SPINNING PLATES – THEATRICAL TRAILER from Spinning Plates on Vimeo.
Calling the now-closed Cocina de Gabby an “exceptional” restaurant even in the same breath as Chicago’s multi-Michelin-starred Alinea seems insane, but hey, it’s still cool that Gabrielle and Francisco Martinez, the couple behind the former North First Avenue Mexican restaurant, are featured in a documentary. Spinning Plates, set to hit theaters on Oct. 25, looks at three restaurants and the struggles of their owners to adapt to various types of change and difficulty. Based on the trailer, it would appear the conflict featured for Cocina de Gabby is their struggle to draw customers, a problem mentioned in our review of the place back in 2011 as well.
The film doesn’t currently have a scheduled screening in Tucson, but we’ll let you know if something comes up.
This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2013.
Cocina de Gabby has been closed for quite sometime. To bad the food was awesome.
Rita: That would probably explain why their Facebook page hasn’t been updated.
YES! Gabby’s food was exceptional. She a Paco, her husband, tried everything they could think of to stay in business. I pitched in to help them but with no customers coming to enjoy their food and hospitality, they had to close. Daily, I drive by the site of their former cocina, now a martial arts academy, noting that the sign out front still has “Cocina de Gabby” displayed and recall the very special Sunday taco bar with six different meats prepared with perfection by Gabby and Francisco, Paco. Tucson lost a good one. Paul
I ate at Gabby’s almost every day for lunch, I loved it and the style and execution was unlike anything else in Tucson. I remember how mediocre, unnuanced, and subjective the Weekly’s review of it was too (like most of their restaurant reviews). It essentially complained about small personal annoyances like not liking “runny salsa”. I remember thinking what a disservice the fool who wrote it did to these amazing people who cooked such great food.
Based on Chuckie’s comment I read the Weekly’s review linked above. What are you smoking, mang? That review was very positive and well-written, and absolutely no nitpicking as described. It made me sad I didn’t catch on to la cocina de gabby before it was too late.
I just watched the documentary “Spinning Plates” and I was curious if anyone knows what Paco and Gabby are up to. Did they ever start another restaurant? I know the director of the film set up a donation page for them. I hope they are doing OK. Thanks
Dan Gibson’s write up of this leads him to come across as an elitist snob who has missed a major point of the documentary, Spinning Plates. If you want to help la familia Martinez, you can donate here http://lacocinadegabby.weebly.com/ .
Very good and sad,I want it to try this places. Like the people and the food.good luck to the Martinez family.
Please donate to this angel cook of a woman. You can see the passion in her eyes her family. I am so surprised a town like Tuson AZ. Let this one get away. Wake up
Donate ports get this family cooking again.
Food truck ? Just a thought.