Talk of the Town: Meet Empanada Mama

Photo credit: Empanada Mama's Facebook Fan Page

While there are lots of delicious restaurants to dine at in Bucks County, there has long been a lack of culinary representation from Latin cuisines throughout the region. Well, that gap just got a little big smaller thanks to Empanada Mama in Doylestown.

What is an empanada?

Derived from the Spanish verb empanar, which literally means to wrap or coat in bread, an empanada is a delicious stuffed pastry that can be either baked or fried. Empanadas can be filled with just about anything from meat, to veggies, and/or cheese.

Mike Lucca and Kendall Bajek on opening day, Monday, April 28, 2014

Empanada Mama is serious about South American cuisine. According to their website, Kendall Bajek, owner and empanada maker, discovered a passion for South American culture while living in Miami and Buenos Aires over the past 6 years.

It was in Buenos Aires, though, that she learned the art of empanada making, and ultimately, dared to elevate this already delicious hand-pie into something more exciting by experimenting with non-traditional fillings. Her culinary background, combined with her travel experiences in over 40 different countries, inspired her to create an assortment of unique empanadas and dipping sauces that encompass the flavors from a variety of cultures. Empanada Mama thus pays homage to the different regions of Argentina and South America, while also offering tribute to other popular flavors from around the globe—it’s authentic with a Gringo twist!

Their debut empanada offerings include:

The B.A. Beef: Seasoned ground beef + green peppers + onions + olives + scallions
Buffalo Chicken: Shredded chicken + spicy buffalo sauce + gorgonzola + mozzarella
Mediterranean Eggplant: Roasted eggplant + red peppers + herbs + feta cheese

Empanada Mama is located in the Main Street Marketplace at 22 South Main Street Doylestown, PA 18901