Anita’s Street Market and Tucsonans are celebrating the life of Grace Soto, who passed away on December 17 from complications with COVID-19.
Since her passing, an outpour of empathy, condolences, and memories have been shared on Facebook — a loving reminder of the respect the Tucson community has toward its culinary legends.
“Today was the hardest day of my life,” said her granddaughter, Gracie Soto, on Facebook. “She was truly an angel loved by many, a hard worker, a loving nana, my hero, and motivation. I was blessed to be able to call her my mom and nana who raised me into the woman I am today.”
Grace and her husband, Mario, opened the market more than 35 years ago, which is tucked away off the main drags of St. Mary’s and I-10 in the middle of Dunbar Springs.
The “Nana and Tata’s Miracle In Barrio Anita” toy drive that Grace Soto looked forward to every year still carried on as planned on Sunday, December 20 — a west side tradition that brings plenty of joy to the holiday season.
Before the event, Anita’s Street Market posted the following on Facebook:
“Yes, we will continue her tradition. Nana, we got this. We will make many kids happy in your memory.”
Her memories stretch further than the city of Tucson, too.
Pati Jinich, the host of the three-time James Beard Award-winning and Gracie Award-winning PBS series “Pati’s Mexican Table”, also shared memories of Grace Soto on her personal Facebook.
Terribly sad news. RIP en el cielo con los angelitos, Sen?ora Grace. You are, and will continue to be, so very loved….
Posted by Pati Jinich on Thursday, January 7, 2021
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
