Gay Riseborough
Alfonso Nieves Ruiz (left) and Marcos Rivera
Zentli is a new Mexican restaurant in Evanston, Illinois that has recently opened. It is owned and operated by Marcos Rivera, Danny Howard, and Alfonso Nieves Ruiz, and is located at 1813 Dempster St. The restaurant's name, "Zentli," means "corn" in Nahuatl, and the menu is based on corn-based dishes that pay homage to the importance of corn in Mexican culture. The owners have relied on their mothers' recipes for the restaurant's simple, authentic cuisine. The restaurant also has a focus on community and education, with plans to conduct art workshops and to exhibit the work of other indigenous artists. Read More.
Ay Por Dios! is an upscale Mexican fusion restaurant that is set to open on Franklin Street early this year in North Carolina. The menu combines food from Oaxaca and Spain, but also offers other cuisines such as sushi. The restaurant's owner, Edy Barahona, spent 30 days in Oaxaca to learn recipes firsthand and plans to bring the recipes from the streets of Oaxaca to Ay Por Dios!, replicating the dishes from scratch. The restaurant's menu features a wide range of dishes, including multiple types of Oaxacan mole sauce, fresh seafood, and tomahawk steak. There is also a private room in the restaurant available to customers who purchase a certain number of tequila bottles. Read More
Wahaka Taco is a new restaurant in Howland, Ohio that is owned by popular chef Mark Canzonetta. The restaurant is built for takeout, with a drive-thru window, ordering kiosks and limited seating. Wahaka Taco is the first in a franchise, with plans for expansion within two years to Canfield and Boardman, with the Boardman restaurant as the model. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican food, with emphasis on fresh and crisp flavors, and uses special tortillas from Santa Rosa, California. The menu includes a full range of dishes like tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas and desserts. Read More