A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community

Natalia Molina's book "A Place at the Nayarit" explores the hidden history of the Nayarit, a Los Angeles restaurant that nourished its Mexican immigrant community with a sense of belonging. Doña Natalia Barraza opened the restaurant in 1951 and ran it successfully, sponsoring, housing, and employing dozens of other immigrants. The Nayarit was an urban anchor for a robust community, providing a gathering space for ethnic Mexican workers and customers to connect with their patria chica and with one another. Molina's book highlights the many facets of the immigrant experience, including the complex networks of family and community, the small but essential pleasures of daily life, cross-currents of gender and sexuality, and pressures of racism and segregation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 19 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

In 1951, Doña Natalia Barraza opened the Nayarit, a Mexican restaurant in Echo Park, Los Angeles. With A Place at the Nayarit, historian Natalia Molina traces the life's work of her grandmother, remembered by all who knew her as Doña Natalia––a generous, reserved, and extraordinarily capable woman. Doña Natalia immigrated alone from Mexico to L.A., adopted two children, and ran a successful business. She also sponsored, housed, and employed dozens of other immigrants, encouraging them to lay claim to a city long characterized by anti-Latinx racism. Together, the employees and customers of the Nayarit maintained ties to their old homes while providing safety and support to one another.

The Nayarit was much more than a popular eating spot: it was an urban anchor for a robust community, a gathering space where ethnic Mexican workers and customers connected with their patria chica (their "small country"). That meant connecting with distinctive tastes, with one another, and with the city they now called home. Through deep research and vivid storytelling, Molina follows restaurant workers from the kitchen and the front of the house across borders and through the decades. These people's stories illuminate the many facets of the immigrant experience: immigrants' complex networks of family and community and the small but essential pleasures of daily life, as well as cross-currents.

The Nayarit's legacy endures today, as it remains a beloved institution in Echo Park. Its menu reflects the rich culinary traditions of Mexico, with dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and guacamole that have become staples in Los Angeles. But the Nayarit is more than just a restaurant; it is a symbol of the resilience and determination of the Mexican immigrant community. It is a reminder that, despite the challenges they faced, immigrants have always found a way to create a sense of belonging and to build a thriving community.

In conclusion, A Place at the Nayarit is a remarkable book that offers a glimpse into the hidden history of the Mexican immigrant community in Los Angeles. Through the story of Doña Natalia and the Nayarit, Molina sheds light on the many challenges and struggles that immigrants faced, as well as the ways in which they found strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The book is a testament to the power of community and the importance of preserving the legacy of those who have come before us.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 160 x 210 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520385481