Why A Restaurant Owner Says, "It's Not About the Chimichangas"

...and other flavorful insights from Marta's Marta Carrillo in Interesting People Interviews

Marta arrived in the U.S. with $50 to her name and no dream for a business. It worked. Today, Marta’s Cocina Family Mexican Restaurant is a beloved Mexican restaurant - and not just because of her "Scratchmade Mexican" food. Everyone enjoys Marta! She spoke with us about living in a new culture, being oneself, love of people, motivation for running a business, and what’s really important...

Interesting People: Change can be challenging. Within a short time, you became a single mom, and changed countries…

It took a lot to come here, to come to another country. But we had to leave our home.

Women were not paid well in Mexico in the early ‘90s. I worked for a prominent company, but it still was not enough to support my kids. Mexico City was too expensive, and there were not a lot of positions for women. Men were the producers, and the pay was not good for women. On top of that, my husband and I divorced, leaving me alone with my children.

We sold all our things - furniture, clothing - to afford airline tickets to get to the states. We left with $50 in my pockets, thanks to a gift from a neighbor to help us buy food on the trip. Bellingham was very welcoming to me. I lived with my sister there, began working as a housekeeper, then I worked in nursing homes (I love older people) where the 6:00 AM shifts allowed me to be at home to feed my kids before school and be there for them when they got home. It was a gift to save the kids, God blessed me.

To beat the odds to own a successful restaurant, you’d need a dream and a plan. You didn't have a dream...or a plan for Marta’s Cocina...

While I was working part time at Mi Mexico as a hostess, Margarita, owner of La Herradura in Lynden, approached me about working for her as a server. I did for two years, and all through that time, she’d say, You’d make a good restaurant owner. Please buy the place!

I liked to cook and have people over to socialize - the main thing was food. People would say, Why not do a restaurant? That’s not the same thing as taking your sweet time with music and a glass of wine, cooking for your friends. I totally thought that was nonsense. But Margarita finally convinced me to buy La Herradura (and become Marta’s). This has been more than a blessing.

An issue of the heart was brewing for you at this time...

I was angry - angry with God, no, in looking back I was angry with myself for how things had gone. But I chose to smile no matter what. It was my defense. You can be angry in silence and no one can tell.

And I was lacking in genuine love. What turned me around was when my nine year old daughter told me who I really was: Mom, when do you hug me?

But God works in mysterious ways. I met a 78 year old woman who was told she had six months to live. She lasted four years and during that time said, Come to church with me. I said, No. She was persistent, but did not push. She came to be my second mother...showed me unconditional love, no matter what. I finally went to her church and went from believing in a God who condemns, to a God who is there for you. He will never leave or forsake you.

That’s when I opened my heart completely. I got rid of my explanations of a God who just fixed things. I would say, Give me, give me...now it is a relationship, with a genuine and authentic love of Him.

Marta’s serves a growing and varied community that is largely agricultural, Dutch, entrepreneurial, education, faith, and sports-minded. How do you build such a varied set of relationships?

I never thought how much love I’d have from the kids, adults, and grandmas here. A customer even decided to welcome me by painting and transforming the restaurant.

Marta's"Scratchmade Mexican"

Lynden is a very grateful community. Anything I do, it is for them. They are always thankful. If I change the colors in the restaurant, they really enjoy it. It really makes me feel welcome.

There should be more communities like Lynden. True, at first I thought it was cliquish. But not now. What changed? Nothing. Who changed? Me.

The minute you understand you are the outsider, it is not about you. So I said, They live here, we came here, what do I have to offer them?

What is at the heart of Marta’s?

People. They make this place. They come and really enjoy themselves, every little thing. I say to them, You know God gives you this place. Here, you are not only fed on food, you feed your soul. This is your gift. People don't come in here due to starving, they come for something. It’s not about, Are you going to buy a chimichanga? And celebration. Restaurants play a huge role in families now. Families chose to celebrate here. It’s not all about going to grandma’s to eat there. Families say, We are going out - with grandma. Everyone comes and wants something different. Since mom and dad work, they are going out Saturday mornings.

And the church plays a very good role for family celebrations with events and potlucks. So between the church and here, we celebrate with food.

For us, it’s all about food for the community, for celebrations, and for the family.

Marta's during the Lynden Festival of Music!

What's your secret for enjoying each day?

Just a...“Good morning”: Just do what you can do. Feed the flame, but don’t go overboard. A Good Morning, a Good Evening. Just be nice and kind, and pay back what God gives.

Be at peace: I can invent something great. I can have the best doctor. I can have the best of everything, but you can’t carry it to your death. When you die, what do you take with you? You can take peace, that you did the right thing.

Don’t let the immediate take over: It’s not from God. He always gives support. It does not matter the circumstances. Find joy at the end of every day. Other things don’t matter. It’s not about black, white, Hispanic. It’s about the human race. So enjoy each day.

Understand you are unique: Allow yourself to be you. You are amazing. God made you unique. There is no one on earth like Marta! When you find yourself inside you, you also find there is no one else like you.

Don’t compete with your gifts: Everyone has different roles and gifts, and when you try to be someone else, it goes wrong. So there is no reason to compete. Then there are no expectations, and love comes naturally with no fear.

Show goodness from deep within: People always wait for the wrong answer. There are lots of broken families and it is getting worse and worse. We need God. Or whatever you believe. When people see you, they know what’s inside. Go ahead, believe in the universe, but after all, that was created by God too! You have to be aware of what your gifts are, what you truly believe. The world would love to see that more. People want to see goodness!

Remember, it’s not about me: Let yourself grow inside, and give your soul and self to that which is Divine so people will see it in you. Reach for the Holy Spirit in you. That’s when He comes out. Then it's not about you. But about God and his love to help people.

Without people we are nothing - we need each other: Now more than ever for us to survive, we have to be together...come together, embrace His love, consume more locally, be cautious of what jobs we send away, and be careful of what we eat.

How would you like people to think about you and Marta's?

I’d like people to see me as a family member, a sister or friend, a positive influence, someone who gives something to the community.

I live in this community. I decided to put my money here (and it’s His, not my money), and we can then all enjoy the nice colors and the comfort of Marta’s .

Marta and her family!

So if you are in Lynden and you want Mexican food, stop here. I am not saying we have the biggest, most successful restaurant, or make the best tamales, or that it’s the best place on earth. But it is because I love my customers, and we will make you feel at home.

Marta’s Cocina Family Mexican Restaurant

Marta’s favorite dish? “Arroz Con Pollo - a bed of rice, Monterey cheese, bell peppers, mushrooms, and sweet orange sauce.” There’s plenty more to enjoy. As Marta says, "Even my mom doesn’t make enchiladas like Marta’s.”

Marta's Cocina, Fairway Center, 1710 Front St, Lynden, WA 360-318-1171 MartasCocina.com, Facebook.com/martascocinanorthwest

When we first came to town, Marta’s was where our young family visited first. The four girls are now adults, but we all remember - and still enjoy - her fresh food in a restaurant that’s a welcoming, homey, and memorable place for family and others. We continue to come back and visit Marta at her "Scratch-made Mexican" Cocina. Steve Hortegas loves people and writing. He's enjoyed hearing people's stories as a market researcher in places of commerce, a funeral director in his community, and now a healthcare professional, helping people stay out of the funeral home. He and his wife Lori enjoy the PNW and being a part of the unfolding story of their four children and three sons-in-law.