DYERSVILLE, Iowa — The operators of Dyersville’s newest restaurant hope to bring the taste of Mexico to northeast Iowa.

Taquería Monterrey opened Nov. 1 at 224 Second Ave. NE under the tutelage of owner Alicia Lopez and her family. The restaurant offers a variety of lunch and dinner options with a focus on filling, flavorful meals.

“Usually when you go to a Mexican restaurant (in the U.S.), it’s more Tex-Mex or Americanized,” said Brenda Espinoza-Gomez, Lopez’s daughter. “We wanted to do something more with our culture … and authentic.”

Earthy and subtly sweet with pleasant hints of bitterness, shredded Brussels sprouts make excellent slaw-style salads and balance the rich saltiness of holiday fare. Raw sprouts can be tough and slightly pungent, but a quick massage ensures the best flavor and texture.

In this recipe from our cookbook “Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year,” we massage shredded sprouts with rice vinegar and soy sauce, tenderizing the sprouts and tempering their cabbage-y qualities. The salt in the soy sauce draws out moisture while the massage breaks down the plant’s cell walls, rendering the firm, raw leaves supple and easy to chew.