The one thing you have to ask for at La Tequila is a banana tortilla; they’re not on the menu and are one of Guadalajara’s best kept culinary secrets. A gift from the kitchen for regular customers in the know, I’ve never seen them in Mexico or read about them anywhere. Now I think about them every day, all the time.
They don’t have an intense banana flavor; they’re just right and would make the perfect wrapper for a favorite dessert. I’m praying once I post this, they will show up on one of the menus in San Miguel de Allende; my hometown of adventurous chefs.
Federico Díaz de León Marino, owner and founder of La Tequila is beloved, admired and respected; everyone who knows him sings his praises and more. When I met him last week he was just as I expected: the ultimate Guadalajara gentleman. To know him is to love him; I could see that in the eyes of every customer he spoke with. I didn’t take many pictures; I was gifted by his presence at our table. He’s friends with César Mascorro and Carlos Sunderland, my two luncheon partners who are both in the Tequila business and regular customers at La Tequila. The restaurant celebrates its 29th anniversary this year. It was an honor to meet him and feast at his table.
When you walk in the floor is glass, showing a beautifully stocked wine cellar in the basement with labels of the best wines in Mexico. The tequila selection has over 200 labels and 25 options of Mezcales, Sotoles, Bacanoras and Raicillas to pick from. The menu is a sampling of authentic Mexican gastronomy. I’ll go to Leon, where they have another restaurant, to try some of their offerings. They also have another restaurant, The Landmark, in Zapopan.
La Tequila is the first restaurant to be recognized with the “Treasures of Mexico” Award and the first in the world to receive the “T” Distinction from the Tequila Regulatory Council. He is personally involved in so many social and environmental projects we’ve lost count. An example is La Tertulia del Maguey, an annual discussion where academics, journalists, environmentalists, and producers of agave spirits discuss issues related to sustainability.
Being a restaurateur is extremely demanding, which is why you have to love service,” says Don Federico. We gave the service 5 stars; one of the best in Guadalajara.
Av. México 2830, Terranova, 44689 Guadalajara, Jal.
Daily: 1:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight
Sunday closes at 6:00 PM
T: (33) 3640 3440
(33) 3640 3110
Main Square, Leon�Plaza Mayor ext. #113 �Leon, Mexico
Daily 1:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sunday closes at 8:00 PM
T: (47) 7331 0506
