Laurie Valdez won her first cooking contest in the seventh grade and said she always wanted to be Julia Child when she grew up.
While she might not have her own TV show just yet, Valdez is getting into the cooking business full time and recently opened Saucy Lulu, sharing a kitchen with the Grand Valley Pie Company, 545 North Ave., Suite A.
Valdez, whose childhood nickname was Lulu, serves mostly a New Mexican-style menu and throws in items such as egg foo yung from time to time. The eatery will be open for carry-out orders from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday until demand increases for more hours.
It is recommended that customers call in orders about 30 minutes prior to the time they would like to pick up their food. Orders can be placed by calling 314-9854. The menu will include an assortment of soups, entrées and homemade, hand-rolled flour tortillas. Breakfast burritos will be available as well. Valdez also does catering events.
Valdez opened Monday and said she had been cooking as an “underground” business for a while, mostly doing favors for friends. Recently, it came to a point where she was winning awards for her food — including a blue ribbon at the Palisade Peach Festival — and decided that she could maybe make money by cooking.
“I love to cook, I just do. There are people who read, write or crochet. … I cook for relaxation,” Valdez said.
She cites many inspirations for her cooking, but said she is also adding a twist to her mother’s cooking from her youth and she believes there will be a good market for her food.
“There’s lots of New Mexican culture and tradition in the valley,” said Valdez, who has lived in Grand Junction since 2008 and grew up in Pueblo before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico. “People are dying for some of this food that takes them back to grandmother. Where else will you get hand-rolled flour tortillas?”
■ The Grand Junction Area Realtor Association is collecting food and donations for the Community Food Bank from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday and is asking for the public’s help.
The association and affiliate volunteers will be at three Walmart locations in the area: at 2881 North Ave., 541 Warrior Way and 2545 Rimrock Ave. The organization will also receive donations at its office, 2743 Crossroads Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, call Tawnee at 243-3322.
■ Cody Adams with Shelter Insurance is partnering with B.L. Realty and Kids for Vets in the monthly RED Friday Hero event. The groups are asking the community to send in nominations for local active military, veterans or first responders that are giving back in some way to the community.
Nominations can be emailed to BLRealtyGJ@gmail.com or mailed to B.L. Realty, 1001 N. Fifth St., Suite B, Grand Junction, 81501. Submissions are due Monday and the recipient will be announced Friday. The presentation of the award will take place at 6 p.m. March 30 at B.L. Realty.
Contact Becky Lee at 623-0596 for more information.
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