Who says you can’t have your buñuelo … and eat it too? Well, that’s an exaggeration. You’ll probably eat the whole basket of the cream-filled dough balls. But you’ll at least have the memory of what they looked like.
Folks in the Dallas area are no doubt familiar with La Duni. Founded a decade ago by Dunia and Taco Borgia, this Latin-inspired café brings the colors, textures, sounds and flavors of Latin America right here to North Texas. This month, with their expansion to The Village at Fairview, folks farther north will get to indulge in everything from cappuccino to zesty chimichurri.
In addition to the traditional La Duni kitchen, the new location (decorated in the style of a red, cream and brown British carriage house to reflect its would-be Argentinean roots) will feature an expanded coffee bar called Dulce. But don’t fret, this bar is not just about getting your caffeine fix. To cool off on a day of play, let the little ones indulge in a Raspa—an icy treat drizzled with traditional flavors such as green apple or bubblegum, or for more adventurous tykes, Latin flavors such as guava or passion fruit. If your kids are hooked on soda, this is one time you can feel good about letting them have their way. A waiter will bring a carafe of natural soda syrup, a glass of ice and an old-fashioned soda bottle, and mix it tableside … before your fascinated kiddo’s eyes.
When it’s time for some true sustenance, savor the Carne Asada Arrachera, a garlic-marinated, grilled skirt steak that comes with sweet plantains, black beans, roasted poblano and bell pepper cheese rajas and mashed avocado. While you’re noshing, the kiddos can munch on chicken tenders, quesadillas or a grilled cheese sandwich.
If you’ve got room for dessert afterward (or even if you don’t), treat yourself to a Mi Crema—a custom frozen dessert with a yogurt, custard or almond milk base, topped with your choice of fruit or granola. Now comes the cool (or rather, cold) part: it’s then blasted for 30 seconds with liquid nitrogen. In addition to the yummy taste, the kiddos will be entranced by the spectacle of the nitrogen vapor, which looks like a witch’s brew. Or you can make dessert interactive by ordering the kids a Build a Cookie Set, where they’ll use fondant to glue cookie pieces together and form exciting animal shapes (not that they’ll last long!).
So whether you come here for a cupcake, coffee or a quick bite to eat, you can count on authentic, well-prepared Latin offerings. Co-founder Taco Borgia shares, “At the end of the day, the product has to be fantastic.” Indeed.
