Journey across Mexico at Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | By Laura Paquette | LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

When Gino Calleja, the chef and co-owner of Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill, conjured up the concept for this new Mexican restaurant, he was aiming to bring something fresh to Sarasota’s dining scene. Calleja, best known for his other local spot Reyna’s Taqueria, partnered with his friend and fellow chef Jose Rojas to bring Kolucan to life.

“Kolucan had been in my head for many years,” says Calleja, who named the establishment after San Lucas Colucan, the Mexican city from which he and his family hail. “I always liked strong words, and I thought it would be cool to pay homage to the town and my parents,” he adds. When translating many words in Nahuatl, a language indigenous to Mexico, the letter “k” is used, so Calleja added a linguistic twist to the eatery’s name.

Calleja and Rojas bring the same level of creativity to the dishes offered, which draw inspiration from the cuisine of a variety of states across the country. “Mexico is immense, and every part of it has different flavors, like here in the states,” he says. “We want to be unique and offer things from our backgrounds and roots without leaving out the most important components and original flavors, but presenting them in a different way.” Sample the Huachinango a la Veracruz, a fried wild-caught snapper with onions, peppers, jalapenos, capers and vino blanco sauce, served with roasted garlic-epazote potatoes and cilantro chimichurri. Calleja recommends trying the Tostadas de Tinga, three crispy corn tortillas with refried beans, chicken tinga, lettuce, radishes, crema, queso fresco and avocado, a fan-favorite from Reyna’s presented in a different way. Don’t miss the vegetarian Chiles Rellenos, made up of two poblano peppers stuffed with potatoes, mushrooms, onions, confit tomatoes and roasted carrots in vegetable mole with cashew sour cream.

Aside from a delicious meal, guests can enjoy the Frida lounge, decorated with works by artist Lipstick Lex, who will paint live at Kolucan once a month. With the growing diversity of people moving to the Sarasota area, Calleja is excited to introduce them to the richness of Mexican cuisine, with lunch and brunch options soon to come. “When you have that passion and keep focused on what you want to present, then people will respond,” he says.