Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Matta Family History - Matta's Mexican Food at Brown and Higley

I was in Matta's at Brown and Higley the other day and had an opportunity to talk with Chris Matta about his amazing family and Matta's history.  Chris is a great guy and he tells great stories!  The Matta family and Matta's Mexican Restaurant are an important part of Mesa history.

In 1950 Manuel and Marylou Matta hired a Bekins moving truck and driver, they packed all of their belongs, loaded their two children in the car and left Los Angeles. "Where were they headed?" you ask. Safford, Arizona!!? I bet you thought I was going to say Mesa. Manuel worked as a welder and part time at a dairy in Los Angeles. The dairy farmer he worked for convinced him it was a great way to make a living and told him about a great opportunity in Safford, AZ.  So, off they went. Well, as luck would have it, they decided to stop in Mesa for the night and continue on the next day. They stayed at Kohler's Kiva Lodge on Main. David, their youngest at the time, remembers the Kiva as "the coolest place he had ever stayed" in his 5 young years. Mesa left a very favorable impression on the young couple, but they were headed to Safford--so off they went. Well, Safford was a very nice town, but when all was said and done it just wasn't a good fit for them.  Mesa, they thought, was a little more their speed and looked like a wonderful place to raise a family. Small town enough, with lots of possibilities but without the crowding they were starting to see in Los Angeles. So they told the Bekins driver to turn around and head back to Mesa. Manuel found a job in Tempe welding metal door and window frames and Marylou set up housekeeping and settled the family into their new home, Mesa!! "Well, what about the restaurant?" you ask. Well that's still 3 years off. Maybe we can talk about that next time.........if you'd like. Or if you just can't wait that long, come down and see us at the Higley and Brown location. Just ask for Chris. We'll talk. Use the Four Square app on your smart phone to check in while at Matta's @ Higley and Brown and receive a free soft drink with a purchase of anything on the menu. (Not valid at the Riverview location)

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Dennis Sirrine Train Garden... A MUST See for The Christmas Season!

Dennis Sirrine's Spectacular Garden Railroad!

Dennis Sirrine, owner of the popular Rancho de Tia Rosa restaurant in Mesa, shares his train hobby with the public.









Open House Tours:

Where:  Dennis & Liz Sirrine's Home
                1929 North 24th Street, Mesa
                Between Gilbert Road and Lindsay Road
                Corner of McKellips and 24th Street

When:    December 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2010

Time:    5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Phone:  480 620-9459

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Order Your Tamales for the Holidays

I've ordered mine! I love to have tamales in my freezer year-round, but even more so around the holidays. When I'm busy running errands, shopping, working, going to kids' concerts, OR just too tired to make dinner I pull some tamales out of the freezer and microwave OR steam them up for dinner. When it is a really busy evening e.g. kids' schedules conflicting, I like to steam them. Steaming the tamales keeps them hot and ready to eat any time throughout the evening.


A HUGE BONUS… All of my kids LOVE tamales!


Make sure you get your order in... call today!

Salsa Cabana (480) 854-8286
NE corner Brown/Greenfield

Red shredded beef tamales & green corn - $22 a dozen

My older kids and I love the red shredded beef tamales and my younger kids really like the green corn tamales - not so spicy.