Meet the Owner
Rodolfo Rueda
By Fred Tscheulin

     Rodolfo Rueda first got into the Mexican Restaurant business in 1992, the time when the trend toward authentic Mexican cuisine in the United States was just heating up. Before that, he was a government employee in Mexico City responsible for setting taxes and tariffs on imports.
     Rodolfo was recruited to help open a new Mexican restaurant in Roanoke. His job was to develop the menu and authenticate the Mexican foods and flavors. After a year at the restaurant ­— El Rodeo, he returned to Mexico. Three years later, he once again came to the United States to provide his expertise to a restaurant in York, Pennsylvania. After returning to Mexico again, El Rodeo called. In 1997 he came back and it was on this trip that  he decided to stay for good and become a U.S. resident, making his home in Roanoke.
     In 1999, Rodolfo opened El Torito in downtown Roanoke. Three years later, he opened El Torito Mexican Restaurant at its present location in the Westlake Plaza at Smith Mountain Lake.
     “I decided on this location because the lake offers great opportunity for future growth,” he said. “Business has been very good here and we have been able to make improvements every year. Our customers at the lake are really great, nice and very friendly.”
     In 2003, Rodolfo hired an artist to paint colorful, traditional Mexican scenes on the walls. Last year, the restaurant added new table décor using traditional Mexican tile and pottery designs and also recreated their entire menu. And this year they constructed an attractive outdoor sign featuring “El Torito” located at Westlake Plaza on Route 122.
     Based on his past experience, Rodolfo created the menu by selecting authentic Mexican dishes with flavors that appeal to the American taste and has modified the spice and heat levels accordingly. For those looking for hot and spicy, a dish of hot sauce is served.  He is always working on the menu selections and is looking to introduce several new dishes that are popular in Mexico, as well as some to fulfill customer requests.
     El Torito is a full service restaurant offering a full menu of luncheon and dinner specials, including a children’s menu, vegetarian dishes and full bar service; domestic and imported beers, wines, Mexican soft drinks and, of course, margaritas, which are on special every Thursday.

Mexican Cheese Dip
This light, creamy recipe is ideal as a dip for chips, served over a taco salad or as a nacho topping.

Ingredients:
1 Cup milk
1 16 oz. Bar white American cheese (easy melt) shredded
1 4 oz. Can Jalapeno peppers, blended

Bring the milk to a boil in a sauce pan. Add the shredded cheese and stir until melted. Add the Jalapenos to taste, then blend together in a mixer. Refrigerate.

Serve: Reheat and use as needed.

Rodolfo Rueda
Manager, Owner
El Torito Mexican Restaurant