Emiliano Marentes

The Path

Since 2022, Emiliano Marentes has held the chef and co-owner role at ELEMI Restaurant in El Paso, Texas, and the work there has been defined by restraint in service of clarity. The menu language is kept tight: a short list of ideas, handled carefully, with the tortilla carrying more of the argument than any garnish or flourish. That approach puts technique ahead of display and makes the kitchen read as a study in control.

The Work Today

The daily discipline in Marentes’ kitchen shows up in repetition done well: the same fundamentals, returned to with attention. Fresh tortillas sit at the center of that practice. As Marentes has said, "We never make tortillas ahead of time because the whole concept of this place is having a tortilla that's freshly made." The line explains the method plainly — immediate, hands-on, and tied to the pace of service. It is cooking that asks the diner to notice texture, aroma, and the difference between something assembled and something made on the spot.

Career - Chef and co-owner — ELEMI Restaurant, El Paso, Texas (2022–present)

Signature

Wache, Enmolada, and Esquites sit among the dishes associated with Emiliano Marentes at ELEMI Restaurant. They point to a kitchen that values directness: a small set of dishes, each one built to hold its shape and speak without overstatement. In that sense, the signature is not ornament but consistency — food that reflects the same measured hand behind the rest of the menu.

In Their Words “We never make tortillas ahead of time because the whole concept of this place is having a tortilla that's freshly made.” “So, my approach to what we cook here at Almi is to simplify everything, but to make everything from scratch.”

FAQ What is Emiliano Marentes's current role? As of 2026, Emiliano Marentes is Chef and Owner. What recognition has Emiliano Marentes received? James Beard Award Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist (2025). What is Emiliano Marentes known for? Tacos and fresh, handmade corn tortillas.