Spotlighting the amazing individuals who live and work in the Middle Keys

RAUL ORNELAS Owner, Takeria La Palapa

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? That I’m here! We don’t have a ton of signs.

The title of my autobiography would be? We’d have to start with my nickname, Red Bull, because I’m just a crazy guy.

What would you do if you won the lottery? Buy a house and a bigger truck so we could have more employees and a bigger menu. There are a lot of people who need work.

What song do you play when you want to get hyped up? “Leve” by Cartel de Santa, a Mexican hip-hop song.

If there was one chore you could have taken away from you forever, what would it be? Cleaning my flat top. Everything I do, that’s the only thing I hate.

What’s one thing that’s on the menu, but you never want to try? Raw seafood. I like seafood, but not raw.

What’s the best piece of advice someone ever gave you? When my cousin passed away, my other cousin was a pastor in the church. He said, “Don’t be sad. God only takes the good people.”

What is the best and worst part of the Keys? The best part of the Keys for me is Curry Hammock with my family. The part I hate is the stupid drivers. I hate driving in the first place, and I really hate when other people drive like that.

If you could have lunch or dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? With my kids and my wife.

Finish this sentence: My wife would say I am… A good person, but so crazy. And that I’m so lazy doing housework.