Latino restaurants fuel Oakland’s food reputation ---- 

In recent years, Oakland has truly become a food destination that has earned attention and respect in the Bay Area and nationally. This is not tourism or business marketing hype - many unique and innovative restaurants are impressing food lovers and experts who choose to explore new eateries and new tastes.

A showcase of Oakland's culinary revolution is Oakland Restaurant Week, which runs from January 18-27. Presented by Visit Oakland, the ten-day dining event provides visitors and locals with an opportunity to taste some of Oakland's best food, with special meals and pricing from the city's top restaurants. Fixed price menus at $20, $30 and $40 will be offered for lunch and dinner at more than forty restaurants, including several that feature Mexican and Latin American dishes.

Latino restaurants are either creating innovative Latin American food or passionately working to preserve and present the traditional dishes of Mexico and other countries. Though often presented in non-traditional ways and settings, most Latino restaurant food is about the traditional flavors. Nido, a new eatery in Oakland’s Jack London district is focused on traditional Mexican flavors, though the restaurant’s design would make you guess differently. Opened just three months ago, Nido is owned and operated by Silvia Hernandez-McCollow and her husband Cory.

“We moved here from Los Angeles two years ago,” says Silvia, who lives in the same neighborhood where Nido is located.

“I grew up in the kitchen with my mom and abuelita in downtown Los Angeles,” she says. “Every summer we would go to Mexico to visit my grandparents and spend the summer there. I loved the food there and grew up loving Mexican food.”

No surprise that Silvia says that the goal of Nido is to feature the traditional Mexican flavors. In addition, the majority of Nido’s dishes are made with organic ingredients – all meat and milk are organic, and organic vegetables from the farmers market.

“My father had a farm in Mexico and so it is natural for me to buy food that comes straight from the farm.”

For restaurant week, Nido is offering a full meal deal that features sopes de pollo or vegetarian sopes.

“The one dish that everyone enjoys is the ollita de pobre, which is served in a traditional Mexican style steel pot,” says Silvia. “People have the choice of pork, beef or chicken, and then beans, rice, salsas, avocado, and vegetables are added.

Other Latino restaurants participating in Restaurant Week are:

•    Tamarindo Antojeria, which is based on an old concept of eating Mexican food:  small cravings (Antojitos). Gloria Dominguez, a native from Mixtlan in the state of Jalisco, opened Tamarindo Antojeria Mexicana with her son Alfonso. “I had a simple goal - no fusion, just traditional Mexican cuisine,” she says.

•    Rumbo Al Sur, which features tastes from Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

•    Bocanova, which serves Pan-American cuisine - the blending of culinary currents from Europe and the Americas.

“There has been a really positive response from the restaurants and the diners,” says Lindsay Wright, Communications Manager for Visit Oakland.

This month’s event is the third year for Restaurant Week, which is held during what is usually a slow period following the holidays.

“The restaurant owners say it is one of their busiest times of the year,” says Wright. “It’s an extra push to try something new, try a new restaurant, which helps the local economy and helps our city grow.”

“Estimated total revenue last year was $76,000 and more restaurants are participating this year - about 45, versus 35 last year.”

Wright adds that diners during Restaurant Week will on average save 25 percent based on the regular menu prices.

Oakland Restaurant Week is part of California Restaurant Month. The statewide event is a promotional initiative created to encourage post-holiday travel to California during the month of January, which is typically a slow dining month after the holidays. More than thirty destinations across the state will host their own promotion in January.