Show I 1 Cross the Bridge visit LaPuente La LaPuente Puente for a new Experience 1 Restaurant Review Darin Junes Jones LA Puente Restaurant in Midvale Midi Midvale Mid- Mid i vale is rapidly becoming the the I 1 towns town's hot spot for all mexican food lovers When people experience ex- ex L. L fj La Puente for the first firsty y time they realize that there exists tV p- a place where they can feel at j home savor a hot homemade Q- Q Kr meal and get a sense of what the if great southwest is really like i s One of La Puentes Puente's most att ati at- at t i l f features is its large plat- plat jj j-jj J. J tors of food The Large Combination i lion tion is served served on a 16 2 1 inch p S' S plat plate It is filled with a che cheese se sei j t I. I a i enchilada tostada taco burrito 1 chile verde rice and beans all smothered in sauce and cheese 0 One student confessed t r. r r that he couldn't even get half way through the meal before he hei f i f. f needed a take-home take container The containers arent aren't uncommon to many La Puente patrons Viola Gurule Tovar founder of La Puente has kept many of her traditional recipes over the years however she has altered some a little in order to conform to her cus customers customer's tomer's appetites She doesn't cut any corners said Gil Serrano one of Violas Viola's s sons andI and I 0 manager of the Midvale location Y She he believes in hard work dedication to her to-her her job and just giving people good quality and service People work hard for their If t money and my mother believes in preparing a meal that will satisfy not only their hunger but make it worth Gil said People work hard for their money and my mother lother believes in ill preparing a meal that will satisfy not only their hunger but make Inake it worth their money Gil Serrano Viola Viol grew up in a little pueblo in New Mexico called La Puente where she was fortunate to learn the art of making tortillas and beans from her mother It was her dream to be somebody when she got older When the time was right she moved to Utah with her second husband Antonio Tovar They started a business together called La Frontera Cafe which still has several locations in operation After Antonios Antonio's death five years yens ago Viola decided that she heeded needed to start a new life La Puente which means the bridge represents represents' both the town she grew up in and md her new beginning Since then Viola has worked by herself and with the community to make La LaPuente LaPuente LaPuente Puente the best it can be There are currently two La LaPuente LaPuente LaPuente Puente restaurants in Salt Lake One is located in Midvale across from Hillcrest High School an anone and andone andone one on S State Street There also is a La Puente Cafe downtown at W S. S Viola and her four children manage all three Gil Serrano one of Violas Viola's sons manages the Midvale location loca loca- tion Unlike most boys who want to follow in their fathers father's footsteps Gil would like to go against the grain and follow in those of his mother Another of La Puentes Puente's feature moments is the Happy Birthday song played and sung by the mariachi band The band is composed composed com coin posed of two latino men dressed in black slacks and white ed shirts with guitars According to Gil La Puente is unique because the employees take pride in their work and treat each other well Its their restaurant too too too-they're they're a team he added They work as a family to provide customers with friendly service Gil said that despite despi te La LaPuente's LaPuente's LaPuente's Puentes Puente's quickly growing clientele clientele clientele clien clien- tele she Viola wont won't expand for now since she has run out of children to manage any more restaurants restaurants restaurants restaurants' res res- res- res f 7 But even if it might be a little crowded this trip across the bridge is worth it June DAY DATE FROM TO PLACE Sat Jun 4 AM PM SL Area Chapter Sat Jun 11 AM PM SL Area Chapter 1 Sat Jun 18 AM PM Bountiful Fire Station 1 Sat i X Jun 18 AM PM SL Area Chapters Chapter s I |