Mexican food truck operator opening cafe in New Kensington

A Mexican chef identified for his tacos, quesadillas and burritos who brought his foodstuff truck to New Kensington’s regular monthly Fridays on Fifth final yr will be creating a cafe in the city.

Jose Tecuanhuehue designs to open Taqueria El Pastorcito in March. It will be at 929 Fourth Ave. in the area exactly where Primary Warm Pet Factory was for a tiny above a year in advance of closing late final 12 months.

Tecuanhuehue, 38, a native of Puebla, Mexico, arrived to the United States in 2000 and moved to Pittsburgh just after residing in Indiana. He has lived on the city’s South Aspect for seven several years with his wife of 11 yrs, Bernice, and their two sons, 7 and 13, and daughter, 11.

He was a prepare dinner in dining places right before functioning in design for a number of several years just to try out a little something new in advance of determining with his wife to commence his very own enterprise. He introduced his food truck, a modest trailer, in June, taking it to breweries, festivals and other situations.

“I listened to New Kensington utilized to be poor. From what I listen to now, I know they are rebuilding anything. I actually want to be a element of that,” he reported. “I want to be a portion of that with my business.”

People who attended Fridays on Fifth will locate the same meals at the cafe as was out there from Tecuanhuehue’s truck, together with extra and diverse offerings, such as an octopus torta.

“We are going to have a unique sort of tortas,” he claimed. “We’ll see how the consumers react. If there’s anything they are asking for, we can make it transpire.”

An effort and hard work of New Kensington and its recreation fee, Fridays on Fifth capabilities food items trucks together Fifth Avenue and is meant to showcase the city’sbusinesses.

“I assume it’s excellent that a food stuff truck that came to our Friday’s on Fifth celebration consistently was supported by so numerous men and women that they felt strongly more than enough to open up their business in our downtown,” Mayor Tom Guzzo said. “They have been quite well-known, and their foods and good services was extremely very well obtained in this article on those Fridays.”

Tecuanhuehue claimed he was invited to New Kensington by Tony Vigilante, a attorney in the town who owns the Fourth Avenue setting up exactly where the cafe will be. Vigilante and his wife, Nicole, a member of the recreation commission who owns Trovo on Fifth Avenue, have been instrumental in organizing and marketing the function.

Vigilante reported he questioned Tecuanhuehue to appear to the to start with party in July, which was a surprise success. He attended every single one particular by the previous in October.

Fridays on Fifth are scheduled to resume April 22, and Tecuanhuehue said he will carry on taking part in them.

Vigilante claimed Tecuanhuehue’s foods is “really genuine,” practically just the exact same as what one would get in Mexico.

“He gives outstanding food stuff, and he’ll draw persons in,” Vigilante reported. “He has folks that are followers that are likely to appear from other areas.”

Michelle Thom, functions supervisor of close by Voodoo Brewery New Kensington, a co-sponsor of Fridays on Fifth, explained it is nice to see a single of the event’s foodstuff truck operators open a restaurant in the metropolis.

“I consider it’s terrific. We require far more dining establishments downtown,” she reported. “New Kensington is a spot once more.”

Vigilante, who has his office downtown, reported he has seen a important raise in foot targeted visitors, which is necessary for the businesses there to thrive.

He expects it to go on expanding as additional enterprises and amenities, such as the Electronic Foundry, open up.

Tecuanhuehue’s enterprise will be established up not to rely only on consumers coming through the door. In addition to opening the restaurant, Tecuanhuehue claimed he will launch a 2nd foodstuff truck.

Thom mentioned that seems like a excellent recreation system.

“He’s combining his meals truck and the catering aspect with a physical cafe,” she reported. “They are managing it on their own as a family.”