Watch CBS News

Taste With Tori: Tierra Colombiana

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  It's a place to go when you're looking for Latino food along with a salsa beat!

It's time for a Taste With Tori.

Vittoria Woodill enjoys Cuban, Colombian and other dishes and gets a chance to burn off the calories afterward in the club upstairs!

While the beat sizzles on the dance floor, Latino food sizzles here in the kitchen at Tierra Colombiana.

A spoonful of Tierra Colombiana's caramel custard flan is a beautiful experience.

And it is co-owner Mercy Mosquera who makes this place so beautiful.

Mercy came to America from Ecuador in 1990 and started this restaurant in Hunting Park with her brother.

"Everybody likes the food, the environment, the music," she says proudly. "Ninety percent it's Spanish music and 100% Spanish food."

On the menu customers will find Churrasco Argentino, a skirt steak.

There are Tostones, or fried green plaintains, with garlic sauce and yuca with red onions.

One of the most lavish dishes is called Carnival Seafood.

It has a little bit of everything, scallops, clams, mussels, and of course, lobster!

And as important as the menu is to Mercy so is the neighborhood around Tierra Colombiana.

She was honored recently with Philadelphia's Minority Business Leader Award for her contributions to the community.

"That was something that I didn't expect," she said.  "And it's something that it pushed me to be better everyday."

Creating jobs is also important to Mercy.

"Everytime we hire an employee I feel myself very proud that I can help others," said Mercy.

Being a single mother she knows how much it means to have a paycheck.

Her own daughters Susan and Karen grew up in the restaurant.

"This was pretty much our playground when we were little," says Mercy's daughter Karen.

"I would be in the office til late at night so I would like listen to music," said Susan, Mercy's other daughter.

"I used to work 17 to 18 hours a day so the only way I can fully spend some time with them is bring them here," said Mercy. "After school they used to come here, eat lunch and start to do homework in the office."

Mercy explained how important it was for her to work hard to make sure they would have a  good life.

For Mercy, coming to this country 25 years ago and raising her girls she says never imagined this would be her life.

"Everyday when I wake up, I just say again thank you God for this opportunity," said Mercy.

Both her girls are now adults.

Karen manages the books for the restaurant and Susan manages the nightclub.

"I was always just moved by the music," says Susan. "I love connecting with people, I love dancing."

And with that Vittoria had a salsa dance lesson.

A big thanks to CBS3 viewer Maria Perdomo for recommending Tierra Colombiana.

Don't forget to tell Vittoria about your favorite place by sending her a message on Facebook.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.