December 16, 2006
Cuban food is a hit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania! It looks like Tio Rolando’s, a little Cuban place in an out-of-the-way corner of Johnstown, has done well enough to move to a better location. Sometime in January, Tio Rolando’s will move to new digs on Central Park, which will be a superior location in every respect. It’ll be much easier for the office crowd downtown to walk to for lunch…and I’m part of that crowd, so I’m pretty psyched. It’s great seeing a place like that succeed, though its original location was on the seedy side, and the owners have gone through their share of struggles. The food is fantastic, prepared from recipes culled from the owner’s father, who was a chef in Castro’s Cuba for years. My wife and I just got the good news tonight, after a too-long absence from Tio Rolando’s. We also talked to the owner’s son, Richie, otherwise known as Ju-Ju and “Blaze” the rapper. He has a CD coming out next year, so it’ll be an interesting time for the whole family. What an interesting bunch. I’m glad we decided to stop at Tio Rolando’s tonight instead of some chain fast food joint.
