Owner of downtown staple expands business to the East end
Guelph’s East side is about to get a Latin American facelift as Rodolfo Hennigs – owner of The Salsateria on Wyndham Street – gets ready to launch his new Chilean and Mexican restaurant, Mojito’s, on Mar. 10.
To Guelphites, Hennigs is an artist, but not of the kind that uses a brush. He is the gastronomic aficionado who began his career renting a stall at the local farmers market in 1992, and has since grown his business, year after year, on the popularity of his pebre (salsa) and his self described “fusion of traditional Chilean, Mexican, and Caribbean flavours.”
With this new location differing in flavour and theme from previous restaurants, Mojito’s is being built with the love and inspiration of his homeland, Chile.
While Hennigs loves Guelph, he “misses his native Chile,” which is why he is going to extremes to make Mojito’s look and feel authentic.
The calming waters of the 4000 plus kilometer Chilean coast are represented in gorgeous detail on the mural he commissioned to adorn the building. From the mountains surrounding the capital of Santiago to the idyllic coastal waters of Valparaiso, this work of art is stunning in scope, adding cultural value to a city that has always admired and encouraged artistic creativity.
When asked about his vision for Mojito’s, Hennigs said that he’d like it to be “like the relaxing place you look for when you are on vacation,” and then joked about patrons being able to “wear bathing suits at lunch, if they wish.”
Indeed, the wooden roofed houses splashed in the mural’s sun-drenched surf are reminiscent of this.
Hennigs is a modern mixologist whose enthusiasm was apparent when he said, “everything I create is an interpretation of things I have tried.”
Hennigs noted that he has “no recipes, and everything is made from scratch,” which is evident in what he is trying to create at his new restaurant. He imagines customers eating a savory Chilean dish – similar to jambalaya – called Pul Mai, engaging in friendly conversation, and enjoying the relaxing views of the babbling brook and ponds across the street.
“In the summer, you will be able to sit on the colourful South American inspired patio and listen to Latin music, while ordering from our special outdoor taqueria,” Hennigs continued.
Hennigs wants his new restaurant to be a gathering place, and his price point reflects this desire, offering high quality menu items for significantly less than his competition.
In addition, patrons will be able to order two or six tacos, making the summer patio the perfect place to meet for a mid-afternoon bite when you and your friends are afflicted by differing degrees of hunger.
While previous restaurateurs at this location have bet that people would come for their food alone, Hennigs expects to entice crowds by combining a number of culinary, artistic, and natural elements.
Mojito’s seeks to provide an off-campus haven for students who want to unwind, as well as a yearlong “staycation” destination for family-oriented Guelphites looking for a more authentic cultural food experience.
While Hennigs has risen on the popularity of his cilantro-inspired salsa and delectable sauces, he is hoping that Mojito’s will mark the beginning of another culinary revolution in Guelph.