Sazón de Brookline: Small Bites of Dominican Cuisine
In the heart of Brookline, Massachusetts, a hidden gem is offering a taste of authentic Dominican cuisine. Sazón de Brookline, known for its delicious empanadas, has become a local favorite thanks to the dedication and passion of its owner, Keneddy Lavour. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Lavour was influenced by his grandmother’s cooking, sparking his lifelong love for food.
“I want everybody to try real empanadas, how I had it when I was a kid,” Lavour said, his voice full of pride as he shared his culinary mission. Sazón de Brookline serves up empanadas filled with juicy pulled beef, wrapped in crispy dough, and fried to a golden perfection. Lavour’s focus on authenticity and tradition is evident in every bite.
Growing Up in the Kitchen
Lavour’s passion for cooking started early in life. He fondly remembers sneaking into the kitchen to watch his grandmother, Anastacia, prepare meals. “She took forever to cook, but I was always there, trying to see what’s going on,” he laughed. As a teenager, Lavour began cooking for himself while his mother worked long hours. That experience laid the foundation for a future in the culinary world.
Even as a young man, food meant more to Lavour than just sustenance. “It’s about bringing people together,” he said. For him, there’s no greater satisfaction than seeing a customer smile after taking a bite of his food. “That makes me feel that my work is being acknowledged, enjoyed,” Lavour added.
From the Islands to Boston: Lavour’s Culinary Journey
Lavour’s journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States was driven by a love for cooking. After high school, he moved to the U.S. with his mother and began attending Le Cordon Bleu College in Cambridge. During the day, he studied culinary arts, while working overnight shifts at Brigham and Women’s Hospital to support himself.
Upon graduating, Lavour gained experience in the restaurant industry, working his way up from busser to general manager. He worked at various establishments, including Legal Sea Foods and Encore Boston Harbor, where he managed multiple restaurants. But his dream was always to open his own place.
From Tiny Apartment to Restaurant
In his tiny apartment, Lavour started testing recipes, frying hundreds of empanadas without proper ventilation. “It was crazy,” he recalled. “The apartment was really tiny, and we were frying like a hundred something empanadas.” The pandemic made things even harder, as Lavour struggled to make ends meet, but he never gave up. “When you are so certain about something, you just make it work,” he said.
Eventually, Lavour secured a deal to buy Brother’s Roast Beef, a local business that came with the necessary equipment to open his own restaurant. “You put in a big sum of money into this place. It’s like going all in. This is going to work, or … I don’t want to say be homeless, but like be homeless,” Lavour laughed.
Read Also
A Local Favorite
Since opening Bocadillos in June, Lavour has built a loyal customer base, with more people discovering his empanadas and other Dominican dishes. “I don’t really have a marketing budget, but slowly, people are realizing that it’s here,” he said. “As long as people like my empanadas, I’m gonna keep doing it.”
Lavour’s dedication to serving authentic Dominican food continues to drive his success. Sazón de Brookline has quickly become a must-visit spot in Brookline, offering a taste of the Dominican Republic in the heart of Massachusetts.
