Leo’s Place – Let’s Celebrate
It was one year ago this week that we published our first post. Since then, we have added nearly 100 articles, and our readership has tripled just since August of this year! We send a giant thank you to our guest contributors, Victoria and Luis, and especially to you, our readers. Muchas Gracias!
As part of our celebration, we are re-posting our very first story, Leo’s Place about the amazing duo, Christina and Leo. This weekend, December 18 and 19, Leo’s Place is offering their famous mouthwatering turkey dinner. Contact info below. For dining on site, or for take-out, reserve early…it’s bound to go fast!
How do you feel about enjoying a delicious and oversized meal for just a few pesos? Always full to the brim after dinner at Leo’s Place, we plan our personal schedule around our once-a-week visit. OK, we’ve also been known to go more than once a week. We can barely cook at home for the same price. Throw in the fact you can BYOB, and you’ve got great options; date night, can’t-wait-to-fill-my-belly while using free wi-fi, or meeting with a group. Here’s the dish:
Leo and Christina Martinez were just seventeen years old when they fell for each other while attending school in Las Vegas. After finishing their education, they owned a trucking and construction subcontracting company. They considered a move to Mexico, eventually deciding on Guanajuato, and started a new life there in 2013. They weren’t quite happy in that city and thought they’d move back to the U.S.
In the meantime, they visited Leo’s Aunt, who lived in Bucerias. You can see where this is going, right? They’d planned on staying for only three weeks but ended up packing everything and moving here. Leo found a job waiting tables at Starbay Suites, and they rented a “tiny, tiny” room in town. “We had to go outside to get to the bathroom”. Seeking more hours, Leo found another job as a waiter for both breakfast and lunch shifts. He also sold tacos pastor on the street during the evenings for the same restaurant owner.
At this time, Christina was waitressing elsewhere. One day, Leo’s employer was losing her regular chef and asked Christina if she would be interested in the position. “I had NO cooking experience in my life!”, Christina exclaims. “I was trained for two weeks and was then on my own.” Leo and Christina worked there together for about a year, until the restaurant closed. They were suddenly unemployed. With their combined experience cooking and providing superior customer service, they found the space for Leo’s Place and opened up shop. That was four years ago. “Owning a business in Mexico was an adjustment after running one in the States. The right hand and left hand aren’t talking, or the rules may change on a day to day basis, but we enjoy it.”
I asked if Leo cooks. Christina replied, “I don’t do garbage, and Leo doesn’t cook!” The menu offers a wide variety of goodies, satisfying vegetarians, carnivores, and seafood lovers. Their fresh produce comes from the Sunday market under the bridge. We ran into them there and were amazed at the bulk of food required. “This may not last us the week,” Christina mulls. She decides on the daily special by taking stock and using what’s on hand. “I’m very picky about how long I store vegetables and meat, so I look at what I have an abundance of and get cooking.” Some specials have static days, though. Chimichanga Tuesday and Fish Friday never change, and their famous Chicken Fried Steak is served every second Saturday.
What is your favourite thing about Bucerias?
“The people”, they both say, without hesitation.
Leo’s Place is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00am to 9:00pm. Located on the north side of Galeana between Lázaro and Francisco I. Madero.
Follow them on Facebook or email to:
Leosplacemx@hotmail.com Telephone: 3291020146
