EARLIER AT THREE P.M. IT’S THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW BRAND NEW TOTTY. TODAY MARKS THE START OF
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHICH
CELEBRATES HOW HISPANIC
AMERICANS HAVE ENRICHED OUR
NATION AND AMERICAN SOCIETY. OUR
COMMUNITY IS RICH WITH HISPANIC
INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS,
INCLUDING ART, MUSIC, FOOD AND
MORE, AND THERE IS A UNIQUE
FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS IN
SOUTHWEST DETROIT THAT IS NOT
ONLY SERVING UP AUTHENTIC HOME
COOKED FLAVORS OF MEXICO. BUT
DOING SO, WITH INGREDIENTS RIGHT
OFF OF THEIR SUPERMARKET STORE
SHELVES. APRIL MORTON TAKES US
TO MEXICAN TOWN FOR A CLOSER
LOOK. DEPENDING ON WHICH DOOR
YOU ANSWER, LACOSSE AND SAYING
MEXICAN TOWN YOU MAY FIND A
RESTAURANT OR A GROCERY MARKET.
MY DAD CAME HOME ONE DAY AND
SAID, OH, I BOUGHT I BOUGHT A
GROCERY STORE HERE IN THE US
BECAUSE HE HAD SAID THAT HE WAS
GOING TO RETIRE FROM THAT FROM
LIKE BUSINESS, BUT DAD, JOSE
DIDN’T RETIRE. IN FACT, IN 14
2002 YEARS AFTER THE FAMILY
MOVED TO DETROIT FROM MEXICO
CITY, NOT ONLY PURCHASED THE
GROCERY STORE BUT ALSO THE
RESTAURANT NEXT TO IT. AND THE
NAME COMES FROM THEIR NATIVE
ROOTS. WHERE YOU CALL SOMEONE
THAT COMES FROM JALISCO. BUT FOR
US THE MEANING OF LA JOLLA SINCE
IT’S MY DAD’S FIRST STORE, SO HE
WAS AT THAT STORE FOR 27 YEARS
IN MEXICO CITY, ALTHOUGH THE
PARENTS, JOSE AND TERESA ARE
STILL INVOLVED WITH RUNNING THE
BUSINESS 20 YEAR OLD LESLIE AND
HER THREE BROTHERS ARE FOLLOWING
IN THEIR PARENTS FOOTSTEPS.
LESLIE NOT ONLY TRANSLATES FOR
HER PARENTS, SHE RUNS THE DAY TO
DAY OPERATIONS FOR BOTH THE
STORE AND RESTAURANT. HER 17
YEAR OLD BROTHER IS STORE
OPERATIONS. THINGS THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE LIKE ORDERING STUFF.
MAKE SURE PRICES ARE LOW PRICES
IN MAKING SURE LIKE WE HAVE,
LIKE INVENTORY ALL THAT STUFF
AND THE OLDER BROTHER, 21 YEAR
OLD JOSE, HE RUNS THE MEAT
MARKET AND KITCHEN, HE SAYS.
MEATS ARE ALWAYS FRESH IN THE
RESTAURANT BECAUSE IT ALL COMES
FROM RIGHT HERE, AND THEY’RE
DELI JUST STEPS AWAY. THEIR
SPECIALTY IS THE SISTINE A VERY
THIN STEAK. AH, IT’S CUT UP INTO
A INTO A LARGE STAKE. WE
MARINATED AND THEN WE TAKE IT TO
THE KITCHEN AND CREATE A WHOLE
DINNER FOR IT SAYS IT’S VERY
EASY TO MAKE THE POPULAR DISH AT
HOME AND GAVE ME A QUICK LESSON.
FIRST ADD A LITTLE SEASONING AND
OLIVE OIL, SALT OIL SO NOW WE’RE
TAKING THIS TO THE KITCHEN. SO
JUST LAY IT IN THE FLAT TOP.
JOSE SAYS YOU ONLY NEED TO COOK
THE MEAT ABOUT 40 SECONDS ON
EACH SIDE, VERY SIMPLE.
DEPENDING HOW YOU WANT IT IF YOU
WANT A CRISPY OR THERE YOU GO.
ONCE YOU HAVE ALREADY. ALL YOU
DO. CUT IT. NEXT WE AT THE
VEGGIES AND TOP OFF THE PLATE
WITH SOME RICE AND REFRIED BEANS
. THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK LESS
THAN FIVE MINUTES. THAT’S MY
KIND OF COOKING. OKAY I HAVE MY
FACE SEEN ARE ALL MADE UP. SO
NOW I GOTTA DIG IN, DECIDED TO
MAKE MINE INTO A LITTLE FAJITAS,
AND IT WAS DELICIOUS. NOW, TIME
TO WASH IT ALL DOWN. THIS IS ALL
SAMPLES OF FRUIT WATERS THAT
THEY OFFER HERE WITH A DIFFERENT
FLAVORS LIKE MANGO COCONUT.
DELICIOUS THERE’S ALSO PINE
APPLE AND CUCUMBER LINE. JUST
NAME A FEW ALL THE HARD WORK THE
VARGAS FAMILY PUTS INTO MAKING
THEIR BUSINESSES. SUCCESS SEEMS
TO BE PAYING OFF WHERE WE’RE
REALLY GOOD TEAM SO. WELL ALLAH,
HALLISEY AND SAY, ALSO OFFERS
UNIQUE, AUTHENTIC TREATS LIKE
MEXICAN ICE CREAM AND SINCERE
JERKY, WHICH IS WHAT APRIL JUST
HAD THE BUSINESSES LOCATED ON