Former boyfriend sought in shooting of popular chef Officers look for suspect in Texas and Louisiana after attack on 'Enchilada Queen' Casares

Sylvia Casares and Michael Warren are shown near Casares' food truck, No Borders, outside Houston's Menil Collection in 2011. Casares is best known for running the popular Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen. Sylvia Casares and Michael Warren are shown near Casares' food truck, No Borders, outside Houston's Menil Collection in 2011. Casares is best known for running the popular Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen. Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Former boyfriend sought in shooting of popular chef 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Authorities in Texas and Louisiana are looking for a 58-year-old man in connection with a domestic shooting that wounded chef and restaurateur Sylvia Casares, Houston's "Enchilada Queen" whose expertise in Tex-Mex cooking is known across South Texas.

Michael Warren, Casares' ex-boyfriend, assaulted her at her Fulshear home in Fort Bend County on Monday night, said Fort Bend County Sheriff's spokesman Bob Haenel. Casares, 59, was taken by air ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital at the Texas Medical Center. Her condition was not released, but Haenel said she was expected to recover.

Warren left the scene after the shooting in a black 2004 GMC Yukon with Texas license plate 42MVT1, Haenel said, adding that he is considered armed and dangerous. Police agencies in and around Lafayette, La., Warren's hometown, also were notified of the shooting and asked to be on the lookout. It is not known what sparked the violent incident.

In a prepared statement issued Wednesday, Casares' three grown children expressed confidence that the shooting would be fully investigated and that their mother would once again take her place in the restaurants that made her a Tex-Mex icon. She owns two Houston eateries that bear her name.

"Her resilient nature is now helping her pull through this near tragedy," their statement read. "Our mother's doctors and nurses are doing a wonderful job and expect her to make a full recovery. We appreciate all the concern from friends and ask them to keep her in their thoughts and prayers. As our mother would want us to, we remain focused and optimistic on her speedy recovery."

Reached by phone Wednesday, son Nicholas Martinez said he had no idea what sparked the incident. He also said there was nothing he was aware of in the past that indicated violent nature.

A relative in Brownsville said the family expects Casares to be released from the hospital this week.

Casares started her local culinary career in 1995 with a restaurant on the west side of Houston outside Beltway 8 that she eventually renamed Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen in 1998 to reflect her passion for enchiladas.

More Information Crime Stoppers Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at 281-341-4665 or Fort Bend Crime Stoppers, Inc. at 281-342-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.fortbend-tx-crimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information which leads to the filing of charges against or the arrest of Michael Warren.

Frustrated that enchiladas were becoming commercialized in Tex-Mex restaurants, she set out to improve the reputation of the enchilada by making chili sauces the laborious way from dried chiles and using top quality corn tortillas.

In a 2009 story in the Houston Chronicle, Casares proudly defended her culinary heritage.

"Poor Tex-Mex has a black eye," Casares said. "One of my missions is to elevate the image of Tex-Mex. It's good, it's flavorful, but there's a traditional way to do it."

Her menu grew to feature 18 different enchiladas that spoke to various regions of Mexico (Hidalgo, Morelia, Monterrey and Chihuahua) as well as styles north of the border.

Her devotion to the Mexican food staple earned her the name "the Enchilada Queen."

In 2009 she branched out beyond her Westheimer restaurant to open a new store on Woodway near Voss.

At the new restaurant she had a larger space to conduct cooking classes in which she taught Mexican food enthusiasts how to make chili sauces and tamales.

In March 2011 she jumped on the burgeoning food truck trend and launched her colorful No Borders taco truck. Warren managed the food truck for Casares.

Casares still counts family in South Texas, including a brother, author Oscar Casares, and niece, Guanabee.com editor Cindy Casares.

greg.morago@chron.commike.tolson@chron.com