{"id":5063126,"date":"2025-01-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?p=5063126"},"modified":"2025-01-03T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T08:00:00","slug":"sazon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/2025\/01\/03\/sazon\/","title":{"rendered":"Saz\u00f3n de Illinois: La Bruquena"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Humboldt Park, on the West Side of Chicago, has experienced significant social and ethnic changes over the years. Since the 1970s, it has been a focal point for the Puerto Rican community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1995, in honor of the neighborhood and its Boricua residents, a section of Division Street was designated as &#8220;Paseo Boricua.&#8221; This area is marked by two large metal Puerto Rican flags that arch over the street, representing a lasting symbol of Puerto Rican heritage and identity in Humboldt Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nestled between those flags is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/labruquena.chicago\/\" title=\"La Bruquena\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">La Bruquena<\/a> restaurant, an unwavering community pillar that celebrates La Isla del Encanto&#8217;s flavors with dishes like arroz con gandules, lechon, and the traditional Mofongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"365\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_9534.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9534.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9534-300x171.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zoraida Rivera-Ta\u00f1\u00f3n <br>(Photo by Isabella Balta)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We had a chance to speak with co-owner, Zoraida Rivera-Ta\u00f1\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;My life has been in these four blocks. From flag to flag this has been my life,&#8221; Rivera-Tanon said. &#8220;It is very special. The community is our family.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Saz\u00f3n de Illinois. This month we highlight Humboldt Park, Paseo Boricua.\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1LG-M7lSPBw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, Zoraida and husband Roberto Miguel first decided to settle in Connecticut before making Chicago their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When they arrived in 1987, the couple only had $20 between them, but grit, hard work and commitment to community is the winning recipe that makes La Bruquena not only a restaurant, but a cultural epicenter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"5063711\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_8077.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_8077.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_8077-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"5063709\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_8079.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063709\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_8079.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_8079-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"362\" data-id=\"5063708\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_9527-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9527-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9527-1-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"5063710\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_8072.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_8072.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_8072-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"la-bruquena-2726-w-division-street-humboldt-park-pictures-by-isabella-balta\">La Bruquena, 2726 W Division Street, Humboldt Park (Pictures by Isabella Balta)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We are open for many community events,&#8221; said Rivera-Ta\u00f1\u00f3n. &#8220;We have Palabra Pura which is poetry night&#8230;in Spanish and English.&#8221; She also said that once a month they host Colectivo Sayba, a local group who perform bomba, a variety of\u00a0musical styles\u00a0and associated\u00a0dances\u00a0originating in\u00a0Puerto Rico. It was developed by\u00a0enslaved Africans\u00a0and their descendants in\u00a0sugar plantations\u00a0along the island&#8217;s coastal towns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La Bruquena&#8217;s menu is also a fusion of many cultures, including Taino, Spanish, and African influences with dishes like arroz con gandules, lechon, and the traditional Mofongo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" data-id=\"5063704\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_9526.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9526.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9526-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" data-id=\"5063705\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_9528-1024x572.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9528-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9528-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9528-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9528-1536x858.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9528-2048x1144.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" data-id=\"5063703\" src=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG_9529.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5063703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9529.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/IMG_9529-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pictures-by-isabella-balta\">Pictures by Isabella Balta<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The couple was recognized by Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, 26th Ward, in 2023, on the 35th anniversary of they taking over the restaurant that was established in 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resolution read in part: La Bruquena and its owners have served as an enduring source of pride and inspiration to Chicago\u2019s Puerto Rican community, exemplifying the values of hard work, quality service, and perseverance in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saz\u00f3n de Illinois is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/il-latino-news-can-tv-launch-new-programming\/\">co-produced&nbsp;<\/a>by Illinois Latino News (ILLN), an affiliate of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/\">Latino News Network (LNN)<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cantv.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CAN TV<\/a>, Chicago\u2019s hub for community-centric news, hyperlocal stories, and educational resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you have an idea for a Saz\u00f3n feature? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:info@LatinoNewsNetwork.com\">info@LatinoNewsNetwork.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An unwavering community pillar, the restaurant celebrates La Isla del Encanto&#8217;s rich flavors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5063702,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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