26 April 4th-April 10th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Presidential Plate President Biden made a stop at longtime Phoenix Mexican restaurant El Portal. BY SARA CROCKER P resident Joe Biden paid a visit to the longtime South Phoenix Mexican restaurant El Portal on March 19. “When my wife and I bought the restaurant 25 years ago, we wanted to have a place where we could open up to the community to come and have interaction with some government officials and some elected officials,” says Earl Wilcox, who owns El Portal with his wife Mary Rose. “We never dreamt we would have a presi- dent come and visit our restaurant.” During the visit, Biden made a personal appeal to Latino voters, saying, “I need you back,” according to the Associated Press. About a quarter of expected Arizona voters in the upcoming presidential election rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump are Latino, according to the NALEO Education Fund. El Portal opened in 1947 on the corner of Second Avenue and Grant Street. The restaurant was originally owned by Mercedes Zapien. The Wilcoxes purchased it in 1999. Earl says they learned on March 15 that the campaign was interested in stopping at El Portal. “Then Saturday, Sunday and Monday was total chaos around the neighborhood,” Earl says, noting the influx of people to secure the area and ready for the event. Three generations of the Wilcox family were on hand to welcome the president and prepare finger foods, which included flautas, taquitos and guacamole that had to be prepared next door at the American Legion Post 41. “We had to turn off all the gas in the kitchen,” Earl says. “We cooked everything there and brought it in.” During the nearly two-hour visit, Earl says Biden was “real personal,” shaking the hand of every person in the space, which Earl says can hold up to 75 people. “I said, Mr. President, this is a historical. You’re lifting up our little neighborhood here, our barrio,” Earl says. “You’re really inspiring us by you coming to the restau- rant and choosing to be with us.” El Portal serves breakfast and lunch, Tuesday through Sunday, including chila- quiles and huevos rancheros as well as burritos, enchiladas and chile rellenos. El Portal is also adorned with murals by Jose Andres Giron depicting the owners as well as historic Latino and Hispanic leaders, including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Cesar Chavez. Biden spoke about economic, health and housing issues, but what Earl says resonated with him most was Biden noting the impact of the Latino vote. Earl says his family is committed to doing what they can to deliver that vote in Arizona. The Wilcox family has political ties. Earl is a former state legislator. Mary Rose is a former Phoenix city councilmember and served on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. She is currently a director on the board of Valleywise Health. The democratic duo has also hosted politicos including U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is running for Kyrsten Sinema’s U.S. Senate seat. Biden’s visit to the restaurant coincided with Arizona’s presidential preference election, winning his party’s contest handily with nearly 90% of the vote, and the launch of the Spanish language ad campaign, Latinos con Biden-Harris. Earl says that the family broke down everything after the Tuesday event and opened for normal business hours on Wednesday morning. Despite that, he says they don’t feel back to normal yet. “Because of all the publicity people have stormed the restaurant,” Earl says, noting the restaurant staff have seen dozens of new customers since Biden came to El Portal. El Portal Mexican Restaurant 117 W. Grant St. President Joe Biden visited El Portal Mexican Restaurant on March 19. During a speech at the longtime South Phoenix restaurant, he emphasized the importance of Latino voters in the upcoming election. (Photo courtesy of El Portal Mexican Restaurant) ▼ Food & Drink
