Head chef of Boise’s Eureka! opens Mexican restaurant at Indian Creek Plaza
“Amano’s menu includes hand-pressed corn tortillas, 20 varieties of Mezcal and a selection of wines from the Sunnyslope wine region.”
IDAHO STATESMAN
AMANO
“Everything about Amano from its spare design to its use of authentic ingredients makes it distinctive. The sounds of Mexican music fill the air and the homage to the restaurant’s historic architecture (1902) is palpable…On a recent visit I tried (devoured) three dishes: fresh mahi mahi ceviche, chicken mole and carne asada with a salsa de molcajete. Bold, simple and direct citrus flavors enlivened the ceviche; savory spices accented the rich dark-brown mole; the marinated carne asada came with a pungent green sauce. Even the beans had a hint of heat and the rice reminded me of orzo.”
EDIBLE IDAHO
Caldwell restaurant serves free pozole while raising funds for local non-profit during the Pozole for Familias event
“In Caldwell, the Amano restaurant spent Thanksgiving Day serving free pozole to the community while raising funds to support the non-profit Advocates Against Family Violence.
‘We were just noticing that a lot of families have been impacted by Covid-19. Whether that's economically or just through losses of family members,’ said Rebecca Alamilla, co-owner of Amano. ‘We thought we have this space and we have food, and why not open up our doors and offer free pozole to families who are in need.’”
KIVI NEWS CHANNEL 6
Local organization seeks to have Magic Manna Corn harvest to provide job opportunities
“Alamilla said they received their first shipment last week, and before opening a restaurant, she was a teacher. She would see that sometimes families would need additional income during the slow agriculture season and hopes this project would support them.
“We are of the few restaurants that do the nixtamalization process. Why not use corn that’s here to support local farmers and support other people to have an extra job opportunity and support their families during this time,” Alamilla said.”
KIVI NEWS CHANNEL 6
A portal to Mexico: Idaho Chef is a finalist in the James Beard Awards
“Family and culture now lie at the center of Amano. Though unseen by the untrained eye, memories are scattered around the restaurant — traditional recipes shuffled in with new ones and plants surrounding tables, reminiscent of Mexican homes.
‘The culture of Amano is all about sharing,’ Ortiz said. ‘They’re not in it for the awards, they’re here to fill a gap that was missing in Caldwell,’ Ortiz said. Sal could not agree more.”
Emily white, idaho press
Mexican restaurant to fill old Birdstop space in downtown Caldwell
“Alamilla, who was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and raised in Santa Ana, California, is taken back to his roots when making handmade tortillas from heirloom corn, or cooking authentic dishes derived from grains grown in his home country.”
Idaho press tribune
Birria De Res Tacos With Queso Oaxaca From Salvador Alamilla
“Becca and Salvador Alamilla opened Amano, a Mexican restaurant set in a former bank lobby (complete with vaults) in Caldwell, Idaho, in August 2019. Though Caldwell has a population of just under 57,000, the Alamillas have sold close to 25,000 birria de res tacos (listed as “L.A. Birria Tacos” on the menu) during the pandemic.”
food52
A Change of Shirts: A Caldwell restaurant raises funds for racial justice-related books for students and teachers
“Sal and his wife Rebecca “Becca” Alamilla own Amano Restaurante in Caldwell. After protests against police brutality broke out around the country, they started selling Black Lives Matter T-shirts at their restaurant to raise funds for school teachers to buy books, such as The Color of Us by Karen Katz or Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh, which they can use to address racism and racial equality for their students.”
boise weekly
The Beauty in Food: Employees at Caldwell’s Amano Find Respect in Founder’s Kitchen
“However, when the restaurant decided to permanently choose a new manager, Ortiz said she was overlooked. It was a level of disappointment Ortiz said she came to expect working in an industry where gender-equality is famously lopsided.
That led to Ortiz’s leap to Amano—despite still living in Boise. From the moment she walked in things were different.
“I always knew that Sal was going to treat me and his employees right,” said Ortiz, who is just one of a handful of employees who worked with Alamilla in the past. Alamilla’s family members are also employed at Amano.
“He’s always been a role model for me,” Ortiz said, later adding, “Everyone has always had a good relationship with him.”
boise weekly
I Found a Great Taco Spot in Caldwell
“We walked into Amano and were greeted by an awesome staff inside of a super trendy and clean restaurant-- the music was on point and the vibe just felt modern. If you grew up in a Hispanic household like Mikey and I, you would instantly recognize that the drink menu was designed after the game 'Loteria'. Attention to detail was CLEAR in Amano...and that includes when it came to the food, as well.”