Cafe Antigua
With all that is new these days in Oklahoma City, fewer places feel tried and true in the way Cafe Antigua does. They have updated their look and their menu design, but their classic, delicious Guatemalan breakfast and lunch dishes, like huevos montelenos and Mayan rice, have been making food savvy Oklahomans happy for years.
Often on Saturday morning, anyone who walks in may find themselves greeted by the wonderful smiling face of Ana Sofia Del Cid, the General Manager of Cafe Antigua and daughter of owners Benjamin and Elida Valdez, who have been cooking for more than fifteen years in its kitchen.
Ana Sofia enjoys being able to spend time working alongside her family at their restaurant.
“My favorite dish is the Mayan rice with chicken for lunch with extra chimichurri sauce and fresh cilantro,” said Ana Sofia. “For breakfast, I cannot get away from the chilaquiles with asada, scrambled eggs, and refried black beans.”
When Benjamin Valdez first came to Oklahoma with his wife Elida and kids (Benjamin Jr., Ana Sofia, and Angeles), they were wanting to find a way to make some extra money but didn’t want to take away from any more family time.
“So we decided all together as a family we would make cocktel de camarones (shrimp ceviche) to sell at the soccer games on Saturday and Sunday morning, served in a cup with a baggie of saltines, a spoon, and limes,” explains Valdez. “My wife would also cook tamales and chiles rellenos on a daily basis to sell to her Mary Kay customers, many of them being in the states without family or anyone to cook for them, so it became a weekly routine with established customers."
This side business eventually helped lead the Valdez family to becoming the owners of Cafe Antigua in July 2006, where they now serve many traditional Guatemalan dishes, the majority inspired by family recipes.
It’s still a family affair with Ana Sofia as GM, Elida cooking and managing orders, brother Benjamin Emanuel serving as head cook and sister Angeles as the lead barista.
Valdez enjoys being able to cook what he loves and work alongside the family he loves. One of his favorite dishes at Antigua is caribeno, which is grilled tilapia in chimichurri on a bed of white rice and whole black beans topped with sauteed vegetables.
They also have a variety of new Guatemalan inspired coffees and drinks like the mazapan latte. Mazapan is a popular Mexican peanut candy; at the cafe, they put it in a 12 oz latte cup, then melt it with double espresso, steamed milk, whipped cream, and add a touch of mazapan sprinkled on top as well.
Cafe Antigua is now open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to serve weekend crowds and continues to be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit the Valdez family for a taste of Guatemalan breakfast or lunch at 1903 Classen Boulevard, Oklahoma City
