“You make me your margarita, and I'll make you mine. Then we'll see whose is better," I challenged my friend and restaurant industry titan, Larry Mindel, as we cruised along the coast of southern Mexico on his boat.
While the results of that competition were hazy, it got Larry's wheels turning, and the next thing we knew, we were plotting out how to open a modern Mexican restaurant that featured the freshest cuisine and unbelievable tequila cocktails including the infamous Copita Margarita. Thus, Copita Tequileria y Comida was born!
I'm still amazed that one seemingly small event can lead to a life-changing experience. In all my years teaching cooking on television and around the world, opening a restaurant seemed like an apparition. Yet, once we found an idyllic spot and formed a talented team, things took off and Copita Sausalito has been wowing guests with incredible food and drinks for 12 years, thanks to the team!
Yet, Larry dreams big. Really big! With our flagship spot in Sausalito humming along, winning awards for the best Margarita, her seasonal dishes and arguably the best tacos, Larry, myself, and our partners started scouting a location for Copita #2. We were determined to create an atmosphere where guests could gather in a gorgeous indoor space or soak in the views outdoors while enjoying the freshest flavors of Mexico. We looked all over the Bay Area, but nothing seemed quite right. Then, we discovered a space in a lovely, ideally situated community. The only problem was that it was just an open lot. The partners linked arms and dove into the planning from the ground up! We're all sticklers for details and had to make decisions about everything from creating a super-efficient kitchen layout to the tile and artwork. Oh, this happened during the fallout from the pandemic and supply chain breakdown. To say this was a nerve-racking process is a severe understatement! Long story short, when we finally opened the doors, it was incredibly emotional.
As we enter our 12th year in Sausalito and celebrate the launch of Copita's big sister restaurant in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, CA, I wanted to say thanks to everyone—the Copita family and our amazing patrons—who made this dream possible!
Want to get a taste of what we're dishing up? Try these Copita-inspired recipes:
If you're in the Bay Area, we'd love to see you soon in Sausalito or Willow Glen!
 |
