Local Bites: the old and the new

For this week's Eating Local feature, the Monroe Monitor is highlighting one established business, along with one that is brand new. We visited Juanita's Real Mexican Food, a new walk-up restaurant in Sultan, and the Sky River Bakery, in downtown Monroe.

Juanita's Real Mexican Food

Juanita's Real Mexican Food Owner Martin Wario has lived in Sultan since 2013 and loves the area GÇô which is why he chose to open his business there. Juanita's Real Mexican Food, open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, is located in the Chevron parking lot at the corner of U.S. 2 and Old Owen Road. The walk-up style restaurant, which serves freshly made Mexican food, has been open since Feb. 13 and is already earning a good reputation.-á -á

Wario said his food stands out because he works to provide food with a fresh, homemade taste. The recipes he uses are his own, and cooked in his own personal style.

"When you eat here, it's like you're in my house at my table GÇô that tells you a lot,GÇ¥ Wario said. "That's why this place is special.GÇ¥

The menu includes tacos with chicken, beef or pork, which are prepared on corn tortillas and topped with fresh cilantro and onion. Limes, Pico de Gallo and other salsas are available on the side. Wario also serves fish tacos, burritos, quesadillas and shrimp cocktail. His shrimp tacos are deep fried and served with fresh avocado.

Wario is working to establish a permanent pricing structure. Tacos can generally be purchased for less than $2, burritos are roughly $4 and quesadilla pricing fluctuates depending on whether you order meat or cheese.

The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Currently, Wario is only accepting cash, but will soon be able to accommodate debit card payments. Eventually, he will offer delivery services.

For more information about Juanita's, to request catering services or place an order for pickup, call 425-321-4993.-á

Sky River Bakery

Established in 1987, the Sky River Bakery (117 1/2 W. Main St.) has been supplying Monroe and the Sky Valley with homemade baked goods for nearly 28 years. The bakery uses locally procured ingredients whenever possible, and does not use any additives or preservatives.-á

Loved by both the young and the old, the bakery's signature pink cookies are baked fresh every day. Owner Andrew Abt said the frosting contains a hint of almond, but wouldn't divulge the secret ingredient that makes the cookies special.-á

"The secret ingredient in the pink cookies costs $70 a pound,GÇ¥ Abt said.-á

When Sultan resident Polly Bridgewater approached Abt about supporting her incentivized reading program at Sultan Elementary School, he donated gift certificates good for one pink cookie. Kids who participate in the read-at-home program become eligible for such rewards as they reach different reading milestones. Abt was happy to support a program that encouraged kids to read.

The bakery is also well-known for savory items, like the ham and cheese biscuits, quiche and the artichoke-feta pizza with black olives. The menu of sweet treats includes items like butterhorns, muffins, cinnamon rolls, pecan sticky buns, almond spirals, pecan bars, cookies, chocolate dipped macaroons and a variety of scones. All items are baked fresh every day.

Richard Dubois has been enjoying the "Lotta LemonGÇ¥ muffins from the Sky River Bakery for over 20 years.

"My kids grew up on lemon muffins and now I take them for my grandkids,GÇ¥ Dubois said.

The Sky River Bakery is open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.-á

For more information, call 360-794-7434, or visit www.facebook.com/pages/Sky-River-Bakery/120599384624266.