Nora and Sid Getz carry the wealthy, storied flavors of their homelands to their small, colourful eating places, La Tiendita, and their new, “lanchonete,” Through Brazil.
Nora was born in Mexico Metropolis. Sid is a native of São Paulo, Brazil and spent a while in Colombia and Venezuela. They’ve been on the helm of La Tiendita on North Monroe Avenue since 2017 and they’ve regularly been remodeling the restaurant into a homey, genuine vacation spot for Latin and Portuguese delicacies.
Nora makes her personal mole poblano from scratch, a dish that harkens again to her residence. “My mom taught me how you can make it,” she stated.
One other specialty right here is the tacos de Birria, made with a savory, slow-cooked stew that’s typically a star of particular events in Mexico
Sid and Nora have determined to supply tacos de Birria as a common menu merchandise as a result of they have been overwhelmed with orders when it was provided solely sometimes.
“Folks can be on our web site at 5:30 a.m. to get them organized,” stated Sid. “ We’d have a day’s value of calls earlier than we opened.”
Tacos de Birria are a traditional from the state of Jalisco in Mexico that may be made with beef, lamb or goat. La Tiendita’s model is made with beef, onions, cheese and cilantro stuffed into corn tortillas cooked on the griddle — by the way, the fresh-made tortillas at La Tiendita are additionally a large deal right here.
The tacos are dipped in the cooking broth, which supplies the tortillas additional taste and a wealthy russet hue. The broth, made with the meat juices and dried chilies, is served on the facet as a dip. Suppose of an au jus. It was so good my husband wished to slurp it up.
“The tacos are like a Mexican French dip,” stated Sid.
He notes that the tacos take high quality meat, which is priced excessive proper now. The couple additionally grinds their very own chiles and different spices by hand, utilizing imported elements such because the queso Oaxaca (cheese) from Mexico.
You get three tacos to an order, with the broth and lime wedges, so we ordered six tacos to go. They have been so good we managed to eat all of them in one sitting.
We additionally savored rooster enchiladas. We had two orders, one with purple sauce and the opposite inexperienced. The piquant purple sauce is barely hotter than the fruitier inexperienced, however each are delectable. The enchiladas are served with yellow rice with bits of carrots and distinctive refried beans higher than most servings — you possibly can taste the entire beans.
La Tiendita gives a massive each day Mexican menu providing breakfast gadgets in addition to fajitas, tortas, enchiladas, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, entrees, chilaquiles, vegetarian dishes, a number of sides and a lengthy record of desserts.
There’s a menu for “little amigos” in addition to drinks reminiscent of hibiscus sangria, tropical juices and the drink horchata (a rice drink flavored with cinnamon and sugar).
Fridays are Brazilian nights at La Tiendita, a true deal with. We liked a starter of coxinha de Frango, just like a fritter or croquette with shredded rooster wrapped in dough, formed like a teardrop and deep fried. We had two of these and they have been splendidly addictive.
We shared an entree of picanha, the standard Brazilian flame-grilled steak served with linguiça, a plump garlicky sausage, served with fried yuca, white rice and black beans.
Sid stated he prefers to cook dinner the meat himself. “One grows up with the taste in your DNA,” he defined.
The Getz’s new restaurant and market, Through Brazil, is adjoining to La Tiendita, accessible by an open archway. Through Brazil will probably be open for lunch quickly plus clients can already discover a vary of merchandise Sid and Nora love from their native international locations, together with a salted and dried beef known as carne seca, feijoada meat packets, cassava flour, imported cheese and numerous manufacturers of bread and espresso. Additionally they plan to have contemporary and raw hand-made linguiça served in the restaurant on the market and raw picanha out there for churrascos.
Different additions: This week they began making contemporary French bread rolls in their bakery situated in their newly transformed basement. “Pão Frances is what we name it in Portuguese,” stated Sid.
The couple is planning to transform a part of the car parking zone to create a patio with tables, chairs and umbrellas.
The couple has owned the restaurant for 3 years and it has made a drastic distinction in their lives since coming right here from Brooklyn in 2013. Their son Dylan was solely 2 after they left the town the place they owned two jewellery/trend shops and a printing firm.
The couple moved to Tallahassee after visiting associates right here and liking the city. However as soon as right here they have been uncertain in the event that they made the proper choice. They discovered a refuge at La Tiendita, which suggests “little retailer,” stated Sid.
“It was once a Mexican market earlier than it was a restaurant,” stated Sid. Nora began working there, “waitressing, cooking, washing dishes. No matter it took to run it, I did it,” she stated.
The couple purchased the place in 2017 and they’ve been making it their very own, including private mementos.
“The whole lot that’s right here means one thing,” stated Nora.
Most significantly, their son, now 9, is on the restaurant together with her and her husband, drawing, studying whereas they work lengthy hours.
The coronavirus has been a problem for the household.
When the governor first ordered a restaurant shutdown, La Tiendita closed for 15 days however continued to pay its workers. They needed to modify to supply takeout, which “wasn’t actually our mannequin,” and now they’ve adjusted to 50 % of their seating.
Sid and Nora had opened a restaurant in Monticello however after the virus, they closed it to concentrate on La Tiendita and all their new ventures.
“We’re so grateful that we determined to remain and we love our new neighborhood,” stated Sid. “We really feel so at residence right here and really feel like we’ve discovered our function. “
La Tiendita is at 1840 N. Monroe St.; 850-523-1494 or latienditatally.com. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to eight p.m. Monday to Thursday, to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to five p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is open for takeout, supply and eating in.
