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Love brought Mexican food to town

BY BILL BRADLEY [email protected] Sudbury is getting a new restaurant. La Casa Mexicana is opening in the old telegraph office next to Market Square.
BY BILL BRADLEY

Sudbury is getting a new restaurant. La Casa Mexicana is opening in the old telegraph office next to Market Square.

Sylvia Rios Hernandez with her son, William, and her brother, Armando, prepare for Monday?s opening. La Casa Mexicana is located in the building formerly occupied by Vesta Pasta Caffe.
The restaurant will be operated by Silvia Rios Hernandez, with her sister, Rocio, and her brother, Armando. They are authentic Mexicans and so is their food. This is no cookie-cutter franchise operation.

The Hernandez family is from the popular Acapulco tourist area.

?At home, I took three years of chef school and three years of business administration,? said Hernandez.

She then worked in a five-star hotel in Acapulco as an assistant chef, and then as the head salad chef. Here in Sudbury, she has taken a chef?s training course at Cambrian College and brushed up on her English language skills.

And how did she end up here? It was romance. Sudburian Ken Laroque was vacationing in Acapulco more than 12 years ago when he spotted Silvia in a restaurant.

They courted, married and produced two children. William, the youngest, is six and Alexander is 11.

Many may have already tasted some of their special dishes. The family has operated a booth in the farmers? market for several seasons.

Starting Monday, Sudburians will be able to order dishes such as green tomale. The recipe dates back thousands of years, said Hernandez.

The colourful dish is comprised of shredded chicken and strips of jalapeno sauce, mozarella cheese, covered and stewed on corn husks, served with
lemon rice and beans.

?This dish is very popular in Mexico in our area but each of the 32 states in our country has a favourite local dish. We?ll be serving one every day of the month,? said Hernandez.

Another dish, mole poblano, is made with chocolate.

?It has an aftertaste of spice and the chicken breast is wrapped in it, very delicioso,? she said.

For those looking for the latest breakfast special in town, why not go Mexican? There is huevos a la Mexicana, that is scrambled eggs, tomatoes,
green peppers and onions.

Although the weather in Sudbury can be chilly, Hernandez finds the citizens very warm and friendly.

?At home in Mexico I had thought about an opportunity in America before meeting Ken, but I decided on coming to Canada and Sudbury because
the people here were so warm to me and my family.?

She returns the favour by volunteering for the community. She cooks for the Big Brothers Association of Sudbury every year at their events.

?I want to express our sincere appreciation to all of Sudbury for making one of my biggest dreams, to share my culture and food with you through this restaurant, come true, muchas gracias.?

The restaurant will be open daily from 7 am to 9 pm. For reservations, phone La Casa Mexicana at 674-9901.




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