- September 28, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Business
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A modern Mexican restaurant in downtown El Paso is elevating the ways the community — and the nation — think not only about tacos, but also the culinary traditions of the region that are being bolstered by efforts to empower Hispanic-owned businesses.
Elemi was established and owned by Emiliano and Kristal Marentes, who say the concept was born from inspiration from downtown El Paso and tortillerias in Juarez.
KTSM spoke with Emiliano, who says he goes in early each morning.
“I start grounding maize, corn for our tortillas and start setting up — and just work the business as the day comes,” he says.
Part of what makes the food so special at Elemi are the tortillas. Marentas uses a centuries-old process called nixtamalization, in which the corn is cooked, soaked, then ground into masa.
The care and attention to detail has been noticed by the likes of Padma Lakshmi, who featured Elemi and the…
