Surrounded by vibrant colors and happy attitudes are, from L-R, Ulises Martinez, Marcos Salceda, Alejandro Sauceda, Nayely Salceda, Raul Arce, and Javier Sanchez prepare for another day of Mexican dishes at La Cocina Mexicana in Dixon. Photo by Debra Dingman

 

DIXON, CA (MPG) - You may think you’re going to a Mexican food dinner, but you will get a trip into an art exhibition, as well, when you visit La Cocina Mexicana Restaurant owned by Marcos and Leticia Salceda. Even the seat of your chair will be stunningly beautiful. And you’ll notice that nearly every square inch of the restaurant is brighter than ever before.

That is because Marcos spent the “downtime” during two closures for construction staying busy inside his garage chiseling, grinding, carving, and creating new or re-painting the old restaurant tables and chairs.

While restoring random wood chairs, Marcos says he relaxes and rests his mind. Photo by Debra Dingman

“Art makes me rest and relax,” he said. “It makes me feel good and recharges me.” He started wood carving when they first opened La Cocina because they didn’t have money to buy wall décor or new restaurant furniture, so he refurbished older pieces. Many of the chairs are 35-years old now, but they are heavy, solid wood, and sturdy. Now they are also beautiful.

“My chisel feels like a pencil to me, and I use the grinder for most of it,” he explained.  “I never went to art school. It comes from my heart like my recipes do.” All the art is from recycled wood usually given to him by customers,

Early Years

Marcos was born in Oakland, but is a dual citizen, and he learned how to cook great meals from his grandmother, but his passion for detailed wood carvings and colorful paintings are straight from the visions he sees in his mind or places he’s found inspirational. Both food and art have found the perfect place to be displayed.

It was his stepdad who encouraged him to open a restaurant together.  They started in Rio Vista and ran it for 17 years, splitting their partnership when Marcos moved the family to Dixon 35 years ago. He worked two jobs: He started prepping food for Chevy’s, and also worked as a cook for IHOP. He did that for eight years.

“(Hispanics) really like work,” he said. Then he and his family opened Maria’s on Pitt School Road. When they sold that restaurant, he went to work for Salad Cosmo for several years as the family needed medical benefits.

The vibrant 56-year-old said that he’s had nine surgeries, including an open-heart surgery two years ago. He showed a long scar on his arm where a broken tool sliced his arm when he was cutting wood.

“Thanks to Jim and our friendship, and Roberta’s -- they didn’t let me go down,” he said. Neither did his family, and most of them work together.

“My skin is old, but my heart is still young,” he said with a laugh. That sense of humor is the main ingredient inside the restaurant that the late Roberta Beers and wonderful long-time friend Jim Green encouraged him to open.

La Cocina Prevails

They endured the pandemic. They prevailed despite a car crashing into the building and forcing them to close for several weeks for repairs, and soon after reopening an electrical issue causing a fire forcing another closure for months.

“We’ve had to rebuild twice,” said Alejandro Salceda, a brother who is their waiter of 17 years. “It wasn’t explained the difference between home building requirements and commercial requirements.” During that time is when Marcos would take six chairs home at a time and craft them into colorful seats.

The large, Aztec design in the center of the wall is Marcos Sauceda's first work for the restaurant. He reported he created it from recycled wood because they didn't have money to decorate otherwise. Photo by Debra Dingman 

“It was every day that someone would ask me when are you going to re-open,” Marcos said about feeling missed by the community. “I can’t hide because they know me.” But it gave him time to relax, and now every table has been re-worked…and they’ve passed all the fire inspections too. When they opened last week, a simple post on Facebook nearly went viral in Dixon and they were slammed until closing.

They survived the labor shortage thanks to family members who seem to really enjoy working together. There’s music and lots of joking while they work in the restaurant to the point that Leticia comes over and tells them to, “Shhh!”

“The best thing is the people,” said Alejandro.

“They are humble and nice and 98 percent of them are beautiful people,” agreed Marcos.

Other family workers are Marcos and Leticia’s daughters: Nayely, the “boss,” and Alejandra who handles the paperwork.  There is also Raul Arce who preps, and Ulysses Martinez, their main cook.

“There are three generations here,” Marcos said.

 Located at 105 Dorset Dr., La Cocina Mexicana is in the separate commercial development in the Dixon Walmart Shopping Center. Phone is (707) 693-1102. They are closed on Sundays for their family.