BROWNSVILLE AUTHOR WRITES BILINGUAL CHILDREN’S BOOKS
The bilingual children’s book series Palomita’s Cravings,” or Los Antojitos de Palomita in Spanish, follows the title character and her abuelita — her maternal grandmother whom she calls Ata — as they cook traditional Mexican recipes with a pinch of seasoning and love.
The series is brought to life thanks to the imagination of author and Brownsville native Vanesa Salinas-Diaz. Her second book, Palomita’s Cravings: Pan de Muerto, will be available for purchase in September and comes on the heels of the first publication, Palomita’s Cravings: Buñuelos. Both are available for purchase on Amazon. Visit Paloma Latina Books on Facebook and Instagram.
VALLEY RESTAURANTS TO BE FEATURED ON TACOS OF TEXAS
Rebecca’s Mexican Restaurant and Teddy’s Barbecue will be featured in the award-winning Tacos of Texas podcast. When taco journalist Mando Rayo and his camera crew visited both restaurants, smoked barbacoa and cabrito asado were on the menu. The episode will air this fall on KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station. Follow Rayo @unitedtacosofamerica on Instagram.
NOTABLE OPENINGS ACROSS THE VALLEY
BROWNSVILLE
Boqueria Tapas and Wine
1101 E. Washington St.
Dodici Provisions
1375 Palm Blvd.
Morning Glory
1049 E. Washington.
Sweet Notes Baking Co.
2935 Central Blvd
HARLINGEN
Dos Olivos Market
6710 W. Expresway 83, Ste. A-107
MCALLEN
Jolene’s
4400 N. 23rd, Ste. 104
RGV LOCALS MAKING WAVES WITH FOOD
Dr. Lisa Pena of Rio Hondo was a runner-up on the first-ever Silos Baking Competition on the Magnolia Network. For the competition, she baked her Ruby Red Cream Pie, a nod to the famous Ruby Red grapefruits of the Rio Grande Valley. Read more about Pena and what inspired her love of baking, in our summer newsletter at edibleriograndevalley.com. Follow Pena on Instagram @mslisapena.
Sony Rego received the Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year award from the Texas Restaurant Association’s Rio Grande Valley chapter. Known for her passion for the restaurant industry and her continued service to the community, Rego is the co-owner of Santa Fe Steakhouse & Cantina, Republic of the Rio Grande and University Draft House, all in McAllen. Read more about her award at txrestaurant.org.
Melissa Guerra, food historian and a contributor to edible Rio Grande Valley, competed on Chopped, on the Food Network in late May. One of four “chuckwagon” chefs from Texas who vied for a chance to take home a cash prize, Guerra unfortunately didn’t win but made the valley proud.
Lou Castro, owner of TXQ Rubs, was one of the finalists in the third annual StartUp Texas Pitch Summit hosted by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corp. (BCIC) in June. The summit was part of BCIC’s efforts to develop an ecosystem of entrepreneurship in Brownsville and across the valley. In our summer issue of edible Rio Grande Valley, we featured Castro’s hamburger recipe. Check it out at edibleriograndevalley.com.
Dr. Alexis Racelis, co-director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement at UTRGV, has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich.
The funds will support efforts to jumpstart conversations around the intersection of food and agriculture and poverty, racial equity, environmental health and well‐being, and culture of the Rio Grande Valley. Planning is underway to host a Speaker Series in the fall and a regional food summit in 2023. To get involved, reach out to Racelis at alexis.racelis@utrgv.edu.
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