{"id":5061621,"date":"2023-12-11T02:31:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T02:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walatinonews.com\/?p=5061621"},"modified":"2023-12-11T02:31:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T02:31:04","slug":"sazon-de-wa-don-de-la-colombiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/waln\/2023\/12\/11\/sazon-de-wa-don-de-la-colombiana\/","title":{"rendered":"Saz\u00f3n De WA: Don de la Colombiana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The doors of Don de la Colombiana greet guests with the vibrant sounds of Spanish music, the smell of fresh Colombian food, and a warm smile from owner Marly Machacon Villarreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, Machacon Villarreal came to the US with big ambitions. She first arrived in New Jersey, where she started out cleaning houses. Having family in Washington encouraged her to move to the state permanently. Despite living in the state for only nine months, she first worked as a singer at El Parche<\/a>, a Colombian restaurant in Seattle and Tacoma. Now, she\u2019s an entrepreneur and the sole proprietor of Don de la Colombiana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Owner Marly Machacon Villarreal greets guests with a warm welcome as she prepares their food in the kitchen. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been a hard worker, and when times were tough, I always reminded myself that Latinos \u201csiempre podemos\u2019 we always can,\u201d Machacon Villarreal said in her native Spanish language. \u201cWe just have to do things with happiness, love, and passion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restaurant opened its doors to Olympia earlier this year in October 2023 and features a wide variety of classic Colombian dishes such as empanadas, arepas, bu\u00f1uelos, natural juices, and more. While the menu mainly consists of small appetizers, Machacon Villarreal plans on expanding the menu to feature more \u201cmeal-style\u201d dishes and vegan options soon. There are gluten-free and vegetarian options available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany people associate Latinos with spicy food. However, this is far from the truth; Colombian food is not spicy at all,\u201d Machacon Villarreal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Spinach and cheese and chicken empanada and arepas with a side of salsa and pico de gallo served with a refreshing natural mango juice. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pair your meal with a delicious flan de cafe for dessert. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most Colombian restaurants are located in Seattle or Tacoma, making it difficult for people to find Colombian food outside King County. While music has always been her passion, she decided to bring Colombian culture to Olympia to increase Latino representation in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople come in here, regardless of whether they\u2019re Colombian or not, and they say they feel at home,\u201d Machacon Villarreal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inspiration to open a store came from her home country in Colombia, where most people use public transportation. Having a car is considered a luxury. Different street foods can be found along the bus stops for people to grab some quick bites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restaurant on 609 Capitol Way is in Olympia\u2019s historic district, in front of Sylvester Park and a bus stop. When Machacon Villarreal initially saw the space, it looked neglected. However, she saw beyond that and wanted to create something amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018Don de la Colombiana\u2019s logo sits on the window, inviting guests to try Colombian and South American cuisine. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The name is inspired by a place in her home country of Colombia. There was a solutions center for people; however, no one knew the center’s name. People began to call it “Don de la Colombiana” because of a woman who worked there. She had a “don” or gift of always being helpful to everyone in the community. Machacon Villarreal hopes to bring that “don” of Colombia to Olympia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite the name \u2018Don de la Colombiana,\u2019 this restaurant is not just for Colombians,\u201d Machacon Villarreal said. \u201cI invite everyone in Olympia to come and get to know South American cuisine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through her restaurant, she has had the opportunity to meet more Colombians and people from South America in Washington state. She has received a lot of support from the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to leave something beautiful here,\u201d Machacon Villarreal said. \u201cI want to plan a seed here and see it grow. I want the Latino population in WA to grow and want people from this state to know that Latinos \u2018siempre se echan para adelante\u2019 or \u2018we always move forward.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Cover Photo: Spinach and cheese empanadas, arepas, and tajadas maduras with a side of salsa and pico de gallo neatly arranged on a plate. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero<\/a><\/strong>, a final-year student at the University of Washington, is pursuing a double major in journalism and public interest communication and law, societies, and justice. Additionally, she has chosen to minor in diversity and environmental studies. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Jimenez Romero holds a deep passion for crafting human-interest narratives that highlight and empower underrepresented communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Editor\u2019s Notes: If you have an idea for a Saz\u00f3n De Washington feature -we want to hear from you! Email us at info@latinonewsnetwork.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saz\u00f3n de Washington paints a rich, nuanced picture of the state’s food scene, its entrepreneurs, and the neighborhoods they 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