Local Love: Gloria's Papuseria
If you know me, you know how much I love food, the spicier the better! Hands down, one of my top spots in town is Gloria's Papuseria; Salvadoran Restaurant and Food Truck. Gloria's is located at 300 N. Central Ave and the food truck can be found at the Staunton Farmer's Market on Saturdays when the market is in season.
Always bright, warm and welcoming, Gloria's features traditional Salvadoran food and beverages made by Gloria herself. I stopped in for lunch and had a lovely chat with Gloria over my plate of pork papusas and spicy slaw.
Gloria tells me that she and her husband, John, met when they were working together at a restaurant in Northern Virginia. John is from Staunton and in 2012 they decided to move back to be closer to his family. Gloria began making her traditional Papusas for family and they became a huge hit. John's mother, Faye, who sells pies, jams, sauces and dried fruits at the Farmer's Market, suggested to Gloria that she sell her papusas there. Gloria was a bit nervous, she says she didn't know how well received her food would be as folks here weren't used to it. Lucky for us, Gloria and John purchased a food truck in 2014, spent the winter fixing it up and launched in the Spring of 2015.
Gloria, who exudes warmth and friendliness, told me that she and John will never forget their first day at market. Grateful and surprised by such a great reception, she says it was a very special day for her, a turning point in their lives. Gloria's recipes are close to her heart as they were taught to her by her mother with whom she began cooking with at the age of 11. As a single mother, Gloria says her mom began making papusas at home to sell in the neighborhood and supplement her income. Eventually her mother was able to purchase a kitchen and 30 years later she is still in business. Gloria and her children plan to visit next year.
What are some of your favorite things about having your restaurant: People, the people in Staunton are so nice and supportive of small business. Bringing the food I was raised on to the people, passing it along to others. This food is sacred, my mother was in a very difficult time, my husband and I were in a difficult time and we had a shared experience with this food, it lifted and sustained us both. To have it so well received by the area means so much.
If you could learn a new skill, anything, what would it be? I have always thought I wanted to be a nurse, I would probably go back to school to be a nurse.
If you had one extra hour a day, what would you do with it: Spend time with my children, with my family.
If you could choose any super power to have, what would it be: To fill people's heart with love, especially in these times. Love for everyone, for everyone to love one another.
Today is: A beautiful and important day because every day we have the chance to love even more, do things better, to forgive the things in our hearts that hurt.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed my chat with Gloria and my meal. I appreciate her honesty, love and exuberance, you can see it in her face and taste it in her food. Thank you so much for being here, Gloria!
Please follow Gloria's on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Glorias-Pupuseria-123962064468024/
For those of you unfamiliar with Papusas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupusa
Always bright, warm and welcoming, Gloria's features traditional Salvadoran food and beverages made by Gloria herself. I stopped in for lunch and had a lovely chat with Gloria over my plate of pork papusas and spicy slaw.
Gloria tells me that she and her husband, John, met when they were working together at a restaurant in Northern Virginia. John is from Staunton and in 2012 they decided to move back to be closer to his family. Gloria began making her traditional Papusas for family and they became a huge hit. John's mother, Faye, who sells pies, jams, sauces and dried fruits at the Farmer's Market, suggested to Gloria that she sell her papusas there. Gloria was a bit nervous, she says she didn't know how well received her food would be as folks here weren't used to it. Lucky for us, Gloria and John purchased a food truck in 2014, spent the winter fixing it up and launched in the Spring of 2015.
Gloria, who exudes warmth and friendliness, told me that she and John will never forget their first day at market. Grateful and surprised by such a great reception, she says it was a very special day for her, a turning point in their lives. Gloria's recipes are close to her heart as they were taught to her by her mother with whom she began cooking with at the age of 11. As a single mother, Gloria says her mom began making papusas at home to sell in the neighborhood and supplement her income. Eventually her mother was able to purchase a kitchen and 30 years later she is still in business. Gloria and her children plan to visit next year.
If you could learn a new skill, anything, what would it be? I have always thought I wanted to be a nurse, I would probably go back to school to be a nurse.
If you had one extra hour a day, what would you do with it: Spend time with my children, with my family.
If you could choose any super power to have, what would it be: To fill people's heart with love, especially in these times. Love for everyone, for everyone to love one another.
Today is: A beautiful and important day because every day we have the chance to love even more, do things better, to forgive the things in our hearts that hurt.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed my chat with Gloria and my meal. I appreciate her honesty, love and exuberance, you can see it in her face and taste it in her food. Thank you so much for being here, Gloria!
Please follow Gloria's on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Glorias-Pupuseria-123962064468024/
For those of you unfamiliar with Papusas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupusa
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