Before the first Quesada opened in 2004, it was rare for Mexican fast food restaurants to serve food made with fresh ingredients in Canada. When Quesada founder, Steve Gill, worked as a software developer in Denver, he fell in love with the many Mexican fast-food joints that used fresh, wholesome ingredients. He was blown away by how much better the food tasted than the generic, bland menu items he was used to from the Mexican fast food chains in Canada.
When Gill returned to Canada, he had a big goal: to bring a little of his Denver taste experience to Canada by launching an innovative quick-serve restaurant serving fresh Mexican cuisine.
Fast forward to today; Quesada has over 100 locations across the country, and it is the fastest growing Mexican franchise in Canada. Each restaurant still has a significant focus on using fresh and wholesome ingredients. Hand-mashed guacamole and house-made salsa takes hours of chopping, roasting, and blending. Doing it right takes time, but Gill insists that he wouldn't have it any other way.
Although Quesada has a recipe for success, Gill and his team are always challenging themselves to further improve. They are continually developing new menu items, such as jackfruit tacos, or slow-cooked ancho pork. They have even challenged how they were cooking their proteins, seeing if there was a healthier, more efficient way. That's when Gill learned about RATIONAL.