La Casita Mexicana chefs/co-owners Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu hope to open a second branch of their highly-regarded Mexican restaurant by the end of the year…in Bell.

They considered Pasadena, and even put a bid on the former Silver Lake home of Flor Morena, which is set to become the new location of Michelangelo’s. Ultimately, the City of Bell stepped up and offered the Jalisco natives an advantageous financial arrangement. The existing La Casita Mexicana will remain in operation. One-and-a-half blocks away, Arvizu promises “a bigger taste of Mexico.” A former two-story schoolhouse will contain a full bar, a banquet area, and a section for cooking demonstrations and tapings. Spanish speakers might recognize Martin del Campo and Arvizu from their frequent appearances on Univision, where they dispense advice about budget cooking.

More square footage will allow the duo to bake bread, make ice cream (mamey, avocado) and offer both tequila and mole tastings. There will be an expanded seafood selection. They’ll also sell salsas at the new location. Martin del Campo and Arvizu will even demonstrate how to make chocolate from scratch.

After the second Casita is up and running, Martin del Campo and Arvizu will launch Jaime and Ramiro’s Enchilada House downtown. At breakfast, lunch and dinner, they’ll sell seven or eight different types of enchiladas – seafood, chicken, beef and vegetarian – made with fresh corn tortillas. They’ll also offer fresh salsas, sangria and two desserts: flan and cactus tequila cake, which is similar to carrot cake. Martin del Campo and Arvizu have not yet secured a downtown location.