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Mesquite Fresh Street Mex moves into Happy Valley

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Foothills Focus Executive Editor

Mesquite Fresh Street Mex’s partners have had their eye on their just-opened Happy Valley location for five years.

It came to fruition at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 28 when it opened its doors at 1730 W. Happy Valley Road.

“We signed the least about five years ago,” said Ahmad Alatrash, co-founder of Mesquite Fresh Street Mex, formerly known as Mr. Mesquite.

“It was a piece of land at the time. We signed into future development. Our partner (Will Abdallah) grew up in the area and he wanted a store out there. He knows everything and everyone in the community.”

At Mesquite Fresh Street Mex’s celebration of its eighth store, the first 200 guests scored a free taco a week for the next six months.

“It’s been crazy out there,” he said with a laugh. “Everybody’s loving it. The community is excited. You can tell.”

Mesquite Fresh Street Mex is on an aggressive growth path opening four new locations in the last year with more on the horizon, including Gilbert at Val Vista and Queen Creek roads.

The restaurant chain was founded by brothers Naser and Ahmad Alatrash after they visited Rocky Point, Mexico, and

2021 Service Academy Applications

Mesquite Fresh Street Mex specializes in street tacos, burritos, protein bowls, quesadillas and fres-

cas. (Photos courtesy of Mesquite Fresh Street Mex)

NOW OPEN

As your Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of students for appointments to attend a U.S. Service Academy each year. The honor of attending an academy comes with a great obligation and commitment to serving our country for a minimum of fi ve years upon graduation. Please visit my website, Schweikert.House.Gov, to learn more about the application process. If you have any questions, please contact Lydia Macias at my District Offi ce in Scottsdale for assistance. 14500 N. Northsight Blvd. Suite 221 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 The deadline to submit a completed application is Friday, October 8, 2021 at 5:00pm to my District Offi ce. see MESQUITE page 17

MESQUITE from page 16

saw taco carts on the corners.

The 1,930-square-foot Happy Valley location boasts a spacious dining room with ample seating and a drive-thru. The signature custom-built mesquite grill featured at all Mesquite Fresh Street Mex locations uses real mesquite wood chips giving the fresh meat a smoky flavor.

The cuisine is focused on incorporating the highest-quality ingredients prepared fresh daily into every dish. The menu features authentic street tacos, burritos, protein bowls, quesadillas, frescas and family meal kits. Mesquite Fresh Street Mex has also become the go-to spot for Taco Tuesdays across the Valley with mesquite-grilled tacos starting at $2.19.

“We specialize in street tacos,” Alatrash said. “That’s how we built our concept. Our Old Town Scottsdale location is only a small kitchen, a walk-up, and it’s quick paced and we only serve street tacos.

“In our other locations, we serve burritos, quesadillas and bowls. The menu is short and simple so we can perfect what we’re serving. It’s good food and good quality. We don’t have freezers, so everything is fresh. We get shipments of food three to four times a week.”

Alatrash said the pandemic has thrown a wrench in the business. It has upped the price of the ingredients the cooks use in the entrees. However, Mesquite Fresh Street Mex had a minimal increase in pricing.

“It’s a disaster in the meat market or the ‘everything’ market,” Alatrash said. “On our end, we’re keeping our prices the same. We’re taking a hit. Steak is triple the cost of pre-pandemic. Our prices only went up slightly from then.

“It’s a stressful business. I’m not going to lie to you. It’s stressful but rewarding at the end of the day. I get to meet all these wonderful people and get into the communities we love. Our goal is to bring our brand to every city in Arizona.”

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Patrick O’Brien lights up clients’ lives

“Cool Vibes” by Patrick O’Brien.

BY SHEA STANFIELD

Foothills Focus Contibutor

Artist Patrick O’Brien is doing his part to save the Earth.

Growing up in Southern California, he didn’t think his parents were particularly artistic. However, his teachers thought he was.

“The message was, ‘That’s great, now push it to the next level,’” he said. “I always loved art classes. Although I have had no formal training in the fine arts, I did take art classes all through high school. That introduced me to a variety of possibilities.”

O’Brien admitted he was always mechanically inclined and that led to his career as a professional electrician.

“Electrical work has always been something I’ve really enjoyed doing, day in and day out without getting bored,” he said.

In June 2012, O’Brien moved to Phoenix and enrolled in the HD Program with the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI). MMI provides Harley-Davidson dealerships, across the country, with trained technicians.

O’Brien graduated as a certified HD tech and landed his dream job with a local dealership. Unfortunately, a few years later, he was let go during an economic downturn.

At that point O’Brien decided to make the Valley his permanent home to take advantage of its vibrant art scene. He set up his home as a studio and went

see O’BRIEN page 21

“Got the Blues” by Patrick O’Brien.

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Yappy Hour

Desert Ridge Marketplace’s Copper Blues Live is hosting Yappy Hour for dogs and their owners from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, on its patio. For every drink purchased at Copper Blues Live’s outdoor bar, $1 will be donated to The Arizona Humane Society. Pup cups will be available from Copper Blues Live’s outdoor bar, with donation benefi ting the Humane Society, too. Desert Ridge Marketplace is a dog-friendly property, with off -leash puppy play zones near H&M and in the Barnes & Noble Courtyard. The Arizona Humane Society will be there with adoptable puppies in the Cuddle Bunch Zone. Dog owners can grab a goodie bag from PetSmart while supplies last. Space is limited. To reserve a spot visit https://bit.ly/

We are not isolated islands

CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION Pastor Ed Delph

Foothills Focus Columnist

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle awakes. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest cheetah or it will be killed. Likewise, every morning a cheetah awakes. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle, or it will starve to death. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are a cheetah or a gazelle — when the sun comes up, you better be running.

This intriguing snippet makes us aware of two worlds — the cheetahs and the gazelles. Both worlds are equally valid yet come from entirely different perspectives. These two worlds are not “either/or” but “both/and.”

It would be unwise for the gazelle to live by a “my-world-is-the-only-world” philosophy. The gazelle who ignores the reality of the cheetah’s world produces what the cheetah wants: gazelle-burgers.

Someone might want to write a book entitled, “Gazelles are from Venus; Cheetahs are from Mars,” but the reality is cheetahs and gazelles are from Earth. So, they better learn to deal with it. Each must wake up running with awareness of the other’s world. After all, their worlds do intersect.

Jesus presented more of a “both/and” world than an “either/or” world to us. Yes, there were absolutes, especially in what it takes to be a believer, but the absolutes were always in crucial areas and generally made clear. I’m not talking about a compromise of the absolutes. I’m talking about having a larger perspective that comes from having the mind of Christ.

There is a spiritual world, and there is a natural world. Both intersect. To ignore the reality of the Creator will affect the creation. Pretending there is no God, ignoring God or dissing God is like the gazelle who pretends there is no cheetah, ignores the cheetah or disdains the cheetah. That could have a bad ending for the gazelle and a fantastic meal for the cheetah.

Here’s an example of the “both/and” perspective. Jesus is called the lion and the lamb. Now there is a paradox for you. How can Jesus be strong and weak, ferocious and gentle, a fighter and a flee-er at the same time? Well, He is. Jesus could go from one extreme to another depending on what God told him was appropriate for the situation. Both the lamb and the lion are in God’s world.

God is multifaceted; “I heard the voice of many waters.” (Revelation 1:15). God is Spirit (John 4:24). God is Light (I John 1:5). God is Love (I John 4:16). God is Elohim— Three in One, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Friends, that’s a paradox.

God’s world and our world have seven continents, not just one. There are seven days in a week, seven colors in a rainbow, and seven notes in the musical scale. There were 12 tribes, not just one tribe, that made the nation of Israel. God created the world to reveal the genius of the “both/and” mindset. God integrates seemingly opposite viewpoints that reveal the complexity and wonder of God.

Those who embrace an “either/or” way of thinking or dualism struggle with this. Dualism views most everything adversarial: us/ them, win/lose, right/wrong, either/or, “Me Tarzan, you Jane;” or in today’s world, “Me Jane, you Tarzan.” But that’s not what the mind of Christ is all about.

Let me explain. Years ago, I rented a 15-person van to take our junior high children on a ministry trip. As we were traveling, I looked in the back seats and noticed all the junior high kids had earphones on with their favorite CDs blasting in their ears. No one was talking. Each junior higher was on the bus but listening to their favorite tunes with eyes glazed over and heads straight forward.

That incident reminds me of these current times. Just like those junior high kids, all of us are on a journey together, but polarized, listening to our tunes, themes, social causes, emphasis, etc. There’s nothing wrong with a cause or issue if we understand that our “thing” will never be everything. You may be correct, but you’re partially right, and you are out of balance. Other things and other themes around us affect what you want to do that you need to consider.

Let’s put our concept of the genius of the “both/and” into current issues in our world.

Here are a few of the hundreds of examples in Scripture from God’s perspective of the “both/and” concept. God created and loved both the Jew and the Gentile. (Romans 1:16); God loves both women and men (Galatians 3:28); God created the value of both young and old (Acts 2:17); God loves both the rich and poor (Ephesians 6:5-9); God gives us both grace and truth (John 1:14); God created both heaven and earth (1 Corinthians 15:40); God has appointed times for both the mortal and immortal. (1 Corinthians 15:53). God loves all races, not just one race. (Revelation 5:9).

These seemingly contradictory opposite viewpoints complement and complete one another. Opposites attract. If they are smart, they negotiate the differences. Think of it, our differences don’t go away, but our hostilities can. The rough edge of another person may be the very tool that sharpens you. You can’t sink someone else’s end of the boat and keep your end afloat.

Let’s rise from the scarcity of “either/or” paradigm and ascend to the abundance of “both/and” paradigm. The way is yours, take it.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. Ed has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy. com. Ed may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.

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THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Cal Vander Kooi: Designing from the trees

BY SHEA STANFIELD

Foothills Focus Contibutor

It’s been said “an artist who works with his hands, his head, and his heart at the same time creates a masterpiece.”

In the world of wood turning, the combination is evident in Cal Vander Kooi’s work.

Born and raised on a dairy farm in Worthington, Minnesota, Vander Kooi finds it’s second nature to work with his hands. He utilizes those skills as a collision repair technician for 46 years. The combination of hands-on work, keen eye for detail and commitment to precision work made him a highly sought-after craftsman.

In 1985, the Vander Kooi family left the frozen landscapes of Minnesota winters for the sun, warmth and natural terrain of the Arizona desert.

“I am at the top of an enormous

Cal Vander Kooi’s bowl of acacia. (Photo courtesy of Cal Vander Kooi)

family tree, with three children, eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren,” Vander Kooi said.

He began is journey into woodworking during the 2009 Christmas season.

“It was Christmas of 2009 when I received my first equipment to begin turning wood,” he said.

He was inspired by his brother-inlaw, Mark Wachal, who took a wood-

see DESIGN page 21

DESIGN from page 20

turning class in Colorado. Vander Kooi is considered a “natural.” He gifted one of his first bowls to his wife for Valentine’s Day.

“We no longer have a pile of firewood,” he said. “Instead, I see each piece of raw material as a piece of art waiting to be created.”

Vander Kooi lets his creative energies take him where they may.

“I view each piece as an individual, sometimes, pieces of wood will just sit in my workshop for days or weeks before I hear what should be made from it,” he said.

For this reason, each finished piece is unique. Even his sets of wine goblets are not an exact match.

Membership in the American Association of Woodturners and the Arizona Woodturners Association has given Vander Kooi a deeper understanding in technique.

A Mesa resident, Vander Kooi works in his home studio/workshop and has set up a gallery there as well. For an appointment, call 480-5600137.

Vander Kooi’s public presence is with On The Edge Gallery in Scottsdale and the Fountain Hills Artists Gallery.

For more information, email calvanderkooi@hotmail.com or visit calvanderkooi.com.

O’BRIEN from page 18

to work combining his talents in design, mechanics, electronics and photography.

Reilluminated Lamps was born, where his creativity and handy work come together. He recycles items to “bring in the light.”

O’Brien’s inaugural project was a lamp constructed from his 1922 Kodak A1 Camera.

“We live in a throw away society,” O’Brien said. “Things just are not made like they use to be to last for many years. So, the items I use now have a second life to inspire others to reconsider, repurposing items into useful objects.” His career change paid off. O’Brien won first place as “Best Creative Reuse” at the Tempe Arts Festival in the fall of 2019 and his lamps have been in high demand since. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 lockdown put the arts and performances on lockdown. As a result, O’Brien has not participated in his usual large shows. He is still represented by two area galleries that have remained open to the public with precautions—On the Edge in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills Artists Gallery. His work can also be viewed on his website, reilluminatedlamps.com. He accepts commissions, so don’t throw or give away gear boxes, wheels with broken sprockets, broken bicycle chains or old cameras. For more information, email him at reilluminated.life@gmail. com. Mystery wood with walnut finish by Cal Vander

Kooi. (Photo courtesy of Cal Vander Kooi)

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