How do you all feel about Latin/Mexican food? (Pittsburgh: living in, restaurants) - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

newhope321 · 12-16-2009, 08:17 PM

As I have said, ad nauseum, I have been incredibly grateful for all the helpful advice I have been given by such wonderfully articulate people. So let me ask you this . . . I am a caterer here in Boston and, as many of you know, my family and I will be moving to Pittsburgh in less than two weeks! (YIKES!)

I own my own catering company here in Massachusetts, and will be starting all over again when we relocate. While I am competent it most foods, I excel in Mexican/Latin flavors. (Check out my website at HOME. Should I gear my flavors more towards the mainstream, or do you think there will be a market for what I do once I get to Pittsburgh?

P.S. I DO have a truly slamming! tail-gating menu which I can bring out for all Steelers' fans next season.

BrianTH · 12-16-2009, 08:50 PM

To answer your title question: hungry.

Anyway, I don't know if I can really comment on the best business model for you, but I can say that:

(a) People have long complained about a lack of good Latin/Mexican food in Pittsburgh;

(b) Some better Latin/Mexican restaurants have cropped up recently; and

(c) People seem excited about that, and as far as I can tell those places are doing well.

subdivisions · 12-16-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newhope321

I own my own catering company here in Massachusetts, and will be starting all over again when we relocate. While I am competent it most foods, I excel in Mexican/Latin flavors. (Check out my website at HOME. Should I gear my flavors more towards the mainstream, or do you think there will be a market for what I do once I get to Pittsburgh?

Well, as a transplant from the Southwest, I would personally be really darn excited about having some decent Mexican food here. Pittsburgh really sucks in that way right now (and I say that as an unabashed cheerleader type, too!)

Jfoldno7 · 12-16-2009, 10:09 PM

Oh how I wish you were moving to the Philly area instead. It kills me how few places even do Mexican/Latin food in the burbs, never mind do it well.

DrummerBoy · 12-16-2009, 10:22 PM

Dude, good Mexican food is popular just about anywhere, since there is actually quite a wide range of possibilities. For example, there's the 'tex-mex' genre which is usually what most people think about when you mention mexican cuisine: stuff like tacos and enchiladas and frijoles and chile rellenos. But you can also "upscale" it and get into some of the "interior mexico" cuisine, which relies a bit less on the fried stuff and tortillas and more on seafood and fresh vegetables. I'm guessing you did some of this in Boston?
Anyway, hell yeah, you'll do fine with it in Pitt. They have a goodly percentage of blue-collar, working folk people who'll eat it up--no pun intended. And of course Pitt is a great sports town so the fans will love the tex-mex stuff. Having said that, I admit I'm biased toward mexican food--mi gusta mucho! I love it, but living in central Texas I think it's mandated by state law that we eat it at least once a month, and we're tested annually with blind taste tests. If you fail this test, you gotta move to Kansas.
Good luck!

RRANGEL09 · 12-17-2009, 12:19 AM

are you familiar with puerto rican food? i think a puerto rican restaurant would do well in pittsburgh. as far as i know i don't think there are any in or around the city.

newhope321 · 12-17-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRANGEL09

are you familiar with puerto rican food? i think a puerto rican restaurant would do well in pittsburgh. as far as i know i don't think there are any in or around the city.

(I hope I inserted the quote right -- it's the first time I've tried!) But anyway, I make a mean Pernil al Horno, and I don't think you can get more Puerto Rican than that! :-)

Other than that, I do all the finger foods, from empanadas to arepas (which makes a great sandwich for tailgating!). I make my own tortillas, and if anyone likes Ropa vieja, well . . . if I pat myself on the back any harder, I'd probably break my arm. :-)

Thanks for the input, folks. I've been a little concerned about starting over from scratch, but hubby can pay the bills while I pretend I'm still young enough to do this again!

Tombstoner · 12-17-2009, 07:44 AM

The website looks great! Like others, I think good Mexican/latin food is sorely lacking in Pittburgh. Best of luck getting something going!

greg42 · 12-17-2009, 08:15 AM

I think you should do a restaurant, although that is probably considered harder work and is also less mobile should you move again. Easy for me to sit here and suggest that.

Whichever way you do it, I think you'll do okay. And good luck!

groar · 12-17-2009, 08:28 AM

i'll echo what everyone else is saying - good mexican/latino food is sorely lacking in this region, partly because we just don't have that many latinos. that population is growing though. there are a few places doing food that's not the standard tex mex fare, but there's definitely room for more. i'd also encourage you to open a restaurant cause i don't order catering very often!