It began almost fourteen years ago. Summoning her business skills and entrepreneurial spirit, Liliana Orozco dreamed of bringing a bakery to Springfield in an attempt to share her Colombian heritage with the Latin community in the Northern Virginia area. Her husband, German Noriega, supported the idea and used his experience as a civil engineer and his Master’s degree in Finance to make Liliana’s dream a reality. As with any start-up, the duo had challenges sourcing the proper products, selecting and training staff, and adjusting menu items to find the perfect combinations. Perseverance paid off and Aroma Café opened to the community in November 2014. Empanadas, Pandebono y Buñuelos and Colombian dishes like the Bandeja Paisa, Ajiaco and Sancocho de Gallina were immediately adopted as favorites by customers.
The success of Aroma Café and the popularity of Latin food in the area dared Liliana and German to dream bigger. This time, they set their sights on building a full-service restaurant to promote South American gastronomy. Aroma Latin Fusion was a concept creation designed to present a fusion of Colombian, Peruvian, and international cuisine to the community. As with everything they do, Liliana and German were determined to incorporate quality products and innovative culinary techniques into their new concept. Highlighting these features would demand a unique space, and the duo engaged a prestigious architectural and engineering firm to bring their ideas to life. In 2019, the inviting space opened to the public. Designed by an experienced Peruvian chef, the menu is full of surprises combining exotic flavors from Colombia and Peru.
Building on all this success, Liliana and German are now engaged in their biggest project ever. Expanding both their menu and their ambiance, they have partnered with the powerhouse in construction and development, Fernando Guedes Jr. – locally known as the ace of the industry. Their new spot on 14th Street NW in Washington, DC is the ideal location and perfect setting for the 5,800-square-foot restaurant and stunning rooftop bar designed and built by Fernando Guedes Jr. Both the food menu and the drink menu will surprise and delight your senses. Here on 14th Street NW, fans of Aroma will find more of the exotic flavor combinations they’ve come to know, love, and absolutely crave. Everything will be expertly crafted by your favorite duo of Peruvian chefs, Antonio and Juan Paul Poggi.
Follow @aromalatinfusion on Instagram and Facebook and bookmark AromaLatinFusion.com to stay up to date on the restaurant's opening slated for early 2023.