Once upon a time... in a land not so far away, there lived a boy from the Mesilla Valley, named Frankie.
This boy would grow up loving the land on which he stood, the family and friends that stood by his side, and stood firmly behind the tradition and practices of those that came before him.
He spent his days in the Mesilla Valley as any typical boy would do; by going to school and playing baseball. However, of all his happenings of being a typical boy... he seemed to hold a very special place in his heart, for his grandmother, Chala Mae.
You see... Chala was no ordinary grandmother to Frankie. She was the lady, who came from very humble beginnings, that seemed to be unbounded by her abilities. From mending clothes, to throwing baseballs, to cooking huge family meals in her kitchen everyday; Chala was determined to always provide the best loving care to her family and friends.
One might say, that Chala was your typical grandmother, but to Frankie there was still something "magical" that his "Mama" was able to do that he had never seen before... she had the ability to make something out of nothing!
From an empty pot that sat in her cupboard, to the chiles and other fruits and vegetables that they would hand pick on their farmland... she had a way of uniting the family and friends around the table to something...delicious.
Despite Frankie's admiration for her cooking, Chala could take no credit for her work in the kitchen. She very humbly stated, "that the meals she has put together are simply the love of tradition and her heritage." She was only doing what her mother taught her and her mother's mother had taught her... yes, there exists a long list of "Mamas" with the ability to provide the comfort, of a warm meal.
Meanwhile, Frankie with a great appreciation of tradition and heritage was looking to open the next chapter in his life. He once thought that maybe the medical field was his calling, or maybe to even be a sound engineer (sounded like a good time,) but when he really sat down and thought about it... his heart led him straight to the idea of re-creating that special moment of sitting down to a freshly homemade meal... just like Chala would have made. He had decided he wanted to open a restaurant.
Determined and supported, he went to Dallas, Texas. With barely two pennies to rub together and no jobs prior to the move; both Frankie and his wife Catrina, managed to survive in the "Big D".
Four years, two children, a culinary education, and amazing experiences working with the top chefs of Dallas, later...it was time to come home to Las Cruces and begin the dream of opening Chala's Wood Fire Grill.
Ever grateful for what has inspired and supported him; Frankie begins the next chapter of his life. In hopes that this story will never end.