Cocina Consuelo, a restaurant in Manhattan's Hamilton Heights, marked its six-month anniversary and chef Karina Garcia's birthday with a celebration featuring her homemade dishes. Garcia and her husband, Lalo Rodriguez, transformed a pandemic taco business into a popular restaurant known for word-of-mouth fame rather than strong social media presence. Garcia’s culinary journey began in her childhood in the Dominican Republic and included a formative relationship with Mexican cuisine thanks to her husband. Their shared passion for food and community has allowed them to build a loyal customer base.
"Of course I'm cooking on my birthday and my day off!" said the chef Karina Garcia as she assembled a strawberry tres leches cake topped with meringue and a flurry of fresh chamomile, mint, basil and dill for the friends and family who'd gathered to celebrate with her.
We didn't even have that strong a social media presence, Garcia said. I'm not sure how anyone heard of us.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Harlem, she met Rodriguez, a native of Mexico, when they worked together at a now-shuttered Upper East Side restaurant.
Today her food reflects that homemade Mexican sensibility, whether she's serving it to diners at the restaurant or, as on this occasion, co-workers and family.
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