El Patron
Growing up on a farm in Veracruz Mexico with six siblings, food was naturally a central part of
chef Rogelio Sosa’s life.
“My father grew corn, beans, jalapeños, tomatoes, cactus - we had cows and chickens and pigs,
even a fish farm,” Sosa said, who was second oldest. “I had to learn from my mother all the
recipes to make for my brothers.”
Sosa’s face takes on a look of nostalgia as he talks about those days, “It is a connection with
my father” he said. “I love all the flavors and trying new things.”
The logo of his restaurant El Patron - “The boss” in Spanish - features a stylized portrait of
Sosa’s father. Sosa and his wife, Lucy, now have three locations.
“Everything is made from scratch even the chips and tortillas are made in house.” Said Lucy
Sosa. We mix our own seasoning, it’s all fresh.”
Sosa came first to North Carolina from Mexico in 2001, working on farms and in restaurants at
different locations until he met the woman he would marry in Virginia Beach in 2003. Together,
they came to the Fredericksburg the following year.
After saving their money and working together toward their goal, they opened their first
restaurant in 2014, and the next one in 2017.
Sosa recipe is made in a tradicional Mexican three-legged stone pot, called a molcajete.
“It is one of my mother’s recipes, one we would make in the spring “he said” It is nice to eat
with the margarita, very satisfying”.
EL Patron | 2019