Terra Nostra, where dishes from around the world are served in the traditional Spanish tapas style, is opening on Frazier Avenue in North Chattanooga
The new restaurant will also feature a selection of 50 wines, including 25 by the glass.
Beginning March 26, the restaurant will be open to the public from 4:00-9:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday and 4-10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
"Tapas originated in Spain," explained Terra Nostra¹s co-owner and executive chef Efren Ormaza.
"Tapas means small plates of every kind of food, from traditional appetizers to little tastes of what would normally be a main course. In Europe and South America, you can see people stopping for one tapa plate as a quick snack after work or before a performance, or making a full meal from two or three tapas."
Efren Ormaza was formerly executive chef for seven years at 212 Market. He is co-owner with his wife Gema Ormaza, who also worked for 212 Market as a pastry chef. Both received classical training as chefs in Ecuador. They have made Chattanooga their home since 1993.
According to food author Penelope Casas, tapas are not necessarily a particular kind of food, but rather a style of eating and a way of life: a table of friends, a leisurely mix of food and conversation.
In creating the new restaurant, the Ormazas are beginning from the traditional Spanish tapas style to create a unique dining experience featuring international cuisine from many countries. The restaurant¹s name, "Terra Nostra," reflects this international orientation.
"We chose the name Terra Nostra, which means 'our land' in Italian, even though our native language is Spanish," said co-owner Gema Ormaza.
"We didn¹t want people to think the food would be only Spanish or Mexican or Latin American. We are serving dishes from our original homeland, which is Ecuador, and from our new home in America, and from other countries that have given the world great food."
The restaurant will feature dishes from Italy, Spain, France, North and South America, the Caribbean and Asia. The menu will change weekly, featuring a variety of tapa plates, soups and desserts, most priced below $6.00. Wines by the glass will be priced from $3.50 to $7.00. Tapas dishes planned for the first few weeks include paella, shrimp diablo, cumin pork, asiago crusted lamb chop, duck breast with foie gras and orange glace, portobello vegetable tower, Greek farmer¹s tapa, smoked mozzarella ravioli, and ratatouille with tomato sauce.
Terra Nostra will serve lunch, dinner and take out. There will be indoor seating for 40 and outdoor seating for 20. The interior, by architect Frank McDonald, features high ceilings and warm colors. The decor will be complemented by paintings created by Gema Ormaza¹s two sisters, accomplished artists who live in Ecuador. The interior build out was done by Wallis Construction.
Terra Nostra is located one block from the intersection of Market Street and Frazier Avenue at 105 Frazier Avenue, between Birkenstock and Bone Apetit, phone: 634-0238.