“If you don’t know La Blanca, you don’t know Pachuca?” With this accurate slogan, the La Blanca restaurant is one of the oldest and most famous in the capital of Hidalgo. This year it celebrated 71 years of being one of the favorite places and a mandatory stop in Pachuca for breakfast, lunch or dinner. But, do you know its history? Do you know who founded this restaurant? Here we tell you some facts about this emblematic place.
It all began, according to records in 1953. The story tells of a decision made by a couple that gave life to this restaurant that has remained over the years as one of the best and highest quality in the capital of Hidalgo. Named Emilia Rojas de Juárez and her husband Cirilo Juárez Domínguez, they made a dream come true.
The choice of name responded to the La Blanca mine, which was located at that time in the municipality of Mineral de la Reforma in Hidalgo and was the place where Cirilo Juárez Domínguez spent part of his life working as a miner. It is worth mentioning that before being Mina La Blanca, it was the Chinese restaurant El Asia, then owned by relatives of former governor Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, then it was a restaurant-hotel, until it remained with the emblematic name as it is known today.
The restaurant was innovating with Hidalgo gastronomy and maintained the quality of its products and family seasoning for years, first with Cirilio and Emilia, and later with their children. It was even Cirilo Juárez who invented the Huasteco dish, which is an explosion of flavors with cecina, chorizo, nopales, enchiladas, chicharrón, avocado, pico de gallo, rajitas and cheese.
A restaurant that evokes history
Derived from his work as a miner, Cirilo Juárez Domínguez captured this life in his new restaurant La Blanca, which included on its menu as one of its specialties the pastry stuffed with potato, chili, parsley, onion and meat, or beans with chorizo.
This dish used to be the food of the miners from Cornwall, England who worked in Hidalgo, and according to the story, the pastries gave them the energy to work for hours in the mines. Although it is traditional to go to La Blanca for a pastry and a coffee, the offer of dishes is vast and exquisite. You can find chalupas pachuqueñas with green sauce, shrimp pozole and peculiar mojarras or quesadillas from Doña Emilia’s clothesline.
In addition, it is decorated with details that recall mining life. On the walls you can find various photographs that tell the story of the La Blanca mine. Next to the main entrance there is an old cash register that is a relic, as well as a model that recreates the activity inside the mining tunnels.
How much does it cost to eat at La Blanca in Pachuca?
If you want to go to eat delicious food at a quality price, visit La Blanca located on Mariano Matamoros 201, in the Centro neighborhood in the city of Pachuca. On average, a table for 2 could have an average cost of up to 350 pesos per person. On the menu you will find full breakfasts, a variety of broths with mushrooms, chicken, barbecue, cecina, ximbo, chamorros, quesadillas, arrachera, enchiladas mineras, even chalupas and pulque. This patriotic month, as is tradition, you can also enjoy the delicious recipe for chiles en nogada.
Which celebrities have eaten at La Blanca?
This traditional restaurant in the downtown area of the Hidalgo capital has witnessed the visit of diners from the artistic and political circles. It was recently the visit of Marcelo Ebrard, during his campaign for the presidency of Mexico 2024. From the artistic world, the restaurant has received personalities such as El Santo, María Félix, Sergio Corona, Susana Zavaleta. The caravans of the artists Juan Gabriel and María Victoria, also some soccer players Los Tuzos and Las Tuzas, such as Sherlyn Corral.
Source: lasillarota
