El Modelo
History
The restaurant was founded by Refugio and Carmen Garcia in 1929, as El Modelo Tortilla Factory. Carmen would get up at two in the morning to prepare tortillas to sell for breakfast. She hired Petra Vargas to make tamales. Vargas then taught Garcia's family how to make tamales. When Carmen's son, Leo Garcia, came home from World War II, in 1945, he went into business with his mother. In 1947, Salvador Garcia, the eldest son, helped build the current building in the former location of the family's three room house. The location has not changed since it was established in 1929. In 1985, Hector Mendoza and Virginia Chittim purchased the restaurant, and they ran it together until 2003. At which point, Virginia Chittim took full ownership of the restaurant.
Today
El Modelo continues to serve tortillas and their critically acclaimed tamales. As well as New Mexican cuisine including, chile rellenos, enchiladas, stuffed sopapillas, huevos rancheros, burritos, and tacos.
Reception
The restaurant was also ranked as the 4th best Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque by USAToday's 2012 10Best. In 2013, El Modelo was voted one of the "Best Mexican Restaurants in the U.S." by Travel + Leisure magazine, which described the food as "rave-worthy".
References
- ^ Andrea Feucht (16 October 2012). Food Lovers' Guide to Santa Fe, Albuquerque & Taos: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings. Globe Pequot. pp. 343–. ISBN 978-0-7627-8155-3.
- ^ Zora O'Neill (15 March 2011). Moon New Mexico. Avalon Travel. pp. 85–. ISBN 1-59880-945-8.
- ^ The National Culinary Review: Official Magazine of the American Culinary Federation. American Culinary Federation. 2009.
- ^ Hobica, George (May 8, 2013). "Time to revisit underappreciated Albuquerque". USA Today. Retrieved July 28, 2014 – via usatoday.com/.
- ^ "Seizure Fatal For Centenarian Refugio Garcia, founder of El Modelo Tortilla Factory". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jan 13, 1969.
- ^ "El Modelo Tortilla factory". Albuquerque Journal. 12 September 1947. p. 15.
Specializing in Tortillas for difference purposes, large, delicious, hand made tamales, enchiladas, tacos, sopapillas, posole, red chile, carne adovada.
- ^ "A Brief History of The El Modelo Mexican Restaurant - El Modelo About Page". elmodelomexicanfoods.com. El Modelo. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ Levaux, Ari (October 14–20, 2010). "El Modelo - Soul model". alibi.com/. Weekly Alibi. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ Garduño, Gil (March 26, 2008). "El Modelo – Albuquerque, New Mexico - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog". nmgastronome.com/. Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ Romano, Andrew (June 3, 2011). "Andrew Romano: Recommended: El Modelo, Albuquerque, N.M." notes.andrewromano.net/. Andrew Romano. Politics, food, culture. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ Boren, Jennifer (2012-08-14). "EL MODELO As featured in 10Best's "Mexican" list!". USA Today. Retrieved July 28, 2014 – via usatoday.com/.
- ^ "El Modelo, Albuquerque - Best Mexican Restaurants in the U.S.- Page 27 - Articles - Travel + Leisure". travelandleisure.com/. Travel + Leisure by Time Inc. 2013-04-30. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
