It’s May, and in many minds that means it’s time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by enjoying some of your favorite Mexican foods and to usher in sunnier days. This inspired us to visit with Tamara & Jaime Morales, owners of Guacamole - a Taste of Mexico right here in Wayne. Tamara filled us in on what the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo is, her pride in being Mexican AND American, and some of the things that tie the restaurant to the local community.
Let’s get this going by dispelling a common misconception about what Cinco de Mayo actually is all about. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That actually occurs in September, and Tamara is front and center in celebrating that. (She’s in charge of the huge Mexican Independence Day Parade that will be held in Passaic on September 16th this year.)
“Cinco de Mayo is actually an American celebration,” Tamara explains. “In Mexico, it’s really a local event that’s important in the Mexican state of Puebla. Back in 1862, Napoleon sent his army - the largest in the world at the time - to invade Mexico during the Franco-Mexican War, likely as a prelude to make inroads to invade the United States. The locals in Puebla - mainly Mexican farmers and under supplied locals - fought back and forced his army out of the country.”
“It’s not a countrywide celebration there. It’s a state celebration. But in the United States, it’s become very popular. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate anything Mexican in the United States, because it creates nostalgia, respect, and recognition for what we know to be Mexico and pride in all things Mexican.”
“To prepare for this celebration, for about two weeks before we’ll be working night and day to get ready for how busy we’ll be. We’re normally closed on Sunday, but we’ll be there, getting prepared for the big day - and for the few days afterwards, for those who couldn’t celebrate on May 5th.”
Working special hours isn’t new to Tamara, her husband Jaime, and their son Andy at the family owned-and-run Guacamole. They also have early hours during most school days, thanks to the popularity of their restaurant with the local school kids. They have odd lunchtimes (some as early as 10AM), so they have specials ready for their lightning-quick lunch visits.
The kids in the community are special to the Morales family. They’ve seen kids grow up coming to their restaurant, who are now becoming parents with their own children. It’s that family-first vibe that means everything to Tamara and Jaime - you can see that depicted in the colorful decor of the restaurant, with family images and cultural history woven throughout. In here, their customers really become part of their extended family, some even gracing the menu.
“We support many things within the community, especially with the schools,” Tamara says. They’ve done so much that the Wayne Board of Education gave them a special award for what they’ve done for the students of Wayne.
Tamara’s working hard to make sure that her community pride, her heritage, and what it means for the extended legacy of the American Mexican community overall is supported. She prefers the term American Mexican. “I’m an American first. This is my country. I just happen to be Mexican,” she says.
It’s this pride in being American born, yet infused with the legacy of her Mexican heritage that defines who Tamara is. Proud to be an American, proud of her business, and devoted to her family history. It’s infused in everything at Guacamole.
In order to ensure the legacy and empower other American Mexicans in the business community, she’s a founding member of the new American Mexican Chamber of Commerce, which will represent American Mexican small businesses across the Tri-State area.
To top everything off, Guacamole is celebrating their 6th anniversary this year. So it’s a great time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, their anniversary, a business leader, and a proud American of Mexican descent - and heck, probably your teenager’s favorite restaurant - with an authentically Mexican tamale (get there early for that - they sell out every day quickly), tostada, or enchilada. It’s all locally sourced, using traditional recipes coming straight from Tamara’s family. This is real Mexican food. And it’s breathtaking.
Guacamole is doing really good things for the community. But honestly, they do even better things for your palate. This truly is a special place, owned by some truly special people.
Guacamole - A Taste of Mexico can be found in the Wedgewood Plaza shopping center at 1055 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. They're open every day except Sunday. Find them online at guacamolewayne.com.