Maranta Plant Shop, which opened its doors at 1739 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in April, will be expanding their offerings with a new food trailer, Tostada by Maranta will feature tostadas and agua frescas (including vegan and vegetarian options) made with locally sourced ingredients.
The new food operation, which will debut on Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 3 to 9 p.m., is a partnership between Maranta co-owners Michelle Alfaro and Mag Rodriguez along with Dominique Alvarado, whose culinary projects have included Algo Dulce and Cena Familiar.
“When we opened our doors, we knew that we wanted to be more than just a plant shop,” says Rodriguez. “We wanted to be a community gathering space. Tostada will only add to our mission.”
The food trailer will showcase original tostadas created with fillings using local produce and meat and tostada shells made with organic corn sourced in Madison by latinx producers. Both meat and vegetable offerings will be featured as well as agua frescas including lavender horchata and mango mint flavors. During the grand opening event, Maranta will also offer 30% off all houseplants.
“There is a deep-rooted story of resilience in my cooking and I am excited to share it with my community,” notes Alvarado. “I’ve combined my favorite flavors to craft a flavourful spin on the often very basic tostada.”
According to the collaborators, the grand opening will be “a day for both food lovers, plant lovers and the larger community to share and celebrate some of the flavors of Milwaukee in COVID-19 safe parameters.”
Tostada by Maranta will be 100% contactless with all orders placed via Tostada’s CashDrop website. Prepared orders will be placed on a shelf in front of the trailer for pickup. All employees will be wearing masks, and masks for customers are highly encouraged.
“Coming together through plants and food is an intersection that reminds me of family dinners and tradition,” adds Alfaro. “Combining history and culture in ways people can connect to a homestyle experience through traditional eatery.”
Opening hours for Tostada by Maranta will be Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Starting Aug. 25, the eatery will offer expanded hours Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner. Sunday hours will remain 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Follow TostadaMKE on Instagram for updates.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
.jpeg)
