Chef of the Month

After cooking at several different restaurants in Odessa-Midland, chef Joel Contreras is approaching his first anniversary in an Odessa venue all his own.

Mamacita's Mexican Grill, 2720 Grandview Ave., pulls a heavy crowd for lunch and dinner, giving the 35-year-old Odessa man plenty of customers to cook for.

And they leave pretty happy.

Contreras' personal motto is "La cocina es mi vida," which means, "cooking is my life."

How long have you lived in Odessa? 16 years.

How long have you been cooking? 20 years.

What is your favorite thing to eat?  Tacos and Italian food.

Do you wear a chef hat at work? No.

What's the most difficult type of food to cook? Soul food.

Which do you prefer, spicy or sweet food? Both.

Wine with dinner? Depends on the dish and occasion.

Ever tried a bad recipe? Lasagna.

What is your favorite cooking TV show? "Chef Pasquale," an old TV show.

Do you have any hobbies besides cooking? Sing and DJ.

What is a popular dish you do cook at home? Different types of tacos.

Have a recipe for us? Arroz Con Camarones - shrimp and mushrooms sautéed with ranchero sauce.

How do you make it? Grill jalapeño, tomato, onion and cilantro for about 15 minutes, then cut vegetables in slices and grill in 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil for about 10 minutes on a slow fire. Add 1/2 cup of water and let cook on slow fire for 15 minutes. Make Spanish rice. When rice is done, sauté cooked shrimp and mushrooms in butter and season salt. Serve with rice, guacamole, salad and tortillas.