Monday, November 23, 2009

Fresh Mex

A new Mexican retail and wholesale grocery store, MERCADO DEL PUEBLO, will make its debut in mid-December with piñatas dangling from the ceiling and fresh tamales on the shelf.

The store’s owner, Fred Meyer (no relation to the chain of mega-stores), promises fresh produce and south-of-the-border goodies like chilies, spices and bulk piñata candy. Mexican breads, pastries cakes, desserts will come out of the shop’s “authentic, baked-from-scratch” bakery, says Meyer. They’ll also take orders for weddings and quinceañeras (coming-of-age celebrations for young Mexican women).

“Spokane has a very small, but growing, Mexican population,” says Meyer. “You see multiple stores down in Central Washington and when you come to Spokane, to be honest, you see two stores” – not to mention, he notes, a lack of products from Central and South America.

Belonging to a food-loving family of Mexican in-laws and 30 years of experience in the baking industry inspired Meyer to fill that niche.

Meyer is most excited about offering tamales and his wife’s salsa, which are already a hit among family and friends.

If “December 14th at the latest” is too long a wait for your share of the tamales, Meyer hinted that they’re already making them to order with a variety of fillings. We’re just saying… in case you’re brainstorming easy ways to feed holiday guests. — ERIKA PRINS

Mercado del Pueblo, 1814 N. Division, opens mid-December, Mon-Sat 7 am-6 pm, Sun 12 pm-5 pm. Call 327-2856 or e-mail pueblospokane@msn.com.

1 comment:

Mexican Man said...

When they open it's worth a try. I had her Tamales 20 years ago and lost contact. They make meat and sweet tamales that will knock your sombero off. Plus her Salsa is great!