Fiesta: Roll, Fold, and Feast.” Read More

PFG Contigo Introduces Pupusas

Pupusas is the newest product in the Performance Foodservice Contigo®  line. Pupusas, which are found in Salvadorean cuisine, are thick discs of corn/masa flour that are combined with savory ingredients, flattened and griddle cooked to create a crispy and delicious sandwich-style meal.  Read More