Ceviche Sonora Style: Meet Sonora’s Unsung Hero & Your New Ceviche PlugBy Gabriela Mungarro
Truth be told, when people think of Sonoran food most tend to immediately conjure images of soft tortillas de harina on a comal, sizzling carne asada on the grill, and even mouth-watering dogos from street vendors-- but there is an unsung hero that has long stood in the shadows of these crowd favorites, until now-- Sonoran seafood.
Although Northern Mexican food (mostly from Sinaloa and Sonora) has become highly sought out throughout SoCal recently, it’s safe to say that Sonoran Seafood has also made its great debut with none other than Ceviche Plug, a 100% Sonoran style ceviche Instagram only business that offers delivery right to your doorstep. What was once a family recipe from the picturesque port city of Guaymas, Sonora flourished into a business during the height of the pandemic in March in the grit of SoCal city life. Taking her family’s traditions the 800 miles from the Sonoran coast and bringing it to Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, Michele Ulloa, 26, has established Ceviche Plug as a top contender in the world of mariscos.
“We were born in Guaymas, Sonora, a port, and we have some of the best seafood there. Just how you see everyone selling fruit all over L.A., in Guaymas we have little ceviche stands all over the port. Everyone sells ceviche, it's one of the most common foods out there. It's just a unique taste,” said Ulloa.
While most people associate the best seafood in Mexico to the likes of Sinaloa, Baja California, and Nayarit, to name a few, often overlooked is Sonora’s seafood scene. But what sets Ceviche Plug’s tasty ceviche apart from the competition? The simplicity in the taste. “From the ceviche I've seen here [SoCal] not a lot of them use tomatoes and other vegetables, and ours has a good amount of veggies. It has cucumbers, cilantro, onion, tomato, and then we add the jalapeno,” said Ulloa. The ceviche isn’t dressed up with extravagance that deters from the actual food. You’re able to fully experience the taste of the seafood, the freshness of the added vegetables and fruits (depending on your order), and the special secret touch that Ulloa adds to the recipe. Aside from the typical Sonoran ingredients found in the ceviche, Ceviche Plug mixes things up with their popular Mangoviche which includes shrimp based ceviche with mango that fuses a refreshing sweet and savory taste that pairs perfectly with any salsa. But for those who steer clear of animal-based products, worry not as Ceviche Plug has got you covered! Catering to their veggie-loving clients, Ceviche Plug offers a coconut-based “celiviche” which was created with the help of Ulloa’s friend, chef Araceli Gutierrez. “We wanted our ceviche to be something you can actually sit down and dine on or lunch with-- which is why we actually added the avocado and we provide tostadas and mayo,” said Ulloa.
With the convenience of having a $10.00 container packed with delicious ceviche delivered to your home, it’s no wonder why Ceviche Plug became acclaimed for its value and quality. Each container holds about 3 large tostadas worth of ceviche that can be enjoyed as a snack or a
meal. “We’ve been perceived very well,” says Ulloa. “I thought we were only going to sell about 10 per week, I didn’t expect to be this big! We’re still really small compared to the other ceviche sellers, but just how fast our growth has been is really incredible.” If you follow Ceviche Plug on Instagram you’ll see it’s not uncommon for the ceviche sellers to completely sell out in a matter of hours in the numerous cities they deliver to, but loyal customers are willing to wait for their container of Sonoran delight. While the demand for quality Sonoran ceviche grows and seems to have no stop in sight, Ceviche Plug has begun to roll out plans for the near future. “The goal is to have small to-go restaurants within the next year or two. Like an acai bowl place, but for ceviche where you can make your own bowl to-go,” said Ulloa. As we eagerly await the brick-and-mortar to come to fruition, meanwhile find Ceviche Plug on Instagram to place your orders and get a taste of what Sonoran mariscos are all about! Follow Ceviche Plug on Instagram www.instagram.com/cevicheplugoc |
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