DINING FEATURE
BY WESLEY GARDNER
LIBATION STATION El Jalapeño Mexican Café in Humble boasts an award-winning drink menu with the restaurant’s margaritas taking rst place overall at the 2022 Humble Rodeo and BBQ Cooko. 1 Top-shelf margarita ($11): This classic margarita is topped o with an additional oater of top-shelf tequila. 2 Michelada Preparada ($6.75): A special blend of spices mixed with shrimp, jerky, Clamato and the patron’s choice of beer combine to create this beverage. Astro-rita ($9.50): Inspired by the Houston Astros, this mango- avored margarita features a rim of chamoy and Tajin.
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SteakTampiquena ($16.95): Charcoal-grilled fajita steak is toppedwith a cheese enchilada.
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MojarraFrita ($16.95): Awhole tilapia sh is cleaned, scored and deep fried.
PHOTOS BY WESLEY GARDNERCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
El JalapeñoMexican Café Humble-area eatery carries on decades of family tradition F or Sonia and Erasmo Chapa, owning and operating a restaurant runs in the family.
the restaurant on March 5, 2020. Now, Sonia and Erasmo own and operate El Jalapeño in Humble with their son, Erasmo “Sammy” Chapa. “We wanted to keep the tradition going,” Sonia said. “The greatest reward to me would be carrying on the family tradition.” El Jalapeño Mexican Café oers a number of authentic dishes inspired from northern Mexico, where Sonia’s parents grew up. According to Sonia, the restaurant uses the same recipes her parents used at their original venture in Chicago. “Our recipes are from the northern region of Mexico,” Sonia said. “These are very, very typ- ical. We have the shredded beef that we mix with eggs that only
people from the north of Mexico know—machacado.” Additionally, the restaurant serves other staples from northern Mexico, such as menudo, tripe and milanesa. Sonia noted the original restaurant did make changes when her parents rst moved the business to the Texas Gulf Coast to include more Tex-Mex options, such as chips and salsa and seafood dishes. For all three restaurateurs, family tradition has been an important factor in keeping the business alive. “Now that I’m running it, I’m seeing the ones that were babies coming in here for their proms and quinceaneras,” Sammy said. “That’s a reward—to see that our family is providing a service for generations.”
Erasmo “Sammy” Chapa (left), Sonia Chapa (center) and Erasmo Chapa co-own El Jalapeño Mexican Café.
In 1973, Sonia’s parents, Sam and Mayla Sanchez, opened a Mexican eatery in Chicago, and a decade later, they opened the original El Jalapeño Mexican Café in Houston. In 2004, Sonia’s brother, Carlos San- chez, opened a second El Jalapeño location in Humble, which was later purchased by Sonia and Erasmo. However, the family was forced to shut down the Houston restau- rant in early 2020 after they said increased property rental rates became unaordable. Instead of retiring, the couple decided to purchase the Humble eatery in February 2020, ocially reopening
El JalapeñoMexican Café 5324 FM 1960, Humble 281-548-2230 www.eljalapenomexicancafe1.net Hours: Mon.-Thu. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
1960
WOODLAND HILLS DR.
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1937 Twin Liquors – originally Jabour’s Package Store – opens on 6th Street in Downtown Austin, TX.
1983 Twin Liquors begins to supply wholesale spirits, beer, & wine to bars & restaurants in Downtown Austin.
Twin Liquors expands into San Antonio, San Marcos, & the Hill Country with 50+ stores.
2022 Twin Liquors
celebrates their 85th Anniversary
2000s
1982 David Jabour & Margaret Jabour, rebrand the business as Twin Liquors in honor of their father, Theodore, who was a twin.
1995-1997 ‘95 : First Distillery permit is issued to Tito’s Vodka .
2020 Twin Liquors celebrates
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2010s Twin Liquors expands into the Houston area, and into the Dallas area with the Sigel’s brand.
For 85 years, your neighborhood Twin Liquors has been giving excellent customer service and welcoming Texans like family!
opening their 100th location in Lubbock, TX.
‘97 : First case of Tito’s hits shelves in Austin, TX!
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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