A small sign on Main Street in Newcastle has been catching peoples' eyes over the past couple weeks. It reads “Authentic Mexican Food – Now Open.” Because the bright orange/red taco stand isn't right next to the sign, some skeptical people have driven by. But the lucky ones, whose curiosity has gotten the better of them, have pulled into the parking lot between Parker Interiors and Milling Around and been greeted with some mouthwatering aromas coming from the stand.

¡Que Rico! opened on May 29 and it is quickly becoming known for its authentic Mexican tacos and other “street foods,” common to New Mexico and southern California, but not so much around these parts.

Sara McKenzie and Michael Castillo are the owners. The two worked together at Damariscotta River Grille for two years, where he was cooking and she was waiting tables.

After buying the stand that they found on Craig's List, they secured the location, thanks to Dirk and Ann Poole, who own the shop, Milling Around, and the lot the food stand sits on.

McKenzie said they lucked out with the location. “They invited us to put it here. They have been amazing.” There are a few picnic tables with umbrellas, and an open view to the Damariscotta River, insuring a cool breeze all summer.

The name, ¡Que Rico!, came to the couple after some intense brainstorming. Que rico is a Spanish slang term for “delicious.” Technically it means “what richness.” And McKenzie's maiden name is DeRico.

Castillo grew up in South Central Los Angeles. His parents are both from Mexico — his father is from Guadalajara and his mother is from Mexicalli. He said he got most of his recipes from his mother, Alejandra. “I called her to tell her I was opening a food stand and not to get mad, but I was using her recipes.” He said she wasn't mad.

McKenzie attributes the authenticity and excellence of the food to him. “Michael is the mastermind behind the cooking,” she said. “He's passionate about it, and he's been working in kitchens for 10 to 12 years. He's self taught, and he knows Mexican street food.”

“Street food” tacos are different from the tacos you'll get in most restaurants. “The tacos I'm used to are simple,” Castillo said. Just a tortilla meat — pork, steak, chicken or fish — and some toppings.” He said a traditional Mexican taco is made with a soft shell white corn tortilla.

And don't go looking for ground beef at this taco stand. “A lot of people come here asking for ground beef tacos, but once they try the steak they're good,” he said. “The only ground meat you'll find here is pork.” Castillo said his uncle used to use a bronze pot filled with five gallons of pork fat, dump the pork in with some spices and seasonings, and slow cook it in the fat. Then he'd add orange juice and condensed milk, to bring back the moisture of the pork.

Castillo uses pressure cookers to cook his meats. It's the same method — slow cooked. Chorizo is a spiced ground pork, and carnitas, another traditional Mexican taco meat, is slow-cooked pork that is then lightly fried to make it crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.

Castillo has been putting in some long, hard days at his new business. “A huge reason for our success is his dedication to making this work,” McKenzie said. “It's a new business for us, but I think we have the potential to get substantially more busy.

“And we want to get feedback and hear what people have to say.”

A woman who Castillo said has become a “regular” at ¡Que Rico! showed up on June 13. Allison Eckel from Newcastle said she's glad the stand is there. “I come here pretty much daily, sometimes even a couple times a day.” She said it's nice to have a Mexican restaurant in Damariscotta again. “The food is awesome, and the prices are fair. My children have some Spanish in them, and we just love the food here. Sometimes the kids want to come here for an after school snack, and I say, 'Okay!'”

Another customer, Zora Margolis, agreed. “I am so happy they're here,” she said. “His cooking is really authentic, which is hard to find in Maine.” Margolis grew up eating Mexican food in Los Angeles, and wrote for a local food magazine in Washington, D.C. “I grew up with these flavors. His carnitas are excellent – great in a taco, a burrito, or just on a plate with some rice and beans and salsa. I really want him to succeed.”

There's a plan for a bigger sign, but meanwhile look for the little sign just beyond Parker Interiors when you're heading into Damariscotta from the south, and try some real authentic Mexican food.

¡Que Rico! is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays. Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/quericomaine/?ref=nf.