Marcela's Chicken opens in county
By JENNIFER BUSKE
jbuske@staffordcountysun.com
Friday, November 3, 2006
Source: Stafford County Sun
More freedom and new opportunities are the two reasons entrepreneur Martha Rodriguez moved from Peru to the United States just over two decades ago.
And, as she sat inside her business Tuesday, Rodriguez said that is exactly what she found.
"There are so many more opportunities here," Rodriguez said. "I feel grateful and lucky to be here. I came from a poor family, but I am able to strive here with hard work and support from my family."
On Oct. 6, Rodriguez, along with her sister Gloti Rodriguez, opened Marcela's Chicken in Stafford's Foreston Crossing - offering area residents a place to have traditional Peruvian-style food.
"I enjoy the fact that I am a Spanish woman and was able to accomplish this," Martha Rodriguez said. "This shows that anyone can do something as long as they set goals."
Rodriguez and her sister opened a physician's office in Alexandria 12 years ago, she said. But, wanting to do something outside the medical field, Rodriguez said she turned to the restaurant business because it "only seemed fit," based on her family's background.
"My mother owned a restaurant in Peru so we grew up with this kind of business," Rodriguez said, noting she was one of six girls in the family. "A restaurant just made sense because it was my childhood and it's in my blood."
Rodriguez's restaurant focuses on various chicken and steak dishes, she said. The Peruvian-style chicken is prepared like rotisserie chicken except it is cooked over charcoal instead of gas.
The food also contains different seasonings, Rodriguez said, adding that getting the needed spices can be a challenge because it is expensive to bring them here from Peru.
The restaurant also offers flan, plantains and yucca - a food similar to a French fry that is then dipped in a special sauce.
"Many people don't know about Peruvian food, so I try to explain and people are then willing to try it," Rodriguez said. "Others who have traveled, they know about it and are happy we are here."
Compared to many American foods, Rodriguez said her dishes are healthier because the rotisserie allows the grease to drain from the chicken, leaving it juicy.
Rodriguez said this type of restaurant is very popular in Peru and is found "everywhere," similar to how McDonald's is present in the United States.
Although it represents a fast-food business in her home country, Rodriguez said she did not want that atmosphere here. Instead, with the help of an architect from Peru, she was able to design a family-oriented facility that falls somewhere between a fast-food place and a sit-down restaurant.
Looking back at her younger years, Rodriguez said she never saw herself as an entrepreneur.
"I've always been very shy, so I even shocked myself when I opened a business," she said. "Even my friends were surprised because I was such a quiet girl."
Rodriguez said it was with the help of her family that she was able to pursue the challenge of opening her own business.
"I had wonderful support from my father before he passed away last year," she said. "He helped me and pushed me to do what I wanted. He was my mentor and I feel he is still by my side today."
Rodriguez said her mother, Marcela Rodriguez - the woman she named the restaurant after - has also provided moral support and will return from Peru in March to help run the business.
"She is excited to help manage," Rodriguez said, noting that her mom is also anxious to share what she learned while working in the business.
While her sister still works full time at the Alexandria facility, Rodriguez said she is moving to Stafford to focus on the new restaurant.
Although she only has four employees now, Rodriguez said she would like to bring more of her sisters on board in the future as well as eventually expand the menu "little by little."
Rodriguez said she also plans to hold an official grand opening celebration later this month, offering food samples and coupons to those who visit the facility.
"I love this business and every day I learn something new," she said. "I enjoy sharing my culture and being able to offer original, quality Peruvian food to the community."
jbuske@staffordcountysun.com
Friday, November 3, 2006
Source: Stafford County Sun
More freedom and new opportunities are the two reasons entrepreneur Martha Rodriguez moved from Peru to the United States just over two decades ago.
And, as she sat inside her business Tuesday, Rodriguez said that is exactly what she found.
"There are so many more opportunities here," Rodriguez said. "I feel grateful and lucky to be here. I came from a poor family, but I am able to strive here with hard work and support from my family."
On Oct. 6, Rodriguez, along with her sister Gloti Rodriguez, opened Marcela's Chicken in Stafford's Foreston Crossing - offering area residents a place to have traditional Peruvian-style food.
"I enjoy the fact that I am a Spanish woman and was able to accomplish this," Martha Rodriguez said. "This shows that anyone can do something as long as they set goals."
Rodriguez and her sister opened a physician's office in Alexandria 12 years ago, she said. But, wanting to do something outside the medical field, Rodriguez said she turned to the restaurant business because it "only seemed fit," based on her family's background.
"My mother owned a restaurant in Peru so we grew up with this kind of business," Rodriguez said, noting she was one of six girls in the family. "A restaurant just made sense because it was my childhood and it's in my blood."
Rodriguez's restaurant focuses on various chicken and steak dishes, she said. The Peruvian-style chicken is prepared like rotisserie chicken except it is cooked over charcoal instead of gas.
The food also contains different seasonings, Rodriguez said, adding that getting the needed spices can be a challenge because it is expensive to bring them here from Peru.
The restaurant also offers flan, plantains and yucca - a food similar to a French fry that is then dipped in a special sauce.
"Many people don't know about Peruvian food, so I try to explain and people are then willing to try it," Rodriguez said. "Others who have traveled, they know about it and are happy we are here."
Compared to many American foods, Rodriguez said her dishes are healthier because the rotisserie allows the grease to drain from the chicken, leaving it juicy.
Rodriguez said this type of restaurant is very popular in Peru and is found "everywhere," similar to how McDonald's is present in the United States.
Although it represents a fast-food business in her home country, Rodriguez said she did not want that atmosphere here. Instead, with the help of an architect from Peru, she was able to design a family-oriented facility that falls somewhere between a fast-food place and a sit-down restaurant.
Looking back at her younger years, Rodriguez said she never saw herself as an entrepreneur.
"I've always been very shy, so I even shocked myself when I opened a business," she said. "Even my friends were surprised because I was such a quiet girl."
Rodriguez said it was with the help of her family that she was able to pursue the challenge of opening her own business.
"I had wonderful support from my father before he passed away last year," she said. "He helped me and pushed me to do what I wanted. He was my mentor and I feel he is still by my side today."
Rodriguez said her mother, Marcela Rodriguez - the woman she named the restaurant after - has also provided moral support and will return from Peru in March to help run the business.
"She is excited to help manage," Rodriguez said, noting that her mom is also anxious to share what she learned while working in the business.
While her sister still works full time at the Alexandria facility, Rodriguez said she is moving to Stafford to focus on the new restaurant.
Although she only has four employees now, Rodriguez said she would like to bring more of her sisters on board in the future as well as eventually expand the menu "little by little."
Rodriguez said she also plans to hold an official grand opening celebration later this month, offering food samples and coupons to those who visit the facility.
"I love this business and every day I learn something new," she said. "I enjoy sharing my culture and being able to offer original, quality Peruvian food to the community."
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