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It was Julie Minoso’s dream to open a restaurant.

“The children were born in Miami and were still homesick for the food,” she said.

The Minoso family opened Taste of Cuba in Jonesville on Monday. The restaurant is run by Jose and Julie Minoso and their children Larry, Jose and Damaris. Jose is Cuba, and Julie is from Panama.

“We all try to share the work load,” Larry Minoso said.

The restaurant serves traditional Cuban food. Every meal comes with congris, which are black beans and rice.

“We have a different menu every day,” Minoso said. “Cuban food is not spicy. It has a Caribbean feel to it, using ingredients like olive oil, green olive, cooking wine that all give it a lot of flavor.”

The restaurant has the food displayed so customers can see what they will be buying, Minoso said.

“We want people to see our food, rather than just look at it in a picture,” she said. “Everything we serve is made from scratch. We want to share our culture.”

The Minosos moved to Elkin 12 years ago from Miami, Fla. because Jose, is a pastor at Iglesia Wesleyana Cristo Vive in Elkin.

“Opening the restaurant has been a dream for us, but God always comes first,” Julie Minoso said. “We will never be open on a Sunday, because that is a day of worship.”

The Minoso family wanted to bring their culture to the area but also offer a new food option to the community.

“We wanted to offer something different,” Larry said. “We have Japanese, Chinese, American and family style restaurants but nothing like Cuban food in the area.”

Taste of Cuba is opened Monday through Friday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. located at NC-67 across from Starmount Crossing Cinema V.

For more information call (336) 526-CAFE.