Photo by Sarah Finnegan
The new Cahaba Heights restaurant El ZunZún, opened by Satterfield’s Becky Satterfield, will feature authentic Mexican dishes such as salsas, moles and dishes cooked over open fires, a technique the owners learned in Mexico.
Becky Satterfield, owner of Satterfield’s in Cahaba Heights, has always known she had it in her to open another restaurant. And this month, she is making it happen by opening El ZunZún at 4105 Crosshaven Drive on Aug. 27.
Satterfield, who is originally from Tuscaloosa and lived in Texas for 20 years, was inspired to create the restaurant when a ruby-throated hummingbird visited her lantana, a tropical evergreen shrub, during its annual migration from as far south as Panama, through Central America and Mexico to the southeastern U.S.
“I imagined them on their 600- to 1,200-mile trip, sampling the local flavors and foraging for whatever will provide nourishment for their long voyage,” she said. “What better way to honor these little birds and to help educate people about the importance of their place in our shared ecosystem than to plan the cuisine of my new restaurant around the migratory path of our tiny ambassadors?”
The restaurant is named for the Cuban emerald hummingbird, the cousin of the ruby-throated hummingbird and nicknamed “el Zunzún.” Satterfield said by delving into research surrounding the hummingbirds and their travels, she learned more about signature ingredients, dishes and cooking styles from Mexico. She’s also made the trip south herself.
“In the last year and a half, Executive Chef Angela Schmidt and I have spent a combined three months — with no plans to stop — in Mexico, taking classes, shopping in local markets and working side-by-side with abuelas [grandmothers] who patiently [taught] us the old ways,” she said.
Together, they learned how to make authentic, freshly pressed tortillas and sampled mezcals, tequilas, antojitos (small plates, similar to snacks or appetizers) and huitlacoche (also called corn smut, a fungus that grows on corn and is known as a delicacy for tacos, quesadillas and soups, according to NPR). Satterfield said those are just a few of the tastes she hopes guests enjoy at her restaurant.
While the full menu will be kept under wraps until El ZunZún’s opening, Satterfield said she and Schmidt plan on featuring “authentic salsas, moles and dishes taught to us over open fires in rural Mexico.” Familiar dishes such as tacos, enchiladas, tamales and churros will also be available, “prepared in ways you’ve never had before,” she said.
Seafood, chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian dishes will be on the menu, too, and because of her love for pastries, Satterfield will be overseeing the creation of that portion of the menu.
“We want to honor the traditions of the culinary regions we borrow from and introduce some new flavors along the way,” she said. “We also want to raise awareness about the importance of that lesson I learned so many years ago and, if I’m being honest, am still learning today: Sit still, wait and watch. While enjoying a freshly pressed tortilla, of course.”
Even the space itself calls to the culture of Mexico with “bright and sunny decor,” decorative accents brought from or inspired by their travels and hand-made art and woodwork from artisans, Satterfield said. There is also a patio for outdoor dining and a sunroom that can be reserved for special events.
El ZunZún will be open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit el-zunzun.com, follow the restaurant on social media — @elzunzunbhm on Facebook, @el_zunzun on Instagram and @elzunzun on Twitter — or call 791-7711.
