
tvchef/mexicali
I always get asked why I moved to Texas from NYC. I also am regularly questioned why I felt I could take the helm of a Mexican (yes, CaliMex) restaurant in Houston with no background in anything Spanish. So sometimes the conversation goes:
Q: So why Texas? Why Mexican food? You’re Filipino.
TV: Would you say San Antonio, more than Houston, can lay creds on Mexican food for Texas?
Q: Of course! It’s where it began, bro!
TV: You know what San Antonio was called before Texas was even Texas?
Nuevas Pilipinas.







When I left Manhattan and moved to Texas, I knew I had to do a deep dive into Mexican, CaliMex, TexMex cuisine — considering I was born and raised in NY and studied in Asia. 38% of Houstonians speak Spanish, and I didn’t. I had my work cut out for me.
Executive Chef Taylor Virina, Baja Cantina – Woodlands Waterway
