Sonora Restaurant Celebrates Its 20-Year Anniversary
Published June 13th 2019
Chef Rafael Palomino Continues to Heat up the Port Chester Dining Scene
Experience Modern Latin Cuisine at its Finest
Experience Modern Latin Cuisine at its Finest
June 12, 2019, Port Chester, NY: Located in one of Westchester County’s most exciting culinary towns known for its robust collection of multi-cultural restaurants, Sonora restaurant made its mark on the Port Chester food scene twenty years ago with Chef Palomino’s signature Latin inspired cuisine, festive beverage program, and inviting restaurant with its vibrant design aesthetic.
Colombian-born, Chef Palomino draws from his childhood in Bogotá, his earlier years in New York City alongside such culinary legends as Larry Forgione and Charlie Palmer, and his time in France honing his craft with renowned Chef Michel Guèrard in Eugènie-les-Bains.
With a wealth of knowledge and great respect and appreciation for cuisines from around the world, Chef Palomino took all that he had learned and returned to his roots, focusing on the flavors of Latin America. He opened the first Sonora Restaurant in New York City’s Eastgate Tower Hotel in 1997 before relocating it to Port Chester, NY in 1999, where Chef Palomino’s elevated Latin cuisine quickly became a local favorite.
Sonora’s menu is a culinary tour throughout Latin America, Mexico, and Spain. Beautifully presented tapas include; crispy coconut shrimp from Peru served with sweet plantain and Chino Latino lemongrass sauce; Mexican tacos de churrasco with grilled skirt steak, mushrooms, chopped lettuce, and cilantro sauce; and quinoa empanadas from Peru, filled with roasted eggplant, quinoa, and goat cheese, served with chocolate vinaigrette. For entrees; from Colombia, pollo organico relleno, stuffed with sweet plantain, goat cheese, peppers, chorizo, served with saffron mashed potatoes; a favorite from Spain, Chef Palomino’s seafood paella made with shrimp, clams, mussels, lobster, chorizo, and saffron rice with sofrito sauce; and Argentinian inspired braised short ribs with arugula and garlic confit, mashed potatoes, and Rioja sauce. Sunday brunch favorites include the Cubano sandwiched filled with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles, and a decadent three-skillet Benedict with bacon, sausage, and chorizo atop cheesy biscuits and home fries, topped with two organic poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise sauce.
Colombian-born, Chef Palomino draws from his childhood in Bogotá, his earlier years in New York City alongside such culinary legends as Larry Forgione and Charlie Palmer, and his time in France honing his craft with renowned Chef Michel Guèrard in Eugènie-les-Bains.
With a wealth of knowledge and great respect and appreciation for cuisines from around the world, Chef Palomino took all that he had learned and returned to his roots, focusing on the flavors of Latin America. He opened the first Sonora Restaurant in New York City’s Eastgate Tower Hotel in 1997 before relocating it to Port Chester, NY in 1999, where Chef Palomino’s elevated Latin cuisine quickly became a local favorite.
Sonora’s menu is a culinary tour throughout Latin America, Mexico, and Spain. Beautifully presented tapas include; crispy coconut shrimp from Peru served with sweet plantain and Chino Latino lemongrass sauce; Mexican tacos de churrasco with grilled skirt steak, mushrooms, chopped lettuce, and cilantro sauce; and quinoa empanadas from Peru, filled with roasted eggplant, quinoa, and goat cheese, served with chocolate vinaigrette. For entrees; from Colombia, pollo organico relleno, stuffed with sweet plantain, goat cheese, peppers, chorizo, served with saffron mashed potatoes; a favorite from Spain, Chef Palomino’s seafood paella made with shrimp, clams, mussels, lobster, chorizo, and saffron rice with sofrito sauce; and Argentinian inspired braised short ribs with arugula and garlic confit, mashed potatoes, and Rioja sauce. Sunday brunch favorites include the Cubano sandwiched filled with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles, and a decadent three-skillet Benedict with bacon, sausage, and chorizo atop cheesy biscuits and home fries, topped with two organic poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise sauce.
The Bar @ Sonora is the home of the leblon cachaca Caipirinha shaken with cane sugar and fresh lime juice, the Jalapeño “Business” margarita with tequila, jalapeño, cucumber, agave, and fresh lime juice, and the over-the-top mango sangria – a Sonora secret recipe. A curated wine list celebrates the terroir of Argentina, Spain, France, and California.
In addition to the success of Sonora restaurant, Palomino has penned five cookbooks; Bistro Latino, Viva la Vida, Nueva Salsa, Fiesta Latina, and Latin Grill!. Today, Chef Palomino’s restaurants currently span four states and many miles. They include; The Urbano in Bethlehem, PA; Tapas on Main in Bethlehem, PA; The Flying Egg, Cachette Bistro & Creperie, and Mesa Modern Mexican in Easton, PA; Pacífico in New Haven, CT; B Square Burgers + Booze in Fort Lauderdale, FL; and more unique dining concepts from this exuberant chef are in the works.
“Westchester County is where I call home and is where Sonora and my professional career took shape,” says Chef Palomino, “Sonora will forever be dear to my heart, and I hope my guests feel the same way for years to come.”
“Westchester County is where I call home and is where Sonora and my professional career took shape,” says Chef Palomino, “Sonora will forever be dear to my heart, and I hope my guests feel the same way for years to come.”
Trip to Spain Fuels and Inspires a Hungry Chef
179 Rectory Street, Port Chester, NY 10573
(914)-933-0200
www.sonorarestaurant.net
