| Mexican Deli a hit |
By: Terri McMillen
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Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 4:06 pm
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Local business owners Noemi and Leo Martinez opened their Mexican Deli ‘El Tacazo’ (pronounced Tacaso) this past spring and are excited about the support they’ve received from the community.
“The people of Le Center have been very supportive,” said Noemi. “The students in the Spanish classes all came for lunch toward the end of the school year and I think they enjoyed what we have to offer here.”
Martinez and her family have been business owners in Le Center for the past 14 years owning and operating Mexican Delights.
“Prior to opening our business in Le Center we had a store in Montgomery,” said Neomi. “I’ve always wanted to have a restaurant. I started out with a small concession stand that we sell food out of at the Le Sueur County Fair and other events in the area. We purchased the building from Dorothy and Mike Anderson about fours year ago. As we could afford it we remodeled the building into the restaurant it is today.”
El Tacazo is located on the south corner of Minnesota Street and Waterville Ave. Martinez’ brought everything up to code.
“Everything is new,” exclaimed Noemi. “The walls, floors, electricity, heating and cooling and the roof. So you can see why we did a little bit at a time.”
El Tacazo serves traditional Mexican food.
“There will be different choices of meat including chicken, marinated pork and beef and Mexican style sandwiches called ‘Tortas on a bun with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, avocados,” said Noemi. “We use Carribean Cheese on some sandwiches as well. For breakfast we will have ‘Chorizo’ and eggs scrambled with is pork sausage and that is served with refried beans as well.”
Other foods available are Chilaquiles which are a little bit spicy and Tortila with tomato sauce. Noemi’s cooking style was taught to her by her mother and grandmother.
“My parents are from Oaxaca, Mexico and I can’t remember a time I wasn’t in the kitchen with either my mother or grandmother,” said Noemi. “Some of the recipes we are using go way back into both my husbands and my families. . . you know a little of this and a pinch of that. There are different tastes to Mexican food depending on what part of Mexico you are from. My family comes from the southern part of Mexico so that is where my recipes are from.”
El Tacazo is a family business.
Raising five children Noemi and Leo will have a lot of help from their children Aaron, 23, Allen, 22, Rita, 20, Andrew, 18 and Amy, 17.
“The kids will be around and helping when they can,” said Noemi. “Aaron is working at the Mpls./St. Paul airport, Allen is at Le Sueur Cheese Inc., Rita just completed culinary school in Mankato and will be at the restaurant on a regular basis. Andrew will also be working here and Amy works part-time out at Jensen’s Country Store and Boarding. Rita will be going on to school at Minnesota State University, Mankato to earn her business management degree in the fall. She decorates really nice cakes.”
Besides the traditional Mexican food El Tacazo also offers a nice variety of American Food such as pancakes for breakfast and hamburger and french fries for lunch. Martinez’ hope to add pasta salads and other items as customers request them. They will also be adding Tameles and sweet bread pastries. Phyllis Mangan is working for Martinez’ and teaching their cooks how to cook the American food and they in turn are teaching Phyllis how to cook the Mexican food. As they get comfortable in their new adventure Noemi and Leo will expand their menu. There business hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
“The hours may change depending on the demand from our clients,” said Noemi. “I’d like to invite everyone to stop on down and check out the restaurant. If you’ve never tried traditional Mexican Food you won’t find any better than right here in Le Center.”
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