Luna Mexican Restaurant

Mariel Montero Sena sits at a table at her restaurant, Huma Mexican Comfort, on the corner of Argyll Road and 99 Street — the vibrant décor with multi-coloured table clothes and bright orange walls matches her energy. When Mariel appeared on Chopped Canada in 2014, the show where chefs use specific ingredients to compete in three rounds, the host said she’d brought a “ray of sunshine” to the show.

Her goal with Huma, which she opened in 2015, with her partner, was to create a menu full of Mexican favourites — comfort dishes that are accessible and simple. But Mariel’s idea of simplicity might differ from most. Many of the dishes are complex in flavour and full of unique ingredients. The Tacos De Alambre De Res comes with a stir-fried mixture of black forest ham, bacon, shaved beef, peppers, mushrooms, pineapple and cheese — it’s just one example of Mexican dishes you may not see anywhere else in the city.