We recently connected with Tammy Menjivar and have shared our conversation below.

Tammy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Oh my beautiful parents! I have a few stories to share about things they did right but what I believe is a decision they made with one of the most life changing impacts for me was choosing to leave Santa Ana, California after immigrating there almost 20 years prior to go back to El Salvador and care for their fathers, my ebuelitos or as I called them, my tatitas. I watched my dad work hard for the life they built together, he harvested corn, beans, raised Cattle and chickens as my mom kept our house a home with her home cooked meals made with love and the freshest ingredients. Watching her transform raw ingredients like corn into tortillas or tamales de elote was a normal everyday concept living there. Those memories of walking to the mercado with my mom or grabbing fresh milk from the cattle live with me today. Their decision to move back to the homeland exposed me to a life that filled me with happiness and thanks to them I have vivid memories of the last few years with my abuelitos and a connection to our food culture I could never thank them enough for.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Consider me your honorary foodie amiga (friend) who happens to be a bicha Salvadoreña. In 2018 I finally listened to my friends who encouraged me to start a foodie page because I was *that* friend, you know the phone eats first kind. Today, after taking some years away to focus on my mental health and wellbeing, I find peace in doing what I truly enjoy such as supporting local and minority owned businesses, vendors, sharing Salvadoran food and most important our amazing culture. Supporting Salvi, Central American and Latin chefs who are leading with incredible flavors in Phoenix like Bibi’s Latin Kitchen who is bringing a modern take on traditional Salvadoran cuisine or Eat Mala Mami a pop up concept inspired by the flavors of Guatemala and Mesoamerica and a recent Saturday brunch at the rancho with traditional Salvadoran dishes served by owners of the Salvadoreño restaurants across the valley that welcome you like members of their family.
The Salvadoran food community in Arizona is small but I’m constantly looking for flavors that remind me of my childhood and sharing those that are worth talking about. Pupusas are what we’re known for and that only scratches the surface, I’m hopeful that future Salvadoran and Central American entrepreneurs around the valley will be successful with OUR support introducing the general public to more authentic flavors.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes I have a quick story about pivoting… although I feel like life, and I mean the journey that life is, it’s having to constantly pivot in some way. Every experience changes us, good or bad. I’ve found myself discovering new parts of me and reconnecting to my roots that organically made me pivot.
My original focus for this platform was to share and support Arizona business and it will continue to be a main driving force, focusing on local, smaller businesses, after all supporting our local communities is something I’m passionate about. In December 2023 I decided to incorporate parts of me, my family and Salvadoran culture. This feels truer to me and who I am outside of this platform, it’s aligned with my passions and most important I’m making my inner child happy.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part? ooh that’s a hard one, a couple come to mind and number 1 is discovering new versions of myself through the journey. Spending time doing things you love can be incredibly healing and that’s what this has done for me. Number 2 is meeting new incredible individuals, creatives and creators who hold the same human being values and share the same love for supporting our communities

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodie.amiga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Foodie-Amiga/