Scattered throughout the partitions of Arosa Cafe are pictures of households laughing, Christmas playing cards, and postcards — a mirrored image of the cafe’s tradition and heat.
For over twenty years, Arosa Cafe has served the center of Seattle in Madison Park, however the final ten years have been with a Euro-Venezuelan twist.
Married homeowners Cesar and Adriana Santagello left Venezuela practically a decade in the past and moved to Seattle looking for mixing their house nation’s tradition with the already established European impressed Arosa Cafe.
Arosa Cafe was initially established in 1992 however when the couple acquired the area in 2014, they simply fused the cafe’s iconic buttery Belgian waffles with their Caribbean arepas.
Cesar Santagello mentioned they needed Arosa Cafe to characterize who they’re as people: a fancy mix of tradition and historical past.
“We have been looking for a chance to introduce our meals within the metropolis, and actually related with the proprietor and his imaginative and prescient for the cafe,” Cesar Santagello mentioned. “That’s why we determined to retain its authentic vibe, however add our personal twist and create a brand new story.”
Latinos are the second largest racial or ethnic group in Washington, making up round 13% of town’s inhabitants in line with the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute.
Although Cesar Santagello mentioned they’re “at all times looking out” so as to add new dishes to the menu, the couple by no means loses contact of their roots.
“Our hen avocado sandwich for instance, is predicated on a Venezuelan phrase ‘Reina Pepeada’, which means curvy queen, which is predicated on Venezuela’s historical past of internet hosting magnificence pageants,” Cesar Santagello mentioned.
The avocado chicken is considered one of their most beloved gadgets on the menu, made out of shredded hen, avocado and their home garlic sauce.
When the couple moved to Seattle practically 20 years in the past, they already had expertise working within the meals trade.
The 2 labored as cooks and restaurant managers however proudly owning a spot of their very own was a dream they only couldn’t let go of.
Prospects first struggled to grasp their concept of Caribbean-European flavors however after a yr, folks began to obtain them with open arms.
“Most of our prospects are household to us now, and it exhibits how related we’re to the neighborhood,” Cesar Santagello mentioned. “It’s as a result of we’re not solely coming right here to do enterprise, it’s our second house, and our view with prospects is predicated on friendship- we need to learn about them, and inform them about us.”
The primary few years of the Santagello’s taking up the cafe have been additionally met with staffing points and monetary setbacks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Enterprise was laborious throughout the pandemic, particularly as a result of my spouse and I needed to take cost of every part by ourselves,” he mentioned. “I bear in mind my son taking on-line lessons on the cafe whereas I labored to finish orders, and it was undoubtedly difficult being part of each worlds.”
Arosa Cafe has gone by way of many flavorful evolutions and hardships, although Santagello mentioned watching his household evolve alongside the cafe has been a journey of its personal.
“I’ve seen my youngsters develop with our cafe, and I bear in mind carrying my daughter as a child round as I made espresso on daily basis,” Cesar Santagello mentioned. “Trying again, it was laborious on the time, however I’ve loved seeing her develop throughout the cafe, and it has its appeal.”
Over time Cesar Santagello mentioned he has loved including new dishes and drinks to their menu and needs to develop their legacy, however his favourite half about operating the enterprise has been assembly new prospects.
“I see so many individuals are available on daily basis, and I’m at all times to know the place they’re from, and what their story is,” Santagello mentioned. “If they’ve a memoir or photograph they’ll go away behind, I ask them to stay it on our photograph wall, as a result of it’s all about these little moments from our lives.”