Son continues father's restaurant, legacy
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By Lindsey Bever
neighborsgo reporter
Gabriel DeLeon said his restaurant, La Margarita, is a gift from his father.
“It’s almost like the last thing he left us,” DeLeon said.
Juan DeLeon was a self-taught chef, gaining culinary experience at Ewald’s and the Zodiac Room in Dallas. In 1990, he opened his own restaurant. When he died in 1995, he left his restaurant to his sons.
DeLeon said his father’s restaurant was the stepping stone to his own culinary education. He trained at the Art Institute of Dallas and completed his apprenticeship in Mexico City. One day, he wants to open his own restaurant there.
In the meantime, DeLeon is the chef and owner of La Margarita, using a combination of his family’s recipes and his own creations. The best one? His Pollo Maria, which is a pan-seared chicken breast that’s flambéed in tequila and served with a mushroom cream reduction, he said.
DeLeon is also running his own restaurant, Masaryk Modern Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Lounge in Addison.
“The best part of the job is seeing different people every day and building relationships with customers who become friends,” he said. “I love what I do.”
Best Mexican restaurant: La Margarita
When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: 2922 N. Beltline Road, Irving
Contact: 972-570-1137
Check out the full list of winners in the 2009 Neighbors Choice Awards Irving edition.
neighborsgo reporter
Gabriel DeLeon said his restaurant, La Margarita, is a gift from his father.
“It’s almost like the last thing he left us,” DeLeon said.
Juan DeLeon was a self-taught chef, gaining culinary experience at Ewald’s and the Zodiac Room in Dallas. In 1990, he opened his own restaurant. When he died in 1995, he left his restaurant to his sons.
DeLeon said his father’s restaurant was the stepping stone to his own culinary education. He trained at the Art Institute of Dallas and completed his apprenticeship in Mexico City. One day, he wants to open his own restaurant there.
In the meantime, DeLeon is the chef and owner of La Margarita, using a combination of his family’s recipes and his own creations. The best one? His Pollo Maria, which is a pan-seared chicken breast that’s flambéed in tequila and served with a mushroom cream reduction, he said.
DeLeon is also running his own restaurant, Masaryk Modern Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Lounge in Addison.
“The best part of the job is seeing different people every day and building relationships with customers who become friends,” he said. “I love what I do.”
Best Mexican restaurant: La Margarita
When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: 2922 N. Beltline Road, Irving
Contact: 972-570-1137
Check out the full list of winners in the 2009 Neighbors Choice Awards Irving edition.
