Mass. couple wants to bring Bolivian food back to Boston

The intrigue: Greater Boston's empanada offerings have grown diverse, with more options from the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Puerto Rico.

• But not from Bolivia.

State of plate: Roque and her husband, Johan Martinez, set up shop at the Hustle List's Hispanic Heritage & Hustle cookout on Saturday in Roslindale, selling mini-empanadas alongside other dishes.

• They gave customers a taste of the Bolivian and Dominican food they've sold at their Raynham restaurant over the last five years.
• The name, Tropical Llama, is an oxymoron that alludes to the unusual pairing of spicier Bolivian food and her husband's milder, but flavorful Dominican cuisine.

What they're saying: "To me, before, the Bolivian community was more concentrated around Providence, but I said, why not Massachusetts?" says Roque, who was raised in Boston.

• There was a Mexican-Bolivian restaurant in East Boston, but it closed over a decade ago.

What's next: Roque wants to open a Bolivian restaurant in Boston.