Mia's Kitchen In Manhattan Beach: Explore The Flavors Of Trinidad

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Mia's Kitchen, a new restaurant in Manhattan Beach, opened with little fanfare two weeks ago this Friday. But, boy, did word spread about how good and savory the food is and how much locals enjoy having the tastes of Trinidad in their own backyard.

Owner Lisa Salinas a business broker specializing in the sale and acquisition of restaurants, told Manhattan Beach Patch she "fell in love with the location, views, and mostly the people," when her work led her to check out the site. "Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I could really see myself being part of the community and wanting to contribute to the community as well." So the businesswoman who had never owned or operated a restaurant decided to open Mia's Kitchen.

Mia's Kitchen is named for Salinas' mom, who was a restaurant owner in Trinidad and "taught me all she knew." Her mom's name was Euphemia "and everyone lovingly called her Mia," she told Manhattan Beach Patch. "It was always her dream to open a restaurant in America as successful as the one she ran in her home country of Trinidad. "

Though her mom passed in 2007, Salinas is on track to cultivate a huge following with her traditional homestyle Trinidadian cuisine. The menu at Mia's Kitchen features the most popular dishes of Trinidad, including curries, stews, wraps, dumpling dishes, soups and more. "But the thing they are known best for are the many different styles of roti," said Salinas. "Roti is a type of flatbread. There are a few different types we make depending on the occasion and what we're cooking with it. But the one I make at the restaurant is the one Trinidad is most known for because it is filled with ground yellow split peas, herbs, garlic and peppers."

The menu is intentionally small to fit the grab and go style suited to the site, which mostly has kitchen space, a counter to order at, and maybe a chair or two. It previously was home to The Ripe Choice Catering owned by chef Tammy Lipps. Lipps used the kitchen for her catering business and offered to go items for passersby. She and husband Mark recently moved to Lake County to open The Ripe Choice Farm & Catering, acreage that includes barn event space, organic field crops, an orchard, and vineyard. And that opened up the space for Mia's Kitchen.

Right now, Mia's Kitchen offers about 8 dishes: Chicken Roti, Potato & Chana Roti, and Pelau as the main meals, with lighter snacks such as Doubles and Pholourie. Three salads are available: Cucumber & Tomato Chow, Fruit Chow and Arugula Salad. Goat Curry Roti is available on weekends.

Said Salinas, "I will be expanding the menu slowly over time, particularly during the holiday season. We have lots of great holiday dishes and treats I think the community will love! Currently, I have a weekend special of goat curry with rice and roti. But I will be including other daily and weekly specials."

And when it comes to Trinidadian cuisine, Salinas said, "Our eclectic mix of cultures in our cuisine is what distinguishes Trinidadian food from other Caribbean Islands. It's a fusion of African (mainly West African), Creole, Indian-South Asian, Chinese, Amerindian, Arab, European, and Latin American-Spanish-Portuguese cuisines."

Mia's Kitchen has a staff of three, including Salinas, who told MB Patch her sister will be moving to Manhattan Beach from Texas next month to join her at the restaurant. "I am sure our Mom would be pleased that we are working together and creating a legacy in her name," said Salinas, who lives in Newport Beach. She is currently joined by Xylus Mendoza, who is her line cook, and Leartis Dubose, her kitchen staff. Though it's a small operation, Salinas has already seen the demand for her food growing and spent extra time prepping her roti dough this week so she'd have more.

Mia's Kitchen is now on UberEats and will be on the Postmates app soon, she said. And Salinas is game for suggestions and requests. And she's super happy to be right where Mia's Kitchen is. "I am particularly fond of the surrounding neighbors, so I will always have some sort of special for them," she told MB Patch.

Mia's Kitchen is at 312 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach; (310) 546-1044, and is open Wednesday-Friday from 12 noon- 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2-8 p.m.