The Magic Skagit has an embarrassment of culinary riches when it comes to the cuisine of Mexico, and a lot of different types of venues to choose from. There are fancy dine-in restaurants, food trucks, mercados and carnecerias, periodic street fair food stands, and even the occasional gas station take-out option.

While most of these sources of the south-of-the-border foods so beloved by Americans across the country share fairly similar menu options — staples such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, etc. — closer inspection often reveals significant differences between even these classics. Also revealing are the menu exceptions, which can tell you a lot about the influences of region and family of origin on their signature recipes.

With this in mind, there are two very important things you need to know about Tepic Mexican Restaurant in Burlington when it comes to appreciating its menu. The first is the origin of its name, and the second is the history of its owners, Francisco Cervantes and Juan Banuelos-Torres.

In this Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode, Juan and Francisco share the history of their restaurant, including their friendship since childhood, and the influence of their home state of Nayarit, Mexico on the food they serve. Spoiler alert: seafood is a big deal. Viva pescado, amigos!