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New grocery store in Batavia caters to cooks who like to spice things up

By Howard B. Owens

For four or five years Ignacio Urvizu thought Genesee County needed a grocery store that catered to the culinary needs of people who like to eat Mexican and other Hispanic food.

His wife, Jennifer, noted that there's nothing closer to Batavia than Medina or Albion where you can buy Mexican spices, mixes, breads and treats.

Two weeks ago, the couple opened La Mexicana in the Valu Plaza (the former location of Matty's Pizza).

Even with very little publicity, Jennifer said the store has already attracted a wide variety of customers happy to finally find a store that caters to their needs.

"We've had some local farmers come in and some people who don't know what they're looking for," Jennifer said. "They come in and talk to us and learn something new and try something different."

While the family has lived in Le Roy for 16 years, Jennifer said they picked their Batavia location because it's centrally located and the Valu Plaza location -- with a laundry, a deli, other retail stores -- is a place where customers can make several stops at once.

Jennifer said she and Ignacio are pretty confident the store will be successful.

"People from this area will travel a long way to get what they're looking for," she said.

Billie Owens

I am thrilled that this type of store opened here! Now if only I could get someone to show and/or tell me how to make an honest-to-God carne asada burrito with guacamole like they make in So Cal I'd be ecstatic. Despite all my years there, I cannot replicate it although admittedly I have not tried to do so except once or twice, each time with mediocre results.

Here, they stuff a carne asada burrito with rice and beans. At the overpriced chain Chipotle make-your-own burrito place in Pittsford you have to pay something crazy like $9 to get carne asada burrito that has no other fillers. At another chain in Rochester called Moe's Southwest Grill, they have a set menu of combinations for burritos, and they look at you like you're nuts if you say you want something not on the board.

This is why when I visit San Diego, where I grew up, I prefer to eat Mexican food at every opportunity. And if you ever find a place that uses tortillas made by hand on the premises, be sure to have smelling salts because you will swoon. Oh, then there's the little Tijuana street tacos with two tiny steamed corn tortillas filled with carne asada and topped with fresh cilantro and chopped onions. Take some hot red picante sauce that's made with dried red chilis, chock-full of pepper pods, among the garnishments side table at the taco stand, and that's some good eating.

May 11, 2012, 1:48pm Permalink
Billie Owens

Funny Mark, and sometimes true. But I don't miss the summer heat, Santa Ana winds, fire storms, clogged freeways, overpriced real estate, and overall lack of a sense of community. It's fun to visit occasionally, and mostly because of family ties.

This area is beautiful, the air is clean, the fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese and other foods are wholesome and plentiful, the history is fascinating, the people are nice, prices in general are more reasonable. Et al.

I must say we are fortunate to have good Mexican restaurants here. Some fare is better, in fact, but there are regional differences in menus.

It would be cool if I could learn to make my own flour tortillas!

May 11, 2012, 2:27pm Permalink

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