Bet you wouldn't think of heading east to the French River for some truly authentic Mexican food.
Next time you are day tripping or heading south or back, you can stop at a house restaurant for soup, tacos and churros.
BG’s Taco now has highway signage giving you the exact directions from the Hartley Bay Road exit and through to Haas Road.
Owners Trevor Gamache and Martha Alicia Gamache started BG’s Taco three-and-a-half years ago after moving into a new house.
“At first we were making taco orders for pick up with the help of social media,” Martha said. “We even framed the money from our first transaction in February 2023. The taco orders didn’t last long because people from Alban, St. Charles, Monnetville and Verner wanted a restaurant and so did I.”
And so the couple got to work.
“I converted the basement into a restaurant with new piping, in-floor heating, plumbing for a dishwasher and electricity for all the fridges we needed, plus we needed to register the business,” Trevor said.
The couple met while Trevor was traveling and Martha, who is originally from Acapulco, came to Canada in 2019.
Martha has a gastronomy degree and has worked in the hotel industry, so she knew what she wanted to bring to Canadians when she arrived.
BG’s Taco combines Martha’s maiden name along with Trevor’s last name, and her new last name after marriage.
Now that the couple have united in marriage and business even the family dog is on board with his own vest with BG’s Taco branding.
All sauces are homemade at BG’s. There are a variety of soups like the bean soup, tortilla soup, a consommé birria, sweet corn soup and even the hangover rescue soup, which contains a beef-based broth that’s spicy for the cure.
Martha’s recipes from home include sauces, tamales, quesadillas and her favourite special that’s only available sometimes: chocolate mole, which includes a chocolate sauce draped over chicken with a bed or rice. It takes five or six hours to cook just right and includes 56 spices and peanuts.
“My mom and aunt came to visit Canada and had to approve every dish before I could serve it,” she said.
Gamache, who supports the business but not when it comes to cooking, is a mobile mechanic. Trevor said can't be available all the time due to work commitments, but Martha and her family have it all under control.
“This food takes four to five hours in the kitchen to cook and simmer. We purchase authentic ingredients from Toronto and Montreal and we won’t stray from authentic dishes,” Martha said.
Trevor said his favourite dish of Martha’s is the carnita tacos made with pork. He says sometimes people come expecting North American-style food, but that’s not what the restaurant is about.
“We only bring in corn tortillas and we don’t carry sour cream for tacos.”
The couple has catered weddings and entertained bus tours in recent months and look forward to more visitors during the winter months.
BG’s Taco is open Friday to Sunday 12 noon until 8 p.m. but the owners want customers to know that if they call ahead at any other time, they will do their damndest to prep your order.
BG’s can be found on Facebook.
Anastasia Rioux is a writer in Greater Sudbury. Let’s Eat! is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.