Mexican restaurant La Joya opens in Irving

by Teresa Gubbins

IRVING — La Joya Fine Mexican Dining ("the jewel") is a new contemporary restaurant showcasing regional dishes from Michoacán, Mexico, opened by veteran restaurateurs Luis and Martha Oseguera.

Executive chef Robert Lopez oversees house specialties such as codorniz ($20, quail braised in charred tomatillos and serrano peppers); poblano relleno en nogado ($17, green pepper stuffed with bananas, apples and pork); and crepas con leche quemada ($7, crepes drenched with caramel and piloncillo, Mexican brown sugar.)

Located at 6450 N. MacArthur Boulevard in Irving, Texas, La Joya was designed by interior architect and North Oak Cliff resident María Helena Cruz, who used subdued tones of avocado green, chocolate brown, tropical blue, and adobe shades of terra cotta and sunset rose -- broken by areas of polished concrete, river stones, and innovative room dividers that include tall pendant vases against stainless steel, and a transparent wall of floating butterflies. Throughout the open dining rooms, novel Madonna paintings and Monarch butterfly images playfully pay homage to the family's devout faith and Cotija, Mexico heritage.

The Osegueras have roots in Michoacán, Mexico and Hot Springs, Arkansas, where they've owned the Osegueras restaurant chain in Arkansas since 1988.