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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Mexican food is not new to Utah. In fact, it's been here for years. However, we have Jose Orozco (or-ohs-coh) to thank for bringing in a delicious dish known as a molcajetes (moh-cah-heh-tes).
In case you're not familiar with it, molcajetes is a stone-made bowl originally used by the Aztecs to grind their condiments and keep food fresh. Today, it's designed to keep food hot. El Paisa Grill heats up the bowl, then puts in a mix of food like salsa, cheese, chicken, steak and shrimp then serves it hot and bubbling out of the bowl alongside fresh tortillas. They introduced Utah to this dish.
Owner Jose Orozco says El Paisa Grill has worked hard to find ways to distinguish themselves from the competition. That's one of the reasons this West Valley City restaurant at 2126 S. 3200 West is the only one to offer an all-you-can-eat taco bar from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. every day. Or why they have live, local entertainment seven days a week from 6 to 10 p.m. On Sundays they have live mariachi music. They're also the only ones to offer the cantarito (can-tah-ree-toe), a special alcoholic drink served in a clay pot.
Birthdays are a big deal at El Paisa Grill, and they want to celebrate with you. So, they not only offer a special gift but also have the performer personally sing to the guest. Sometimes if you come to El Paisa Grill after a concert in downtown or at the Maverick Center, you might find the performers here. Jose says it's a popular stop for Hispanic celebrities. And when he buys the boxing matches to show on TV, you'll find crowds so big it's standing room only.
Jose says he first learned cooking from his parents when they ran a taco stand in Mexico. Once he moved to Utah, his parents encouraged him to start a business, and that became El Paisa Grill. With 32 employees in his operation, it's a great example of why Utah is one of the states friendliest to small business.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
El Paisa Grill 2126 S. 3200 W. West Valley City, UT 84119 801-973-6660 www.elpaisagrill.com
