Kusina Restaurant & Market, Mc Allen

Kusina Restaurant & Market gets its name from the Filipino word for "kitchen," which in turn is derived from the Spanish term, cocina. This is how executive chef Darlene Velasco describes her restaurant's moniker on its website, but in doing so, she's actually explaining a lot more than etymology. She's describing the signature way she hews to both Filipino and Spanish culinary traditions, delving into the roots of her chosen cuisines to hone in on the places where they deliciously intersect. The result: a restaurant and catering operation where grilled squid, seafood paella, chicken curry, and an entire bakery case carry on savory traditions. Catering customers can even order a whole lechon—a spit-roasted pig—for a party guests won't soon forget.