Seminole Heights Restaurant Creates House-Made Masa for Mexican Dishes

Con Amor in Seminole Heights produces fresh masa daily to craft traditional Mexican tortillas and specialty items like massachini and chochoyotes. The restaurant opened at 5240 North Florida Ave. Doors swing open Tuesday through Sunday.

Owner Taylor Dillon grinds corn in the kitchen with seasonings and binding agents. This creates the dough. The masa becomes the foundation for chips, tamales, tortillas, and other dishes.

"Con Amor is my perception of modern Mexican," said Dillon, according to FOX 13. "It's everything that I've learned throughout the years of being a chef and it's what we want to share with Tampa Bay."

The restaurant features tlatoyos, a masa pocket filled with cheese and beans. Dillon grills this dish instead of cooking it on a plancha or in an oven. It's a method that sets the place apart.

Chochoyotes appear on the menu as a dumpling similar to gnocchi. Massachini, a stuffed masa dumpling, gets fried before it reaches the table.

"I just want people to experience a little deeper dive into Mexican cuisine, know what fresh masa tastes like," said Dillon. "Because just that alone, like just the tortilla on a taco, will change it completely."

The menu draws inspiration from multiple regions across Mexico. A large portion of dishes come from Oaxaca in the southern part of the country, where ancient techniques still thrive.

Each taco has its own identity. Unique ingredients don't cross over to other items. Quesadillas use the house-made masa dough, creating a different result than standard versions you might find elsewhere.

"The food, I think, is also very fun, you know," said Dillon. "You get dishes and there's just a variety of colors going on. All the food is very deep and flavorful."

The venue is open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours and menus are available on the restaurant's website.