DOVER — Mayor James P. Dodd, alongside Councilmembers Claudia Toro, AB Santana, and Sergio Rodriguez, graced the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly relocated Tierras y Sabores Restaurant, owned by Carlos Amezquita and Blanca Martinez.
Carlos Amezquita’s journey traces back to 1973 when his father immigrated to the United States and settled in Los Angeles. Joining his father in 1978, the family later moved to New Jersey in 1982, hailing from Cali, Colombia. The decision to settle in New Jersey stemmed from a fortuitous encounter – while his brother was on a coast-to-coast trucking route, a stop at Shop Rite in Elizabeth revealed a vibrant Colombian community, prompting their relocation.
Blanca Martinez’s family established roots in Dover in 1976. Together, Carlos and Blanca have built a family with five children and four grandchildren. Their restaurant venture began next door in 2002. Initially named Tierras Colombianas upon its inception, was Dover’s pioneering Colombian eatery. Upon acquiring it in 2002, Carlos transitioned the establishment to Tierras Y Sabores in 2015, aiming to welcome a diverse clientele beyond the Colombian community. Additionally, Carlos was instrumental in founding Los Criollos in 2008, a venture he later sold in 2018.
The grand re-opening marks a milestone as Tierras y Sabores relocates to a new space capable of accommodating around 65 patrons. Carlos and Blanca express their heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Dodd, Councilmembers Toro, Santana, and Rodriguez for their presence at the celebration, emphasizing their pride in remaining rooted in Dover, where their culinary journey began.
