Gamez siblings convey household favorites to Tallahassee

Edgar Gamez grew up listening to in regards to the days when his mom and grandmother would promote their home made tostadas after sundown within the plaza of a small city referred to as La Yerbabuena in Mexico.

Edgar explains that his grandmother, Maria, would make tostadas by day and promote them in La Plaza at night time. As a younger woman, his mom, additionally named Maria, would run residence at recess to assist peel the tostadas so they might dry within the solar and be prepared by night. 

“Plazas have been a place on the town the place individuals would collect at night time,” mentioned Edgar, co-owner of Maria Maria on North Monroe Avenue. “Meals was offered within the streets and folks would convey tables and chairs, sharing time with households and buddies.”

Edgar now desires to share these recipes, and sense of neighborhood, at Maria Maria, aptly named after his mom and grandmother.

Siblings Veronica and Edgar Gamez sit collectively within the restaurant shortly after the venue opened in 2019.
Tori Schneider / Tallahassee Democrat

Edgar is one of six kids, 4 sisters and one brother. When he was six years previous, his household moved from Mexico to Moore Haven, Florida, the place they have been raised on the dishes of their homeland.

Edgar mentioned he had missed the genuine flavors of his mom’s cooking when he moved to Tallahassee. He attended Florida State College, the place he studied criminology, after which later labored in space eating places — although one of his early jobs was working in a deli at age 16. Except for desirous to convey his household’s cooking to the capital metropolis, he had an expertise that modified his path.

“I misplaced an uncle who was very liked and he had heaps of individuals attend his funeral,” mentioned Edgar. “He was liked as a result of of how he interacted with individuals and confirmed them how he cared. I puzzled ‘How can I attain out to individuals and contact their lives and make a constructive influence?’”

He found that within the restaurant enterprise, he might speak to a lot of individuals and lead a group that may be headed in a good route. 

“I’m on a journey,” mentioned Edgar. “ I believe I’m on the correct path.”

The trail hasn’t all the time been straightforward.

Surviving the pandemic

After 10 months of planning and onerous work, Maria Maria opened in July 2019, within the former residence of Crepevine. Like so many new eating places on the town, the venue was slammed at first. After a few months, the restaurant settled right down to “a good circulation of individuals,” mentioned Edgar. “We have been constructing a common clientele when the pandemic hit and there was a large drop in enterprise.”

“We by no means left the start, child levels after we have been attempting to get off the ground,” he mentioned. “It’s been actually powerful.”

Maria Maria struggled however survived, including platforms up for on-line ordering, constructing a takeout enterprise and being vigilant about security precautions. Now, slowly, extra persons are coming again to dine in 

Dig In

My husband and I’ve visited Maria Maria a few occasions. We dined right here within the early days when the restaurant first opened, and loved our meals however determined to attend till the crowds thinned. We waited too lengthy as a result of then the pandemic hit. We not too long ago made it again to Maria Maria a few occasions for takeout meals. 

Maria’s Tostadas is one of the signature dishes at Maria Maria on North Monroe Avenue.
Tori Schneider / Tallahassee Democrat

One of our favorites right here is Maria’s Tostados, based mostly on that household recipe ready by Gamez’s grandmother years in the past. Listed beneath Small Bites, it’s a beneficiant, flavorful dish, constructed upon a flat, crunchy tortilla along with your selection of protein topped with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, crema, pickled jalapeno, cheese and salsa. 

The salsa right here is pleasantly piquant, brilliant and recent, with a slight kick. We loved it whether or not served with chips or as a aspect with our dishes. 

The tamale is one other hit at Maria Maria. Photograph / Tallahassee Desk.

We have been additionally completely happy to seek out a homey tamale at Maria Maria, made the normal method, with a corn dough filling steamed inside a corn husk. You possibly can order the tamale with rooster or cheese and salsa verde,served with a aspect of crema. 

Additionally favorites listed here are dishes made with mole, a complicated sauce that may end up “too candy, too smokey or too spicy,” mentioned Edgar. “We’ve a recipe that’s fairly well-balanced, which is what you search for in a mole.” 

The delectable mole recipe makes use of a minimum of 20 components that embrace roasted nuts, dried seeds, peppers and chocolate. It’s a lengthy course of. 

Enchiladas caseras, quesadilla and chips and salsa at Maria Maria. Tallahassee Desk

Additionally rave-worthy: enchiladas caseras, one of the dishes marked “household recipe.” It’s certainly a comforting rendition with three enchiladas, which we had with rooster. It comes with lettuce, tomato, creme, cheese and your selection of salsa. The pink colour comes from the guajillo peppers within the sauce. A pal who additionally ordered the dish mentioned she would fortunately order it once more. I’d agree.

Different highlights embrace carne en chile, with slow-cooked pork chunks; a wealthy shrimp alambre with sautéed bell peppers, onion and bacon; and rooster in a wealthy cream sauce (pollo en crema).

You’ll additionally discover tacos, burritos and fajitas, a few breakfast objects, a youngsters’ menu and a number of other sides like charro bean soup, refried beans, rice and hand-cut fries. 

For dessert, we’ve loved the churros, which aren’t but made on premises, and the flan — in case you’re used to the Cuban model, Mexican flan is a bit thicker. You’ll additionally discover tres leches (a gentle cake made with three milks) and a few baked items.

Drinks

Edgar doesn’t but have a liquor license to promote cocktails, however you may order wine or beer and tropical juices like hibiscus. 

Backside line 

 Maria Maria is a informal, pleasant spot for a conventional Mexican meal at affordable costs, run by a household devoted to sharing home made, household recipes. Edgar’s grandmother has handed however his mom, Maria Guadalupe G. Gamez, visits each 4 months. She was certainly thrilled with the title of the restaurant and of course, the acquainted household recipes. “She’s the largest fan ever,” mentioned Edgar. 

Betting she’ll have heaps of firm.

The inside at Maria Maria. Tallahassee Desk

Should you go … 

Maria Maria is at 1304 N. Monroe St.; 850-270-9057

Costs: breakfast $9; small bites $three to $9.50; appetizers $2 to $10; entrees $6 to $14 (further for add-ons); youngsters’ meals $5 to $7; bakery/desserts  $4.25 to $20..

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to eight:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and midday to three p.m. and 5 to eight:30 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Web site: https://www.mariamaria.com/

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here