HOODOO SOUL FOOD
Local musician set to open Rumba Café
August 10-16, 2006
MIRIAM BOWERS ABBOTT — THE OTHER PAPER

Tapas, we got it. But bocas? Now that's something new. And bocas are what's on the plate for Rumba Café, due to hit Columbus Sept. 1.

According to owner Mark Henderson, bocas are lots like tapas: "A small plate with pulled pork or sausage or red beans and rice," he said. "It's served in Central America." And he speaks from experience: Henderson has family in Costa Rica and has spent a good portion of his life there.

The café at 2507 Summit St. is in the former home of Blondies, a well-known gay bar. But Henderson has a different target audience in mind for the Rumba Café: "It's a music venue. We just want everyone to come."

The music venue has chops, too. Henderson is a big-league percussionist, and he's using his musical contacts to schedule international acts as well as local ones. And this fall, you can expect to see Henderson playing percussion at Rumba with his own group, the HooDoo Soul Band.