Interview with Andrew Peterson, New Owner of El Naranjo

Some of you may be asking...Jason is on sabbatical, but what is Susi doing besides keeping this blog going?

I am writing 12 to 18 hours per week, working on a science fiction novel for teens and recently, I had the opportunity to interview a restaurant owner in Oaxaca City for the the Oaxaca Times (expatriate newspaper). Here's the interview. I hope to write a restaurant review as well. I'll include that piece in a later post.



Susanne: How long have you owned El Naranjo?

Andrew: I purchased El Naranjo in February of this year.

Susanne: How did you come into ownership?

Andrew: I was intending on opening an authentic Mexican restaurant in Connecticut, when I spoke on the phone with my friend and mentor, Daniel Hoyer. He informed me that El Naranjo was for sale, so I went to the atlas to find out where Oaxaca was, googled the restaurant, and discovered that it had an international reputation.

Susanne: What’s it like, taking over the food business of someone with a reputation like Iliana de la Vega?

Andrew: It’s mostly positive. People come through the door with high expectations and we strive to meet or exceed those expectations every day.

Susanne: What have you wanted to keep the same?

Andrew: We kept only one recipe of Iliana’s…the gazpacho. It’s very popular and delicious. People come in and ask for it.

Susanne: Where have you injected your creative energy?

Andrew: In general, the restaurant is less about fusion now and it’s less expensive. We’re cooking more simply and we’re cooking our moles with a more authentic touch, by using lard. We’ve also added regional specialties to the menu, so that our Oaxacan customers can enjoy more variety in their dining experience. On our menu, you will find Cochinita Pibíl, a well known dish from the Yucatán using sour oranges and achiote seasoning, as well as Pescado Veracruzano, a Mediterranean style dish incorporating tomatoes, olives, capers and canela. These are dishes you might not find in a typical Oaxacan Restaurant.

Susanne: What can you tell us about your kitchen?

Andrew: All sauces and meats are prepared on the premises. We strive to present honest, straightforward and healthy Oaxacan dishes.

Susanne: What would you tell us about the bar?

Andrew: All our margaritas are made with hand-squeezed limes and a top shelf reposado tequila. You know you’re getting a great margarita at El Naranjo. Our signature margarita, called the smoky margarita, is a house margarita with mescal laced on top. The mescal changes the complexity of the drink and adds a smokiness which is inherent in the spirit.

Susanne: What are your plans for the future of El Naranjo?

Andrew: We’re hoping to offer cooking classes and upgrading our bar to be somewhat of a mescal lounge.

Susanne: Did you make any changes in the building when you took over?

Andrew: We brought in new art and plants, otherwise, it’s the same experience it was before, beautiful courtyard dining.

Susanne: On a more personal note, where are you from originally?

Andrew: New Haven, Connecticut.

Susanne: Where/under whom did you receive your training?

Andrew: I trained under Daniel Hoyer…the chef who ran the Coyote Café in Santa Fe, NM.

Susanne: Do you see yourself here long-term?

Andrew: Yes.

Susanne: Anything else you would like to say about El Naranjo, particularly to the readers of the Oaxaca Times?

Andrew: Yes. We offer a certified blank angus rib eye that is imported from Canada and served with garlic mashed potatoes . This is one of the better cuts in the city. The reason we have that on the menu is for the folks passing through who are possibly a little tired of eating moles and chiles and want a good old fashioned slab of beef.

Susanne: Andrew, thanks for your time and we wish you well in your endeavor.


El Naranjo is located on Trujano 203, two blocks west of the zócalo’s southwest corner. Open 1 P.M.to 10:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays. Tel. 951-514-1878




Susanne P. Jensen is a writer from Berkeley, California who is living in Oaxaca for 5 months while her husband enjoys a sabbatical from work. They have two children, Abby and Gabe, who are attending a Mexican school in Volcanes, learning Spanish, poco a poco.