In case you missed it, here's a story about Mexico Lindo from the Star, posted for the purpose of archiving it online:
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Thursday, Feb. 7
Mexico Lindo restaurant opens
By John Halbert
Mexico Lindo, a family Mexican restaurant with an extensive menu, has opened for business in the Olive Hotel.
Luis Amaya and two nephews - Mundo Amaya and Angel Amaya - are partners in the restaurant business. Angel is running the restaurant they started a year ago in Lewistown, El Rancho Alegre, while Mundo is the chef at Mexico Lindo.
Luis recounted how he started in the restaurant business in California in 1981 as a dishwasher, working his way up through waiter and bartender. Mundo also started as a dishwasher in 1986, progressing through cook to chef. Angel started in the business in 1988.
Luis said a friend of his opened a Mexican restaurant in Portland, Ore., then expanded operations with the help of the Amayas. The Amayas, however, had the dream of opening their own restaurants.
Traveling in Montana, they noticed Lewistown had no authentic Mexican restaurant. They opened El Rancho Alegre with a couple of partners.
With that well established, Luis and Mundo made inquiries in Miles City, and felt very comfortable and welcome with the answers they received.
"All the information they gave me, it was very nice, especially the real estate," Luis said. He said they liked Miles City people and their honesty right away.
Being new in the region presents problems with operations, he acknowledged. Both the geography and network of suppliers are unfamiliar ground, he said.
Luis said Mexico Lindo will concentrate on fresh, quality food.
"All the food, we make it from scratch," he said. "We like it, what we are doing."
He added that at least for now, fajitas are likely to be the main specialty, with carnes azada a close second.
The menu includes about 180 items, including sides and combinations. Luis said the menus of other places he has worked have been bigger.
Luis said the prospect of opening for business is "very exciting, even if it's tough to hire people. We're happy - and nervous."
The restaurant expects to employ 10-12 people.
"We like this town because it's cowboy," he added. "We're from Chihuahua (the Mexican state) and we're cowboy, too."
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Source: The Miles City Star (
http://www.milescitystar.com/)
Date: Feb. 7, 2008