Iconic culinarian, author, and entrepreneur Susan Feniger and partner in chives, Mary Sue Milliken, are two celebrity chefs that have been putting DTLA on the world’s tastiest food maps for over 35 years.
Last year, Feniger and Milliken became the first women to receive the prestigious Julia Child Award, but their list of accolades, which is quite extensive, dates back over 3 decades. It’s as tasteful as their menus of delicious Mexican inspired cuisine.
From DTLA to Vegas
Now with locations (some with distinctive names) at LAX, The Huntington Library, and the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the original Border Grill on 4th and Fig presents the foundation for its restaurant peers, all serving street food-inspired regional Mexican food with a commitment to sustainability and the best quality ingredients.
SUE – SUE and More SUE’s?
Milliken and Feniger share more than just a name.
The two met at Chicago’s Le Perroquet’s all male kitchen and wasted no time showing the boys that anything they could do the girls could do better. They opened their first eatery the CITY in 1985 followed shortly by The Border Grill and have been actively sharing the spot light with their culinary vision while empowering women to join the male-dominated realm of professional cooking, ever since.
“We ditched the patriarchy long ago,” Milliken recalls, “and took charge of our own destiny.”
Border Grill then, is Border Grill now, a simple spot for authentic home cooking and street foods of Mexico inspired by the duo’s treks through the country.
Celebrity Chefs
If their faces look familiar it’s because they stirred up the The Food Network with nearly 400 episodes of the “Too Hot Tamales” and “Tamales World Tour” series. Susan has co-authored six cookbooks, including Susan Feniger’s Street Food and competed on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” in 2010.
And let’s not forget the Border Mobile always revved up for catering events.
The interior of Border Grill is colorful, airy and well lit. The bar centers the main room and diners have their choice of patio, window, bar, or posterior seating. Tables are set with the familiar heavier hand-painted ceramic dishes of Mexico designed by Mary Sue’s hubby, and architect Josh Schweitzer, who also created the glassware, uniforms, and peppermills.
The restaurants murals which line the walls and the ceilings are the works of artists, Su Huntley and Donna Muir. They act as a loose depiction of the fun of Mexico, the style of the food and the guests who enjoy it. Is anyone else noticing the number of Sue’s at the Border Grill?
Never enough! Bring Out the Sous-Chef! http://www.bordergrill.com
