All around Benton County you'll find small businesses that reflect our area's Hispanic and Latinx population. Hispanic Heritage Month, which happens September 15 through October 15, gives us an opportunity to celebrate a few of the wonderful Hispanic- and Latinx-owned businesses in Corvallis.
Valcan Cellars takes its name from its founders, husband and wife team Juan Pablo Valot and Doris Cancel. While dreaming up their winery in 2012, they came up with the name by combining the first three letters of their surnames.
They opened their downtown Corvallis tasting room in 2019. You can find it at the south end of Second Street by Old World Deli. Relax inside or enjoy a table outdoors while you savor their Oregon wines, handcrafted from grapes grown all around the Willamette Valley and made by founder and winemaker Juan Pablo Valot. Juan Pablo has been making wine in Oregon and Argentina for 20 years and it shows in every drop. While you're there, take a moment to appreciate the artwork on their bottles, inspired by Doris' Puerto Rican roots.
Valcan Cellars is also involved with Celebrating Hispanic Roots, a small group of Oregon winemakers with Hispanic heritages.
There are several great Latinx-owned options for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Corvallis.
Delicias Valley Cafe has great food, and offers particularly fantastic breakfasts. Their huevos rancheros and huevos divorciados are especially good choices. If you're looking to start your day with a little extra zing, this is your spot to stop.
For lunch or dinner, consider Lupe's Restaurant and Calavera Bar, El Sol de Mexico, or El Patron.
Lupe's Restaurant, located on Monroe Avenue near Oregon State, offers Mayan, Central, and South American cuisine. Start your meal with platanos fritos, and consider Lupe's Plato for your dinner choice - you won't be sorry. They also have a full bar featuring both original and traditional beverage options.
El Sol de Mexico, which you can find on 9th Street across from Comfort Suites, is a traditional Jalisco style Mexican restaurant that features excellent food and margaritas made from owners Bernardo Magaña's and Rafael De La Cruz' private recipe. Be sure to check out the gorgeous murals inside the restaurant.
El Patron is famous for amazing margaritas and wonderful dinners. Their molcajete is a great dinner choice, as are their burritos - check out their burrito blanco or fajita burrito. Find El Patron on 2nd Street, near the Holiday Inn Express on the River.
You can find Pilos Bakery off Circle Avenue, in the plaza behind Market of Choice. They're well known for excellent baked goods, including fresh bread made daily and Mexican pastries. You'll also find spices and other cooking ingredients along with Mexican candies and drinks.
They're famous for their amazing and beautiful cakes, too. If you're on the hunt for a gorgeous, delicious cake to celebrate something special with, definitely consider Pilos Bakery's tres leches cake, decorated with stunning fresh fruit displays.
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