Rooted in love, land, community

Beginnings: It started with a desire to be close to people and create community. Jose Calderon, born and raised in Michoacán, Mexico, has always believed that food is the shortest path between strangers. Jade Sloate Dowden grew up in a home where every gathering — work parties, holidays, ordinary Tuesdays — had food at the center, grown and prepared by the hands of the people who cared for each other.

In 2023, they launched Tacos Libertad — a food truck that served the Rogue Valley from the growers market and a spot near I-5. Three seasons in, they found a permanent location on A Street. And in March 2026, they moved into their current home: a beautiful space with a kitchen, an open patio, room to grow, and room for everyone.

Evolution: When choosing the new restaurant name, the word came easily: Corazón — HEART. It captured everything they wanted to build. A space evocative of their childhoods, rooted in land and food and community. A place where people feel nourished in every sense of the word.

The Food: Jose's recipes draw directly from his hometown. Chicken molé, pollo asada, tortas de papa, handmade tortillas — dishes that carry the flavors of family and the memory of good times. Everything is made from scratch, with meat sourced from local ranchers and produce sourced almost exclusively from local farms.

Jade on food:"For me, food is home. It's roots, it's family, it's community, it's love."

Future: Jade and Jose dream of Corazón becoming the heart of the community — a thriving gathering space that supports the region's food stability. Jose and Jade hope someday the restaurant will be connected to its own working farm. For now, they're focused on what they've always done: feeding people well, with love, and with an open door.