El Chico To Be Featured In The Smithsonian National Museum Of American History's New Exhibit 'FOOD: Transforming America's Table, 1950 - 2000'

DALLAS, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- El Chico, a Dallas-based, Tex-Mex restaurant brand with unique Hispanic flavor announces its participation in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's new exhibit, "FOOD:  Transforming America's Table, 1950 – 2000."  El Chico will be the only Mexican brand featured in the new exhibit, which will have six sections focusing on the social changes that have changed how we eat.

El Chico will be featured in the "Resetting the Table" section of the exhibit, which will explore the role of new immigrants in introducing new flavors and examine the roots of movements embracing local, fresh, and organic foods.  The museum is using the restaurant's story as an example of the rise of Mexican and Tex-Mex food in the U.S.

The El Chico story began when Adelaida Cuellar's homemade tamales drew huge crowds at a small county fair in 1926.  Her five sons opened a cafe in Dallas, following their mother's recipes for enchiladas with chile con carne.  Today, El Chico is still serving top-quality Mexican food favorites with fresh new specialties in 57 locations.

The exhibit is slated to be open to the public on November 20, 2012.

"We are so very proud of our parents' accomplishments and their part in contributing to the introduction and growth of Mexican food on America's table," said Carmen Cuellar Summers, daughter of Gilbert Cuellar and who remains active in the management of El Chico.

Ms. Summers added, "I share in the excitement and appreciation of the Cuellar Family for the honor of being represented in the FOOD Exhibit, opening November 20^th."

Long-time Dallas area restaurateur and North Texas Food Bank board member John Cuellar said, "The Cuellar Family is honored to be invited to tell our story. We are very thankful and proud to have been a part of the incredible growth of Tex-Mex food in America." Mr. Cuellar is the son of Frank Cuellar.

El Chico is a Tex-Mex restaurant brand with a unique Hispanic flavor. Its exceptional blend of sauces and spices has made El Chico one of the highest quality restaurants appealing to generations of families. The El Chico brand is owned by Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc. (CRO), a Dallas, Texas based company operating 116 restaurants.

CRO Chief Executive Officer John D. Harkey, Jr. said about El Chico, "We continue nurturing the Cuellar family legacy of El Chico. Today, almost 90 years later, we are growing restaurants in the US as well as internationally with locations now serving Dubai, UAE and Riyadh, KSA. El Chico is timelessness and enduring in its appeal."

The CRO portfolio includes Cantina Laredo, Cool River Cafe, Silver Fox, Good Eats, Lucky's and III Forks brands.

SOURCE El Chico