By: Nate Carsten
Food is the international language of the world. With one bite, you can feel all that could never be said with words. Which is why Grandma’s apple pie will never be bested. There is a place in East-Central Illinois where a lonely heart can feel loved again from that one bite, Vita’s, in Arcola.
Cynthia Gonzalez is the matriarch of your new family. Her tacos have had students and teachers alike late from lunch. She is famous from here, all the way to Texas. A Texan journalist on lunch with the doctor she was interviewing had to learn more after having her one bite. Here you can learn first and then grab yourself a bite to eat after.
Cynthia’s story starts in Cadereyta, Mexico, where she was born to her mother Vita and an industrious family. Cynthia’s hunger for life brought her to the states when she was only 15 years old, knowing no English. Her brother set her up with her first job, in a Dallas restaurant named Luby’s. He told her that she needed to know one main phrase in English to get the job; when asked if she knew English, she responded with, “I know a little.” This got her the job over other non-English speakers, but that wasn’t enough. She wanted to learn more, so she would write down phrases on her hand and study them on her hour walk to work each day, at 15 years old. Fifteen years ago, she learned enough from Texas and moved on to Arcola. Arcola has a strong Mexican community from the same city that she is from: Cadereyta and neighboring Monterey.
It took her the next 11 years to work, save, and manifest her taco truck and menu. She attributes her success to staying authentic to home. While a lot of Americans love their flour tortillas, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato tacos, Mexican tacos have only onions, cilantro, and corn tortillas (Order this way and gain immediate respect). One item that stays true to her heritage and isn’t sold often elsewhere are her sopes. Sope is made of masa, which is a corn-based dough and is used for tamales and El Salvadorian pupusas (another personal favorite everyone has to try). But, keeping it authentic did come with some setbacks. Most Americans didn’t know what some of her delicacies were, but after free samples, her food had done the talking. Her food is delicious, everyone knows that, but her real secret is her exciting personality and love for everyone. After 4 years and a lot of stress, especially over 2020, she was able to cement herself into the community that loves her; with her first restaurant, Vita’s, established during the beginning of the Broomcorn Festival, September 10, 2021.
Cynthia has earned her place here, and she’s done so much for Arcola. Outside of supplying the best homecooked food, she is known for driving around in her truck as a clown for children’s birthdays. In the 2019 Broomcorn Festival she won best float, inspired by Frida Kahlo and the Disney classic, Coco. She is also part of the Chamber of Commerce of Arcola, with potential as mayor. She is known as una Chingona (badass) and is constantly told she is an inspiration, much to her dismay. Her food family show their support leaving her gifts at the door of her restaurant, whether they be cucumbers, tomatoes, or corn, you can feel the love. I don’t know what more you’d want as an example of someone being loved and appreciated.
I will admit, there is some bias writing this article. Cynthia is the aunt of my beautiful girlfriend, and I’ve only known her for a year, but from the beginning I’ve felt like nothing less than family; it helps when I’m compared to a handsome Disney prince. But that’s what you get when you deal with the Gonzalez family, everyone: Nadia, Eddie, Martha, abuelita Vita, Leslie, Kat, Anel, Paco, Lily, Sandra, Pakito, Alexia, Lilah, and even Aileen, everyone allows you to feel like family, and they all have a pure soul.
