Hello friendly faces! It’s that time of the week! We’re back with a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law. This week we’re introducing you to the lovely Winnetka mom of two, Ally Saad. Ally runs events, communications and marketing for Wilmette’s newly opened Fajita Pete’s. This Texas-based restaurant is serving up great Tex-Mex food fast, and is the first of five Fajita Pete’s restaurants to open in Illinois. Chicago North Shore Moms chatted with Ally about the concept behind this restaurant chain, her favorite time-saving and mouth-watering dishes, and she shares a discount code for your next order! Pro tip: this restaurant offers free delivery within a 3 mile radius of the store! Welcome, Ally and congratulations on the birth of your second child and the sizzling opening of Fajita Pete’s Wilmette!
Photo credit: Abagail Joyce Studios
Hi Ally! Please introduce yourself and your family.
Hi! I’m Ally, I’m originally from Minneapolis, MN and currently live in Winnetka with my family. We moved to Winnetka a few years ago from Los Angeles for my husband’s job, and we instantly fell in love with the community! The supportive and friendly environment, coupled with excellent schools and beautiful scenery, makes it an ideal place to raise our family. We also love the small businesses, like Fajita Pete’s of course, and anything local in downtown Winnetka.
My husband and I met at work in Illinois, so Chicago will always have a special place in our heart and is now home. We have two wonderful children, Claire (almost 2), who is a total firecracker and loves learning Spanish with her uncle Teddy and auntie Vero, and Mark Andrew (newborn), has no idea what he’s in for with his big sister. I also can’t forget our adorable Bernese Mountain dog, Louie.
Photo credit: Abagail Joyce Studios
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
When I was in high school I started my own business called “A Barbie Birthday Bash” where I dressed up as Barbie and entertained at birthday parties!
What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent?
We absolutely love getting free delivery from Fajita Pete’s, of course! Chicken Fajitas for 4 is not only delicious, but feeds our entire family and leaves me with leftovers that taste even better the next day! Besides that, our favorite spots include our local watering hole, Fred’s Garage, for outdoor dining and live music. For date nights, we enjoy trying new restaurants from Wilmette to Lake Forest.
What are you reading and watching?
I don’t have a ton of time to watch shows and movies, but I am trying to brush up on my Spanish so I spend my commute time trying to get in a lesson or two on Duolingo.
Your go to family-friendly dinners… go!
In addition to fajitas for 4 from Fajita Pete’s (aforementioned), another favorite is “crunchwrap” night, where we use Fajita Pete’s flour tortillas and mouth-watering queso to hand-craft a Crunchwrap. If it’s not Fajita Pete’s, we’re likely cooking something up on the grill!
Your mantra?
“She believed she could, so she did” or on a lighter note … “Keep your head, heels and standards high”
If you could choose one, what is the soundtrack to your life?
“Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. It’s a song that always lifts my spirits and reminds me to look on the bright side, no matter what challenges come my way.
Let’s get down to business. Please introduce Fajita Pete’s!
Fajita Pete’s is your go-to for family meals and caterings for fresh fajitas, tex-mex favorites, and margaritas by the gallon. We offer carry-out, delivery and catering and everything (including the tortillas) are made fresh. My brother, Teddy, and his wife Veronica chose to open Texas-based Fajita Pete’s here in Illinois because there’s nothing this delicious in Chicago and easy for busy families along with the opportunity it presented. I help with many of the events, communications and marketing. We are actively looking to open additional locations and can’t wait to get store #2 opened. We have identified areas where expansion is likely. Permitting is fun!
Picture above: Fajita Pete’s Wilmette owners Teddy, and his wife Veronica
What makes this Tex-Mex restaurant unique to other area Mexican fast food spots?
Fajita Pete’s isn’t fast food, we are good food …. fast! We offer Tex-Mex cuisine, which is known for fajitas, queso, flautas and more. Everything is made to order, from scratch, including the handmade flour and corn tortillas. We also have vegetarian options too! We don’t have any sit-down space, but are focused on offering convenience for the whole family through delivery and carryout – orders can be ready in as little as 15 – 20 minutes with free delivery (within our 3 mile radius delivery zone).
Your favorite dish at Fajita Pete’s?
My favorite dish is hands down the Chicken Fajitas. They are perfectly seasoned, incredibly juicy and come with all the fixings – fresh tortillas, guacamole, salsa, and more. It’s a crowd-pleaser in our household! Mom Pro-Tip: save yourself the headache and just get the margarita (especially on those tough days!)
You’re also vice president, strategy at Old Republic General Insurance Group. Tell us a little bit about your role here.
In my role as Vice President, Strategy, I focus on developing and implementing strategic initiatives to drive growth and efficiency. I’ve been in Insurance my entire career and absolutely love it 😊
How do you carve out time for your day job, running a business and that as a mom to a toddler and a brand-new baby? It takes a village, tell us about yours’.
It definitely takes a village! My husband is incredibly supportive, and we have a wonderful nanny who helps with the kids during the day. My extended family also lives nearby and is always willing to lend a hand. I also couldn’t do it without the sanity check I get from many of my close “mom friends” on a daily basis.
Are you offering any discounts for North Shore moms at Fajita Pete’s?
As a special treat for Chicago North Shore Moms readers, use code NSMOM to enjoy $10 off orders of $40 or more! It’s our way of saying thank you for welcoming us to the neighborhood.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about Fajita Pete’s or you personally?
Our family loves to give back to the community. At Fajita Pete’s, we give back through “Spirit Night” Fundraising for schools, faith-based organizations, sports teams/leagues and non-profits. All you have to do is reach out to our Wilmette store at [email protected] to coordinate a date. We promote your “Spirit Night” through our social media and your group’s website and/or social media. Bring your friends and family on your scheduled date, and we’ll donate a portion of sales back to your organization!
And your location?
Fajita Pete’s is located at 3207 Lake Ave # 6A in Wilmette at the Southwest corner of Skokie Blvd. and Lake Ave. Call to order 224-377-8376 or click here to order online. We can’t wait to serve your family!
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSM Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
