Made with love: Alma Cocina brings unique Mexican flavor to Larkfield Road
Catalina Criollo and her husband Eduardo Coraizaca at their East Northport restaurant, Alma Cocina. Photo by Olivia Allen.
Alma Cocina in East Northport hosted an eclectic mix of sips, scents and sounds last week to celebrate its first anniversary since opening on Larkfield Road in August of last year. Live mariachi performances and specialty tequila tastings led by expert mixologists headlined the festivities.
“We wanted to give back a little bit to the community, so we decided to do a full week of celebration,” said Catalina Criollo, chef and co-owner of Alma Cocina. “So many people came, and they were all so excited.”
While the heavy turnout initially shocked Criollo and her husband, co-owner Eduardo Coraizaca, the two agree it reflects the community’s unyielding support.
“It was such a nice feeling,” Criollo said. “So many of our guests have been supporters from day one, especially in the East Northport community.” Now, the business is welcoming customers from surrounding towns like Commack, Kings Park and, a little farther away, Freeport.
As this momentum grows, Criollo intends to run things as usual. Which is, in her words: “Cooking like I cook at home.”
Food for, and from, the soul
People often associate soul food with the nostalgia of a home-cooked meal, usually one shared with family. “I want to create that atmosphere,” Criollo said, one where guests are treated like family.
The restaurant’s name – which translates to soul kitchen in English – was inspired by Criollo’s time cooking with, and learning from, her mother and grandmother in Ecuador. “You could tell they put love into everything they made,” she said with a smile. “That’s what I wanted to hold onto, and bring here.”
When one cooks from a place of love and with passion, you can taste the difference. “And I think that reflects in every dish we present to our guests,” Criollo said.
Despite her Ecuadorian roots, Criollo grew captivated with the distinct, versatile flavors of Mexican cuisine during culinary school – flavors she strives to recreate at Alma Cocina. “I feel like our menu is very unique, and that’s something people like,” she said.
Case in point: Alma Cocina is the only restaurant on Long Island offering a spicy avocado margarita. The restaurant also offers year-round specials alongside a regular food and drink menu to keep things new for their guests, Criollo said.
Everything at Alma Cocina is made in-house using fresh ingredients, and most of these are sourced locally, from within Huntington, or imported straight from Mexico.
“We’re very honest about the food we bring to this community,” Criollo said, adding that in her experience, this transparent approach builds customer trust. “I feel people appreciate that kind of honesty and care with cooking.”
The restaurant’s open-kitchen concept is another example of the commitment to curating a trusted and immersive culinary experience, “so that people can see [how] transparent we are about what we’re cooking and how we’re cooking it,” Criollo said.
The upcoming fall season is the chef’s favorite time of year; she’s especially looking forward to using pumpkins in some signature dishes, Criollo said.
The restaurant will once again celebrate Día de los Muertos, too; guests can expect several special events, menu items and no shortage of festive decor. “We do a lot of fun stuff,” Criollo said, encouraging residents to stop by.
Food and flavors aside, she credits her small staff, many of whom are family or close friends themselves, for continuing to treat Alma Cocina patrons like family, no matter what the season.
Falling in love with East Northport
It’s been Criollo’s lifelong dream to open a restaurant. With more than 25 years of varied culinary experience, ranging from restaurant staff to operator, she felt well-equipped for the task. Before making the leap to entrepreneurship, however, she and Coraizaca chose to prioritize “parent duty.” Once their son graduated high school, they decided it was time to make Criollo’s dream a reality and bring their unique take on authentic Mexican cuisine to Long Island.
“When we finally found this place, we fell in love,” she said. “I had such a good feeling about it.” Criollo could visualize the kind of intimate, family-like environment she hoped to create. “I knew I didn’t want something huge,” she said. “I wanted [a space] where you can interact with guests…and, I guess, interact with the world.” She nods to the restaurant’s window-heavy infrastructure, providing plenty of natural lighting and views of Larkfield Road’s bustling traffic. “People passing by might see us and think, ‘Let’s give them a try,’” she said. “It’s like a perfect spot…a lot of people walking around, and [heavy] traffic in the street.”
Criollo is especially fond of how Larkfield Road looks during holidays like Memorial Day and Christmas in particular. “Those are the things that make me so happy to see,” she said. “I feel like it also calls attention to all the small businesses here.”
Moving forward
Criollo hopes to open another restaurant in the future, in addition to the East Northport location.
“I'm so happy with how things are moving here,” she said. Again her gratitude extends in large part to the community, from her customers to other neighborhood businesses.
Having traveled across the globe to fine tune her culinary skills, Criollo knows a thing or two about how community, much like food, can transcend culture. “There’s so much you can learn and create as your own,” from those experiences, she said. “And you can bring that to new people.”
That’s what guests can look forward to at Alma Cocina: Mexican soul food, crafted through shared learning and made with love.
To learn more about Alma Cocina and view upcoming events and menu specials, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page or follow them on Instagram.
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