About us
Cielo Rojo is a family owned fine-casual Mexican restaurant in the heart of Takoma Park, MD. David Perez & Carolina McCandless first met in 2012 at a well-known Mexican restaurant in San Francisco.
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They proceeded to fall in love over their shared passions for Mexican food, mezcal, movies, and the outdoors. The name Cielo Rojo (red sky) was born from one of their favorite mariachi songs but also stems from their love of sunsets. From Fort Funston, California to the beaches of Mexico & Chile, the sunset represents the moments of clarity & calm that have been shared with family & friends over the years. After the birth of their daughter, Shiloh, they moved back east to be closer to family, and when a restaurant space opened up in the heart of Takoma Park they felt it serendipitous. Carolina's parents own Amano, a clothing boutique that has been in Takoma Park for over 20 years. Knowing how special the community of Takoma Park is they felt it the perfect DC-area home for their California-inspired traditional Mexican cuisine. The community's progressive & family-focused environment aligns perfectly with the mission for their restaurant, a place where friends & family can come together to nourish themselves with the beauty of food, community & mezcal.
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Our Team
Executive Chef (Owner)
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Chef David Perez, born in Mexico City, immigrated to the US when he was 17 years old. He has worked in kitchens ever since. His passion for Mexican cuisine is rooted in his mother's cooking and a childhood spent enjoying street food in Mexico City. He has a passion for authentic Mexican food that is reminiscent of childhood memories but also getting creative with dishes, while still paying homage to his roots. He loves to experiment with different regions of Mexican cuisine, while also sharing memories of his childhood through his food.
Jazmine, General Manager
Jazmine has worked in the hospitality industry for 17 years.
She is a strong-willed empath that never settles for anything she doesn't believe in whole heartedly.
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Her passion for her Mexican heritage (her family is from Jalisco & Michoácan) & building relationships with the community makes her the perfect match for our family run restaurant in the heart of Takoma Park.
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Fun fact: Her fave book is "How to do the Work"
by Dr. Nicole LePera
Adriana, Assistant General Manager
Adriana started in the restaurant industry at 16 years old as a busser. The last 13 years she has worked as a host, server, bartender, and manager of several small businesses in FL and DC. With a Peruvian and Greek background, her cultures, food, and a strong work ethic have always been a huge driving force for her. Her keen attention to detail helps develop processes and systems that reinforce businesses’ strengths and successes. You can always catch her trying to find good Peruvian restaurants to try - especially for a good ceviche! She dedicates all her hard work to her family, especially her late father who came to the US from Greece at just 18 years old for a better life.
Fun fact: She is teaching herself Greek, Portuguese, and Arabic
Ops & Creative Director (Owner)
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Carolina was born in Chile and raised in Cabin John, MD. She lived in San Francisco for the last 13 years while getting her B.S. in Dietetics from SFSU. During her studies, she worked in restaurants & bars as a server, bartender and manager. Prior to moving back east she worked as Head of Operations for a corporate catering start up overseeing 3 markets in the bay area. She then decided to come back to her true passion, the restaurant industry. She is passionate about design, and you will see her choices throughout the space.
German Alvarado Torales, Head Chef
Born in Quintana Roo Mexico. German has worked in the restaurant industry for over 15 years. He has gained most of his experience working in restaurants throughout Baltimore, MD. And while he has experience working with a variety of cuisines, Mexican cuisine is rooted in his heart because it reminds him of home. He is very passionate about learning new things in the kitchen and always seeking improvement. He is jovial and responsible, always bringing positive vibes to the workplace with his infectious smile.
Fun Fact: He is inspired by his family.
Carlito, Sous Chef
Chef Carlito Moyer is a Takoma Park native who started out helping his grandmother in the kitchen. Cooking for the family dinner became a career at the age of 15 when he started work at local restaurants in Silver Spring. After spending a few years working and studying cuisine in Peru he is back to serve his hometown. Most recently he worked as the Hearth Cook at Maydan. His positive attitude and vibrant personality, as well as his attention to detail and passion for food have made him an excellent leader in our kitchen.
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Fun fact: He went to school for bioengineering, has 6 younger siblings, and is a big fan of anime!
Ethos
Bienvenidos A Su Casa! We want people to feel at home in our restaurant, this means choosing quality ingredients that we would be comfortable serving to our own family. We believe that we can support both the planet & our bodies by sourcing carefully and consciously. Our tortillas are made from 100% organic non-GMO corn. Our meats are hormone-free & humanely raised. We believe in sourcing as much local & organic food as possible.