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Located in New York and founded in 2008 by Antonio Vilchis and his business partner Ismael Gonzales, Mexicosina is a powerhouse in south-central Mexican food. This restaurant is known for its vibrant decor and authentic Mexican feel. Mexicosina has a âBib Gourmandâ distinction on the Michelin Guide, which means itâs a quality restaurant. The Michelin Guide recommends the tlayuda from their menu, a dish that consists of a crunchy tortilla base topped with refried black beans, chicharrĂłn, Oaxaca cheese, and more. You will also find standouts like goat stew, lamb barbacoa tacos, delicious salsas, and refreshing drinks like horchata, agua fresca, and more.
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Also located in New York, Casa Ora is a Venezuelan restaurant founded by chef Isbelis Diaz and Ivo Diaz, her son. This restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide is known for its great variety of Venezuelan dishes, which are as authentic as they get. They even serve their food on artisanal pieces made by Venezuelan artist Victor Serrano, providing an experience for all the senses. Their empanadas are one of the standout dishes, but other popular options include asado negro, arepas, bollitos pelones, and more.
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Located in Los Angeles, Dama offers Latin American and American Contemporary cuisine. The restaurant is known for its Caribbean aesthetic and for how satisfying the food is, which earned it a spot on the Michelin Guide. They have a varied menu that includes delicious options like dry-aged ribeye, which can be paired with salsa verde for heavenly tacos, arepas, tostadas, empanadas, and more. Dama also serves some killer cocktails with Latin American vibes like piña colada, âLatin lover,â and more.
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Another great option in the Big Apple is the Llama Inn, a Peruvian restaurant with a Bib Gourmand distinction. The Llama Inn is known for its modern ambiance and for taking Peruvian cuisine to another level. Chef Erik Ramirez brings his unique vision, providing fresh and fun dishes that elevate Peruvian staples like anticuchos, which are usually beef skewers, but Llama Inn offers options like beef hearts and scallops. Theyâre accompanied by coconut rice, corn, and salsa, reflecting Peruâs richness of ingredients.
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Miamiâs population is 70% Latino, so there are hundreds of Latin American restaurants to check out. If youâre going for a Michelin star experience, Elcielo Miami offers that. Founded in 2015 by Colombian Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, this restaurant is high-end and has earned one Michelin star. Chef Barrientos uses avant-garde cooking techniques and local organic products to offer an elevated experience of Colombian cuisine. âThe Experienceâ consists of a variety of small bites that lead up to the main courses, telling a story with Latin American flavors. Theyâre known for their dramatic dish presentations and bold flavors, so itâs an unforgettable experience.
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Located in Chicago, Azul Mariscos offers a Pan-Mexican menu that will blow you away. Their specialty is Latin-inspired seafood dishes, so thatâs what theyâre known for. Among the most popular options on the menu, thereâs the grilled pineapple stuffed with octopus, Chihuahua cheese, and a delicious Chipotle sauce, and their incredible seafood paella. Every dish they offer has well-rounded flavors and impressive aesthetic presentations, not to mention the ambiance is vibrant and welcoming. Another great recommendation from the Michelin Guide!
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In Washington, Imperfecto is the place to visit for Michelin-starred Latino dishes. Imperfecto offers the âOne Michelin Star Experienceâ at their Communical Chef Table and it consists of an incredible tasting menu of over 10 courses. The menu takes you on a ride from South America to the Mediterranean, through a variety of dishes. Imperfecto is one of the restaurants under the Seven Reasons Group, which also includes the Seven Reasons restaurant, which offers a varied menu with dishes from Venezuela, Peru, and the Caribbean. Thatâs also worth checking out!
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Featured in the Michelin Guide and located in Costa Mesa, Habana is a bit of a hidden gem and it offers a taste of Cuba. Their menu provides a lot of variety, so youâll find dishes like pork croquetas, empanadas with different kinds of filling, sandwiches, traditional options like ropa vieja, a dish that consists of shredded beef, sofrito black beans, buttered white rice, and sweet plantains, and much more. âEl Churrascoâ is another standout dish with grilled skirt steak, chimichurri, and corn on the cob; perfect for meat lovers! They also have âMojito Mondays,â where they offer a variety of mojitos, including pineapple mojitos, toasted coconut mojitos, and more.
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The Cafe La Trova is a great option in Miami if youâre looking for high-quality Cuban and Latin American dishes. Chef Michelle Bernstein is of Jewish and Latin American descent, so the menu features Cuban classics like lechon, which is braised mojo marinated pork shoulder, Cuban sandwich empanadas, arroz con pollo (rice with chicken), and more. Their range of Cuban-inspired cocktails and beers is also worth exploring!
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Weâre closing this list with another restaurant in Washington! Causa has one Michelin star and it offers a tasting experience inspired by the topography of Peru. Chef Carlos Delgado created this experience to deliver a taste of Peru, where he was born, taking diners from Lima to the Andes and beyond. This one Michelin star tasting experience includes Peruvian dishes like causa, which consists of mashed potatoes topped with tuna tartare, and bomba rice. The tasting menu can also be paired with Pisco, which is a great opportunity to explore Peruâs national spirit.
To put this into perspective, letâs look at the top 5 most controversial SCOTUS rulings in recent years and the harm theyâve done.
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Image shared by feminist on Instagram
In the 70s, Norma McCorvey, aka Jane Roe, became pregnant for the third time as a single mom in Texas. She decided she didnât want a third child, but Texas law prohibited abortions, so McCorvey and her lawyers challenged the lawâs constitutionality arguing that it violated her right to privacy.
Ultimately, the case reached the Supreme Court, where a 7-2 ruling determined that a woman's decision to have an abortion fell within her constitutional right to privacy. This legalized abortion nationwide and guaranteed women the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies.
Roe v. Wade divided the nation into those who supported the right to life for unborn children and those who supported womenâs right to choose. 50 years later, in 2022, this landmark legislation was overturned by SCOTUS in a 6-3 decision. With this legal protection out of the way, individual states are allowed to restrict or fully ban abortions, and thatâs exactly what has been happening since.
This SCOTUS ruling has had catastrophic effects, with maternal mortality rising in states where abortion is either restricted or banned. Moreover, abortion bans and restrictions disproportionately affect Black and Latino women, with many losing their lives. Particularly in states like Texas, where Latinos make up 40.2% of the population and abortions are banned after 6 weeksâbefore many women even realize theyâre pregnant.
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Image shared by naleoedfund on Instagram
The 2023 rulings in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina sent shockwaves through the space of higher education. In a 6-3 decision, SCOTUS ended affirmative action policies.
That means that federal-funded American public or private universities canât consider studentsâ race in their admissions process. Any advantages given to Black and Latino applicants for a variety of reasons, such as increasing diversity and battling discrimination, no longer exist. This disproportionately affects Black and Latino students.
While college applicants can still discuss how race has influenced their lives in personal essays, this doesnât lessen the broader impact of the ruling. Dismantling affirmative action policies, which existed to level the playing field for historically disadvantaged racial groups, has led to a decline in minority representation in universities.
The implications for Latino students are particularly noticeable, as one of the groups who benefited most from affirmative action. This SCOTUS ruling severely limits Latinosâ ability to access selective colleges and, therefore, their ability to improve their economic status.
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Image shared by immigrantsrising on Instagram
In 2023, the Supreme Court determined, with an 8-1 decision, that Texasâ deportation law, Senate Bill 4, would go into effect. SB 4 makes it a state crime to cross the border of Mexico and Texas between entry ports. Essentially, anyone suspected of illegally crossing the border could be stopped, detained, and charged with a Class B misdemeanor, facing up to 6 months in jail.
This SCOTUS ruling revises immigration law and limits immigrantsâ ability to cross safely into the United States and request asylum. Moreover, it exposes Latinos, even those who have citizenship or permanent residency, to racial profiling. They may now be more likely to be suspected of and harassed by law enforcement simply because theyâre not white or donât look American.
SB 4 also risks damaging the relationship between law enforcement and local immigrant communities. It blurs the lines between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement, causing fear among unauthorized immigrants and their families about interacting with law enforcement due to deportation risks. This fear may lead to a reduction in crime reporting, which can affect the safety of the entire community.
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Image shared by naacp_ldf on Instagram
2023 was a tough year and it brought another controversial SCOTUS ruling, this time relating to student loan forgiveness. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the Biden administrationâs program to provide student debt relief under the HEROES Act. This represented a major blow to economic and racial justice as the program sought to expand student loan forgiveness.
This SCOTUS ruling specifically affects students who donât have many resources, particularly Black and Latino students. It makes the unfairness in the American education system even worse. Essentially, the ruling sends the message that only people who can afford a good education are entitled to it, no matter their talents or dreams.
By stopping Biden's plan to help with student debt, the court has said no to lots of people who want to go to school and make their lives better. Essentially, it slows down progress, especially within underprivileged communities. Currently, a new version of Bidenâs plan is underway, dubbed Plan B. Itâs a broader version of the first one and itâs more focused on specific groups of borrowers to avoid the same fate as the first plan.
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Image shared by daily49er on Instagram
In 2015, Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old American citizen of Mexican descent, was murdered during a terrorist attack in Paris, France, where she was spending a semester abroad. The day after the attack, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack through a written statement and a YouTube video.
Nohemiâs father, Reynaldo Gonzalez, filed an action against Google LLC, claiming they aided and abetted international terrorism by allowing ISIS to use their platform (specifically, YouTube) to issue threats, recruit members, intimidate populations, and plan terrorist attacks. The complaint also alleged that Googleâs algorithms helped ISIS spread its message through content suggestions, which are based on viewing history.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the tech giants in a unanimous decision, rejecting the notion that terrorist organizations being allowed to use the platforms makes the companies liable. This is based on Section 230, which provides immunity for tech companies regarding third-party content users create. While many see this ruling as a win for free speech, others criticize the legal liability shield tech platforms have.
MarĂa Rubio's portrayal of Catalina Creel in "Cuna de Lobosâ is nothing short of iconic. With her fake innocence and murderous schemes, Catalina proves that even a visually impaired woman can be a master manipulator. She'll have you on the edge of your seat, wondering what devilish plan she'll come up with next.
If you haven't heard of Soraya Montenegro, where have you been? ItatĂ Cantoral's over-the-top portrayal of this diva villainess in "MarĂa la del Barrio" is the stuff of legends. From her dramatic slaps to her iconic "maldita lisiada" catchphrase, Soraya has undoubtedly graced us with the most iconic telenovela moments (and GiFs) of all time.
Victoria Ruffo takes the cake as the ultimate wicked stepmother in "La Madrastra." This woman stops at nothing to ruin her stepdaughter's life. Ruffo's performance will leave you with a burning desire to shake some sense into her character. Kudos to Ruffo for making us feel so passionately about hating her!
Barbara Mori's RubĂ in the aptly named telenovela "RubĂ" is a real gem among villains. This seductive and ambitious character will claw her way to success, leaving a trail of broken hearts and shattered dreams in her wake. Mori's portrayal is as dazzling as RubĂ's craving for wealth and power.
Meet the ultimate telenovela twins, Paola and Paulina, played by Gabriela Spanic. But it's Paola Bracho, the conniving sister, who steals the show in "La Usurpadora." Spanic's performance is a masterclass in villainy, and you won't be able to resist shouting, "You go, girl!" while she plots her wicked schemes.
Angelique Boyer, in her portrayal of the eponymous Teresa ChĂĄvez in "Teresa," brings to life a character who is cunning, manipulative, and ruthlessly ambitious. Teresa's relentless pursuit of wealth and power, regardless of the emotional cost to those around her, makes her one of the most riveting villainesses on the small screen.
As Marimar's haughty and bitter aunt-in-law, Angélica takes pleasure in belittling the innocent and unsuspecting Marimar. Chantal Andere brings an unforgettable cruel edge to her character, delivering each insult and scornful smirk with a relish that makes her role as the villainess utterly captivating.
Oh, Patricia FernĂĄndez, you conniving beauty! Played to perfection by Lorna Cepeda in "Yo Soy Betty, La Fea," Patricia is the kind of character we all love to despise. As Betty's office nemesis, she stirs up trouble with a glamorous smile on her face and an insatiable ambition in her heart. Patricia's endless attempts to rise through the ranks, often at the expense of others, makes her a villain we can't wait to see brought down to earth!
The ruthless Malvina Morantes, masterfully portrayed by Laura Zapata in "MarĂa Mercedes," is the epitome of an evil, heartless villain. Malvina's disdain for MarĂa and her relentless attempts to make her life a living hell make our blood boil. Zapata's performance will leave you shouting at your screen as she effortlessly embodies the wickedness of her character.
Cynthia Klitbo's Tamara de la Colina in "El privilegio de amar" is a villainess that sends shivers down our spines. Tamara is a manipulative and relentless character, always scheming to get what she wants no matter who she hurts along the way. Her cold-heartedness and devious plots make her a standout villain.
These telenovela villains are the crĂšme de la crĂšme of wickedness, the cream in our coffee, the habanero in our salsa. They make us yell at the screen, gasp in disbelief, and secretly root for their downfall. These ten characters, brought to life by talented actors, have left an indelible mark on the telenovela landscape. So, the next time you find yourself captivated by a villain's evil plot, remember to appreciate the brilliance and charm that these actors bring to the dark side of the telenovela world!
