Ernesto Garza, Gloria Espinoza, and Mayra Martinez with La Catedral del Marisco in Austin Texas

The name of this restaurant is one of my favorites. It's called La Catedral del Marisco Orgullo de Bejucos (The Seafood Cathedral Pride from Bejucos). I was curious about what Bejucos means. The first time I drove by the restaurant, which was around 2012, the name just stuck in my head.

So one of the first questions I asked her was about the name. Bejucos turns out to be a small, isolated town in the State of Mexico. Coincidentally, that's the hometown of owners Ernesto Garza and Gloria Espinoza. With great pride, Gloria Espinoza pointed out to a picture of a waterfall that's printed on the menu. She told me that the waterfall is called El Salto and can be seen from any part in the town of Bejucos.

Bejucos is near the border with the states of Guerrero and Michoacan, both of which face the Pacific Ocean and have rich seafood traditions. She's very happy and proud to have founded a restaurant in Austin where she can share the culinary traditions of the State of Mexico, Guerrero and Michoacan.

“Logre el sueño Americano” she told me “I achieved the American dream.” The restaurant has been at the same location in East Austin for twenty three years.

Gloria visits Bejucos as vacation destination now. In her words “No se puede uno olvidar de su pueblo” One should not forget about your hometown just because we left for the American dream.

From left to right: Ernesto Garza, Gloria Espinoza and Mayra Martinez with La Catedral del Marisco Orgullo de Bejucos in East Austin, Texas. November 10, 2014