All Entries Tagged With: "Hispanic NoCo"
Taqueria El Morelia: a perfect North County lunch
When I lived in Los Angeles, there was no food more glorious than the delicious Mexican fare sold at my neighborhood taco stand. Cheap and filling, often reflecting many generations of cherished family recipes, it was always my favorite go-to lunch. That’s why I was totally psyched today to stumble upon a wonderful L.A.-style taco stand right here in North County.
My husband had to run into the El Morelia Hispanic Supermarket on the Rock Road to buy some tortillas, and was surprised to find there was a line winding out the front door. Turns out, just inside was a small makeshift cafe churning out plate after plate of fresh-made tacos, with dozens of people waiting to eat.
At least four kinds of meat were sizzling on the grill, and just in front of the cooking area was a table covered with large ceramic bowls, each generously filled with fresh toppings like cilantro, salsa and radishes. We ordered two chicken soft tacos for $1.79 each, and they arrived just a few minutes later, wrapped in steaming hot corn tortillas. Yum!
Apparently, this delightful little stand is called Taqueria El Morelia and it’s only open on the weekends, 9am to 5pm. It’s also tacos-only and cash-only, but the flavors and the atmosphere are well worth it. You can even eat there if you’d like. They have a few tables set up just inside the front door, not far from the large and beautiful Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine. Check it out…
El Morelia Super Mercado, 12005 Saint Charles Rock Road, 63044, (314) 209-0014
Ole! Fiesta in Florissant returns this weekend!
If you ask me, one of the most positive things happening in North County is the influx of Hispanic residents. Their rich culture and fabulous food can only enhance our community, and that’s why I’m excited to have TWO local Hispanic events on my calendar this weekend.
First up, we’re getting a new Mexican restaurant….or at least a new version of an existing one. Taqueria los Tarascos at 4444 Woodson Road in Woodson Terrace recently revamped its menu and changed its name to El Porton. Tomorrow at 11am is the restaurant’s official ribbon cutting.
Then on Saturday, the fun really gets going when Hispanic Festival, Inc. returns with its awesome annual event, Fiesta in Florissant. This two-day celebration featuring live music, folk arts and crafts, and Latin & South American food also has plenty to offer the kids, including piñatas, inflatable rides and an exotic petting zoo.
The event kicks off on Saturday with the Los Latinos Salsa Band and A & M Latin Pop Group. On Sunday, the Los Aires del Sur Mexican Band will perform. Admission is free.
Fiesta in Florissant is scheduled for June 25 from 10am-10pm and June 26 from 11am-9pm at the Knights of Columbus Park, near the corner of Lindbergh and Washington, next to the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine. Hope to see you there!
Ruiz celebrates 45 years in Florissant on June 4
Florissant's Ruiz Mexican Restaurant will be hosting an anniversary party this Saturday, complete with a 7-piece mariachi band.
In 1966, long before most people in Florissant had even heard of Mexican food, much less tried it, Jose and Hortensia Ruiz took a big gamble by opening “La Cocina Mexicana.” It was just a small lunch counter in a tavern called Roy’s Place, and Jose initially kept his day job as an insurance salesman. But within six weeks, word got out to the new wave of Californian employees working at nearby McDonnell-Douglas and pretty soon the little restaurant had lines out the door.
Within six months, the La Cocina Mexicana name was scrapped for something easier to pronounce: Jose Ruiz (roo-ees), which was later shortened to just Ruiz. Around the same time, the restaurant also moved up the street to a new location, occupying one storefront in the same building where it now occupies six.
For the past 45 years, the Ruiz family has been serving up authentic Mexican dishes in a fun, festive atmosphere, welcoming scores of locals and even celebrities like Eric Clapton, Sean Connery and the Apollo astronauts. Now, the only fourth-generation Mexican restaurant in St. Louis is celebrating its success by hosting a huge anniversary party….and everyone is invited!
Scheduled for this Saturday, June 4, the event features a seven-piece mariachi band, the Dos Luna Tequila Girls and a handful of “revived” original recipes, including Chile con Queso and Tacos al Pastor.
In this 1970 photo, one of Ruiz' first waitresses, Gussie Maddox, wears a smart little gaucho vest sewed by Hortensia Ruiz.
And if 45 years in business is not impressive enough, according to Marissa Marshall, Jose and Hortensia’s daughter, Ruiz is not only one of the oldest Mexican restaurants in the metro area. It’s also responsible for bringing avocado and canned jalapeno to the St. Louis market.
“Really, it’s true,” she says. “In 1966, you could not find canned or fresh jalapenos or an avocado anywhere in St. Louis. My parents went to Chicago every few weeks to get this and all the other Mexican groceries, like corn tortillas, corn husks for tamales, menudo, banana peppers, masa harina…the list goes on. But I have to say, I really admire the dedication my folks had to sustain that kind of schedule for years.”
Amen to that. And a huge thank you to all the members of the trailblazing Ruiz family, who truly deserve to be honored this Saturday! Why not swing by and help them celebrate a genuine North County classic….
The Ruiz 45th Anniversary Party is June 4, 6:30 to 9:30pm, at 901 N. Lindbergh, 63031. For more info, visit the Ruiz website or Facebook page.
Valley of Flowers festival returns this weekend
Got your ride tickets? Florissant's 49th Valley of Flowers festival starts tomorrow...
There are few events more “North County” than Florissant’s annual Valley of Flowers festival, a four-day celebration of family fun, community spirit and a never-ending river of ice cold beer. Add in Cinco de Mayo activities, a carnival, a car show, a dog show, a plant sale, and a delightful parade complete with pageant-waving “queen candidates,” and I’d say FloTown is the place to be this weekend.
Like last year, the 2011 festivities kick off with a family night, when all carnival rides are just one ticket and family meal deals will be available. That’s Thursday, May 5, 4pm-8:30pm on the main fairgrounds at 50 rue St. Francois.
Starting on Friday, the festival opens to everyone. Also open: the beer garden. Hours that day are 4pm-8:30pm. Just be sure you head over to the Eagan Center if you have small children. From 5:30-8:30pm, the Theater Tent there will be filled all kinds of entertaining performers, including a magician, a puppeteer and a yo-yo artist. You can also catch the kids’ shows on Saturday – both in the tent and on the main fairgrounds.
If culture is your thing, don’t miss Matlachines de Tarasco, a Mexican dance troupe that acts out the story of Montezuma while wearing colorful folk costumes. They’ll be performing Friday and Saturday at the Eagan Center, along with Marionetas de la Esquina, a puppet theatre company from Mexico. The Cinco de Mayo Village will also feature Hispanic food, arts & crafts, and several other musical groups: Here’s the full schedule:
Friday, May 6
Noon to 1 p.m. — Interactive dance lessons with Obtavio Mexican dance teacher Elina Rosa
1 to 1:30 p.m. — Pinata
1:30 to 2 p.m. – Alma de Mexico
5 to 6 p.m. — Matlachines de Tarasco
6 to 7 p.m. — Marionetas de la Esquina
7 to 9:30 p.m. — Grupo Dukes
Saturday, May 7
10:30 to 11 a.m. —Merengue instruction with Elina, Kenya and DJ
11 to 11:30 a.m. — Marionetas de la Esquina
11:30 a.m. to noon — MRM
Noon to 2 p.m. — SEED Program (dancers from 7 countries!)
2 to 2:30 p.m. — Marionetas de La Esquina
2:30 to 3 p.m. — Latin Rhythms Bachata performance
3:30 to 4 p.m. — Grupo Inspiracion
4 to 5 p.m. — Matlachines de Tarasco
5 to 8 p.m. — Los Quintins
On Sunday, after you’ve recovered from merengue lessons, grab your lawn chair and find a choice viewing spot for the Valley of Flowers parade. Starting at 1:45pm from the Eagan Center, it will travel west on Parker, south on New Florissant, west on St. Francois and south on St. Ferdinand before ending at Washington.
Word has it there are 125+ entries this year, and of course Sunday is Mothers’ Day, so the parade theme is Mothers Love…
See you there?
For more information on Valley of Flowers, including a complete list of scheduled activities, visit the VoF website. You can also read more about the Cinco de Mayo activities by looking here.
