1 2 R A N D O M T H I N G S YO U D I D N ’ T K N OW A B O U T …
VICTOR HUGO CASAS
PHOTO BY MICHAEL LOPEZ
Restaurant owner, family man, spicy chili enthusiast
Victor Hugo Casas at the bar in Mama Roomba.
Complied by Bakersfield Life
V
ictor Hugo Casas, 43, can’t believe it has been 10 years since he took his life savings and invested in opening his own restaurant. Mama Roomba is nestled in the heart of Bakersfield and its vibrant-colored exterior is one you can’t miss. Its cozy environment and signature Latin Caribbeaninfused dishes earned the restaurant an appearance on the Food Network hit TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” earlier this year. “It was an honor to have Guy Fieri visit my restaurant,” Casas said. For Casas, owning his restaurant was a goal he set at the early age of 15. He spent many afternoons in the kitchen with his mom smelling and tasting delicious food. “I had a love for food at a very young age,” Casas said. “And my dream was to be my own boss one day.” Today, Mama Roomba is cooking up dishes like corn cheese empanadas, steamed mussels and skillet shrimp, among others.
1 I was born in Mexico City and moved to San Francisco when I was 15 years old.
2 I don’t like to eat by myself. Food is meant to be enjoyed with others and seeing people eat makes me happy.
3
Spicy food is everything to me. I usually ask my wife to carry a few chillies in a Ziploc bag in her purse, just in case the restaurant we go to doesn’t have spicy food.
4
Every year, I take my family on vacation to the Caribbean.
5 I love sushi. If I can eat it at least once a week, that makes me very, very happy.
6
I am the youngest of 10 siblings.
7
Besides owning my own restaurant, my
biggest accomplishment has been seeing my two children grow up. Family is extremely important for me. I do this for them.
8 Ever year, I take a trip to Las Vegas to watch Luis Miguel in concert. I buy a new outfit, including new shoes, and just have a great time.
9
My favorite snack is anything and everything seafood.
10 I don’t like sweet cocktails. I’d rather have tequila on the rocks. 11 Whenever I go on vacation, I ask locals where they like to eat. I like to find those one-of-a-kind places that have the best food.
12 My goal is to own three different restaurants with their own unique food style. Mama Roomba is my first, and the two others I want to start up somewhere on the coast.
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