A few years ago, Manuel Sanchez was having dinner with family enjoying the food prepared by his wife, Maria Carmen del Sanchez. It was at that moment Sanchez thought about sharing this tradition with other Plano residents.

“We were talking and said, ‘Why don’t we start our own little restaurant?’” Sanchez said.

That off-hand comment led to the opening of Casa Mama 5 1/2 years ago. The family-run Mexican restaurant specializes in authentic dishes from the Sanchez’s hometown, Guanajuato, Mexico.

“Most of the recipes are over 50 years old,” Sanchez said.

Casa Mama’s menu features nearly 100 items, many of them created by Maria. Specialties include a special mole sauce cooked with four kinds of chilies and about a dozen other  ingredients.

Chile rellenos are roasted in the oven and peeled before they are egg-battered and lightly pan fried. Salsa is made from guajillo peppers, which are spicy and often difficult to work with.

“The difference is that we cook it here when they order it,” Sanchez said. “We use an old-fashioned way to cook.”

Sanchez refuses to use premade mixes in his margaritas. There is fresh lime juice in every drink.

Casa Mama Guests can enjoy dinner and drinks on the restaurant’s tree-shaded patio.[/caption]

In 1985, the Sanchez family immigrated to the U.S. Sanchez held a few service industry jobs in Dallas before becoming a bar-back at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. He worked his way up to room service before eventually overseeing the restaurant’s main dining room.

During his 18 years of service, Sanchez said he learned a lot about local tastes.

The Mansion on Turtle Creek’s popular crème brulee served as the inspiration for Casa Mama’s flan, which is made in a similar manner but with Mexican ingredients.

Casa Mama Diego’s enchiladas ($8.25) come with homemade mole sauce topped with brisket.[/caption]

The Mansion on Turtle Creek also inspired Casa Mama’s popular brisket enchiladas. Mashed potato-filled enchiladas are set in a poblano cream sauce and topped with brisket, onions, mushrooms and queso fresco for $11.99 ($10.99 lunch).

In addition to lunch and dinner, the restaurant also offers a daily brunch that features tacos, frittatas, omelets and pancakes. Sanchez said some customers drive in from downtown Dallas to enjoy caldo, a beef-stock or chicken-stock-soup with vegetables.

“We cook it the old-fashioned way- with bones,” he said.

Casa Mama Casa Mama[/caption]

The Sanchezes’ east Plano eatery proved to be so popular, the family opened a second location on Preston Road south of the President George Bush Turnpike in February. Sanchez said about 95 percent of his customers are repeat visitors thanks mainly to word of mouth.

“We enjoy taking care of people, walking around and meeting them,” he said. “Our business is a family business, and we have something for everyone from kids all the way up.”