Two Madres Mexican Kitchen, the latest concept by the Galardi Group, offering a fresh and healthy twist on traditional Mexican food, announced the opening of its first fast-casual restaurant located in Mission Viejo, California.
With an emphasis on bold flavor profiles and customizable options, Two Madres offers burritos, tacos, bowls, salads, and tortas created with fresh, all-natural ingredients handmade daily by a chef-trained team.
Two Madres combines new-world flavors with the traditional old-world ingredients that influenced early Mexican food. Cocoa, papaya, jicama, and chiles come together with tamarind, cilantro, and tomatoes to create taste combinations that infuse bold flavors into chicken, pork, beef, fish, and vegetarian dishes.
Made-from-scratch sauces, salsas, and dressings such as tamarind garlic sauce and grilled pineapple salsa are made fresh on site every morning with fresh produce, herbs, and spices.
With years of chef and executive chef experience at top Orange County, California, restaurant—including Charlie Palmer, Cucina Enoteca, and Marché Moderne—chef Brent Omeste brings upscale culinary skill to the Two Madres kitchen.
“Our kitchen looks like a farmer’s market; lots of fresh tomatoes, chiles, pineapples, and fresh herbs everywhere,” Omeste says. “I’m proud to be a part of what Two Madres kitchen stands for: combining fresh and sustainable ingredients with age-old cooking techniques to create dishes that are high quality, but served fast at a reasonable price point.”
The menu is designed to allow guests to customize their dish. First, guests “pick it” and choose among a burrito, tacos, bowl, torta, or salad. Then they “fill it” with the large variety of proteins to choose from, including chipotle-citrus marinated rotisserie chicken; grilled steak rubbed with garlic, lime, and spices; slow-cooked, hand-shredded pork marinated in adobo; wild-caught and grilled Ono fish; or mixed, grilled vegetables.
Lastly, guests “own it” by building their personal flavor creation choosing salsas, sauces, and toppings from a list of fresh ingredients, including seasoned fiesta, white, and brown rice; slow-cooked black and pinto beans; a variety of cheeses; and fresh produce chopped daily, such as the crisp jicama slaw.
Guests can add additional levels of flavor with their choice of homemade salsas, sauces, and dressings, including cilantro aioli, roasted pasilla salsa, chipotle césar, and hibiscus citrus vinaigrette.
Children’s menu items also are available, including quesadillas, burritos, and tacos served with a kid’s size chips and juice or milk.
Underscoring its commitment to serving natural and sustainable ingredients, Two Madres Mexican Kitchen procures meat that is fresh and never frozen, and is 100 percent free of hormones, steroids, and antibiotics. Organic produce is sourced locally whenever possible, and all dishes are prepared without trans fats or lard.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and seats 48 guests. The interior features bright reds and oranges to highlight the flame grilling and rotisserie cooking. The open, exhibition-style kitchen supports the chef-driven, made-from-scratch dining experience.
To celebrate its grand opening in Mission Viejo, Two Madres Mexican Kitchen is inviting the community to visit the restaurant on Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The first 100 guests both days will receive a free meal with other prizes, gift cards, and free food awarded throughout the two days. All guests during the two-day grand opening celebration will also receive free chips and salsa.
