“The inspiration for the restaurant was my dad," says John Gomez, who runs in Melbourne's Windsor. "Before he passed away, he was a visionary and wanted to educate people in Australia about our culture. He didn’t get a chance to do that, so we wanted to do something on his behalf while mum is still with us."
After a trial in the city last year in a location where they couldn’t play music and decorate, La Tienda opened in Windsor earlier this year. This time, they’re bringing the ambience: Colombian music is on the playlist and soccer jerseys, records and mementos are adorning the walls.
La Tienda is a family affair. “Our upbringing was very close. When my parents migrated, they didn’t know anybody and they didn’t know the language. They had $100 in their pockets and had no employment to come to. Those things kept us close,” says Gomez.
John is the restaurant owner, his sister Melissa is the manager and the menu is based off recipes from their mother, Gilma. “Mum has always been an amazing cook. She’s well respected in the community. She used to cook for people and people would buy food from her,” he says.
La Tienda's John and Gilma Gomez. (Audrey Bourget) Source: La Tienda
Beans often appear in Colombian cuisine, especially in soups and stews. “In Colombia, [it's normal] to have a mix of savoury and sweet on the same plate. It’s an acquired taste, but once you get to try it, it’s really nice,” he adds.
The signature dish at La Tienda is , which is typical of the department, where the Gomez family is from. John says that if he had to pick a last meal, that would be it.
The ($28) comes on a tray with red beans, rice, chorizo, (crispy pork belly), plantain, avocado, minced beef, fried egg and (cornmeal patty). “Traditionally, the people who were cultivating the land, it was their daily meal and it made them last through the whole day,” he says.
Bandeja paisa: the signature dish. (Audrey Bourget) Source: Audrey Bourget
For a dose of comfort, order the ($24), a chicken stew with three different types of potatoes. Or you could get the ($22), a bean stew traditionally served with plantain, (a tomato and green onion seasoning sauce), corn, avocado, chicharrón and chorizo. There’s also a vegetarian version ($18).
The cazuela de frijoles, a traditional bean stew, is a dose of comfort. Source: La Tienda
The inspiration for the restaurant was my dad ... He didn’t get a chance to do that, so we wanted to do something on his behalf while mum is still with us.
The arepa with the lot ($16) is impressive. It’s topped with pulled beef, chicken, pork belly, avocado and melted cheese.
On the street-food side, the empanadas ($7), filled with potato and minced beef, are not to be missed. Instead of , which is , they are made with cornmeal dough, which makes them extra crunchy. Lucky for you, the hot sauce that comes with them, , can be bought by the jar to take home.
Desserts, like the plantain with cheese and guava paste, embrace the mix of savoury and sweet. But what really hits it out of the ballpark is the Colombian hot chocolate with mozzarella cheese. “You put the whole slice of cheese or chop it off in pieces in the hot chocolate. As you drink it, you scoop some cheese at the same time,” explains Gomez. You’ll start wondering why all hot chocolate doesn’t come with cheese.
If you have any questions, Melissa, John or their staff, most of them Colombians, will be happy to help. “It goes back to connecting people to our culture: Australians, Colombians who’ve been here for 30, 40 years like us, and newcomers.”
Arepa with the lot and by lot we mean pulled beef, chicken, pork belly, avocado and melted cheese. Source: Audrey Bourget
These empanadas are made with cornmeal dough, which makes them extra crunchy. Source: Audrey Bourget
La Tienda's Colombian hot chocolate with mozzarella cheese is a must-try beverage. (Audrey Bourget) Source: Audrey Bourget
268 High Street, Windsor
Wed – Fri 5:30 pm – 10 pm
Sat – Sun midday – 10pm
