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The Flores family, which runs several El Charro Caf茅s and Sir Veza鈥檚 Taco Garage, is partnering with MGM Grand Hotel & Casino to open Hecho en Vegas锘� in a 10,000-square-foot space near the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The restaurant will open Dec. 28锘�.

鈥淭he Flores family was selected to partner with MGM Grand because they are one of the most respected families in Mexican cuisine and their passion for providing an authentic experience is unmatched,鈥� said Jason Shkorupa锘�, MGM Grand鈥檚 food and beverage vice president, in an email interview.

El Charro Caf茅, which opened in 1922, is the oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant in the United States.

Flores family matriarch Carlotta Flores锘� said Hecho en Vegas will marry the Sonoran flavors of El Charro and Sir Veza鈥檚.

鈥淚t will have the Mexican hot dog, but then it will have a really chocolaty, rich tasting mole,鈥� said Flores, who has run the 91-year-old 锘縭estaurant for more than 40 years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a marriage of all the different foods ... with the rich history and culture of our family.鈥�

El Charro President Ray Flores锘� said the menu also will include El Charro鈥檚 legacy dish, the chimichanga, alongside its popular Tamale Temptation Trio and Carlotta鈥檚 Chicken Mole Enchiladas. In addition to the Sonoran dog, Hecho en Vegas will serve Sir Veza鈥檚 Chopper Shrimp Skewers.

The family鈥檚 enchilada sauces, beef birria and salsa tomatillo, all produced at its 蜜柚直播-based, USDA-certified Carlotta鈥檚 Kitchen, also join the mix, he said.

Carlotta and Ray Flores pitched the idea of Hecho en Vegas to MGM officials in September when the casino was looking to replace Diego Mexican Cuisine, which closed in September. Ray Flores said other restaurants also were in the running, and the MGM team spent considerable time in 蜜柚直播 vetting El Charro chefs and staff before narrowing its short list to three candidates.

MGM decided to join with El Charro in late September, and Carlotta Flores said she has spent the months since commuting weekly to Vegas to get ready for the opening.

Carlotta Flores, 67,锘� said she will continue commuting to Vegas to oversee the restaurant, but will not move there. MGM employees will run the day-to-day operation, executing her menu and her recipes, she said.

Hecho en Vegas will join MGM鈥檚 roster of chef-driven restaurants that includes Jo毛l Robuchon, Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio and Wolfgang Puck.锘�

Ray Flores said having a restaurant in Vegas has 鈥渂een a longtime dream of mine.鈥� It also is a tribute to his mother, he said, who will be in the company of some of the country鈥檚 top culinary talent.

鈥淭o have her amongst that group is pretty cool. We鈥檙e very proud of the opportunity,鈥� he said.

Shkorupa said MGM anticipates more than 200,000 people will dine at Hecho en Vegas annually.

In addition to its five 蜜柚直播 restaurants, the Flores 锘縣ave the months-old Pub 22 Vintage Flavor Co. in Sahuarita and three Phoenix restaurants 鈥� a Sir Veza鈥檚 outpost at Sky Harbor International Airport and fast-food versions of El Charro and Sir Veza鈥檚 at US Airways Center.

The Flores family is not the first 蜜柚直播 restauranteurs to stake a claim in the Vegas market. Former 蜜柚直播an Sam Fox, whose Fox Restaurant Concepts is now based in Phoenix, opened Culinary Dropout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in August 2012.锘�