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FOOD & DRINK
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 6, 2022
Food & Drink
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New eatery plans twist on Mexican cuisine BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
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all Her Martina is expected to open sometime this month and �lip the script on what diners expect from traditional Mexican cuisine. The family-owned restaurant’s specialty will be Mexican classics but with an element of pizazz. “Most of the plates have Mexican pro�iles like tostadas, tacos and elotes but each plate brings something different to the table,” said Elisa Moreno, who owns the restaurant with her family and is in charge of the restaurant’s marketing. “We call it Mexican with a twist. It can be a spice, a different ingredient or a special sauce to create a perfect combination.” While the initial goal is to offer a new take on classic dishes, Moreno hopes that the restaurant will break the norms of what is perceived as Mexican food. “Our main motivation is to clear the stereotypes about what Mexican food is,” she said. “Mexican places here have the typical enchiladas and rice and beans whereas restaurants in Mexico have so much more of that. There’s so much more fusion and the food has changed so much over time.” Moreno and her family also want to bring a slice of Mexico City to their space along Marshall Way across the street from Scottsdale Fashion Square. “We felt like this area was missing around here because traditional Mexican restaurants are either super casual or super high end. We wanted to �it right in the middle,” she said. “We want to bring a concept that mixes good food and fusions with mixology and great service while clearing stereotypes of what a Mexican restaurant is. We want to make people feel like they are in a restaurant in Mexico City.” The family also wants to share their culture with the city they have called home
Braised pork tostadas include juicy braised pork topped by creamy green salsa, citrus avocado and pickled red onion. (Instagram)
Sisters Paola and Elisa Moreno operate Call Her Martina, located across the street from Scottsdale Fashion square, alongside their older brother and parents. (David Minton/ Progress Staff Photographer)
for almost a decade. “When we combined our love of foods with my father’s entrepreneurial background, which motivated us to want to display our culture to our community of Scottsdale – which we have called home for the past decade,” Moreno said. While the restaurant gave the Morenos a chance to share their favorite dishes with their neighbors, it also gave children Pedro, Paola and Elisa a chance to share their talents they developed during college.
“My sister is an interior designer and I have a lot of ideas, so we complement each other very well,” Moreno said. “Deep down, we’re all entrepreneurs at heart and we all motivate each other.” Additionally, The Moreno’s wanted to create a space that paid homage to inspirational women from the golden age of Mexican cinema. “We wanted to make the space lively,” Moreno said. “The women whose pictures hang over the kitchen are from La Epoca
de Oro, the golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1930’s, and that era was so iconic because women were super characteristic of that era.” Moreno also wanted the space to personify Martina, a character similar to the women whose pictures decorate the interior. “That’s why we called the restaurant Call Her Martina: because we wanted to make Martina into some sort of a character that also represents all women,” she said. “Women in these movies had marked characteristics and we wanted Martina to celebrate all types of women.” Moreno and her family believe their new concept will become a staple for happy hour and dinner but also have plans for the future of Call Her Martina. “We’re thinking this will likely be a big dinner spot but we will be open for lunch and we have plans to add a Mexican brunch,” she said. “We also plan to have DJs for happy hour and taco Tuesdays, we de�initely want to �it in every hour of the day.” Info: Callhermartina.com
