STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 6
From the Editor
“ Everyone wants to see the new thing and try it out, and it might be slow for a couple days, but then people come back again. And it’ s like that every time a new restaurant opens up – not just another Mexican restaurant – but just any other new restaurant.”— Juanis Sanchez, El Tapatio
Good food is about quality, consistency and love
Food doesn’ t have to be flashy, trendy nor innovative to make people happy. It has to be good. It’ s kind of the same thing with restaurants. Launch a new dish, have a new special, create a signature cocktail, maybe even go viral on TikTok. It creates buzz. It will get some people in the door. It won’ t necessarily keep them coming back. The food has to be good. Even if the service is great and prices are reasonable. The food still has to be good, and yes, good food is a subjective thing. It has to make a lot of people happy. Some in the restaurant business are good at bringing it all together and stay in business for decades like El Tapatio. People like it. What about the supply chain of the food business? Consistency is key. And very specific knowledge. Hoffman Farms and N40 Blackberries grow things that bring people back every year. It’ s science. And hard work.
It also seems a key to success is that the people doing it have to genuinely enjoy it.
That’ s how you end up serving barbecue on a bus. Why not. SwOk
STORY BY Beau Simmons Editor Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
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THE BBQ BUS
Smoked meats and sweet treats are on the move
DUNCAN CATERING
Food service is a labor of love for local family
EL TAPATIO
Stillwater’ s first full-service Mexican eatery still going strong
WHAT’ S HAPPENING
Stillwater and area events schedule
HOFFMAN PECAN FARM
Making the most of it, when life gets nutty
AREA DINING GUIDE
N40 BLACKBERRIES
From the lab to the field
PRIMETIME
Not your average deli
LOCAL BREWS
Tapping into the local brewery scene
EATING OUT WITH ALLERGIES
Focused food prep is about being considerate
TERRITORY DISTILLING
Finding the unique Stillwater spirit
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 6