A labor of love many years in the making, Copal was born out of the desire to provide a unique cultural experience in Santa Cruz that showcases the warmth and beauty of the Mexican state of Oaxaca in an authentic way. Stuyvie Bearns Esteva and Noelle Antolin, owners of Lúpulo Craft Beer House, have deep roots and attachments to Mexico--born and raised in Mexico City and the coast of Guerrero, Stuyvie spent many vacations in Oaxaca City and on the coast of Oaxaca while Noelle took her first of many road trips in her family's trusty Toyota Tercel through the whole country at the tender age of six. The couple met chef Ana Mendoza in a commissary kitchen back in 2014 and quickly became friends through their love of Mexican cuisine and culture. After a series of highly-successful mole pop-up events at Lúpulo, the trio decided that Santa Cruz needed and wanted an authentic Oaxacan restaurant. Salúd!
Hailing from the town of San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Chef Ana learned her traditional family recipes from the time she was a small child. Her dream since her arrival to the United States almost twenty years ago has been to share these wonderful recipes with her adopted community of Santa Cruz.
