I've had a lifelong passion for cooking and always loved to feed family and friends. As a kid, I would hover around my Granny and quietly observe how she cooked. On weekend mornings, I made pretend menus out of loose-leaf paper and would take my parents' breakfast or lunch orders. I enjoyed cooking for them and serving them as this soon became my love language.
I've had a lifelong passion for cooking and always loved to feed family and friends. As a kid, I would hover around my Granny and quietly observe how she cooked. On weekend mornings, I made pretend menus out of loose-leaf paper and would take my parents' breakfast or lunch orders. I enjoyed cooking for them and serving them as this soon became my love language.
I had childhood dreams of going to culinary school, but never found my way there. I was afraid of failure and the notorious aggressive back-of-house dynamic. Instead, I was drawn to the hustle of the nightlife scene and found myself thriving behind the bar making cocktails and conversation.
I had childhood dreams of going to culinary school, but never found my way there. I was afraid of failure and the notorious aggressive back-of-house dynamic. Instead, I was drawn to the hustle of the nightlife scene and found myself thriving behind the bar making cocktails and conversation.
Over the years, I experimented with cooking at home and learned so much about patience, resourcefulness and letting creativity take form through food. I learned that failure is necessary to improve. After losing my grandparents and their recipes, it became my mission to learn my ancestors' craft and create new recipes of my own to keep family tradition alive.
Over the years, I experimented with cooking at home and learned so much about patience, resourcefulness and letting creativity take form through food. I learned that failure is necessary to improve. After losing my grandparents and their recipes, it became my mission to learn my ancestors' craft and create new recipes of my own to keep family tradition alive.
In March 2020, I lost my bartending job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and found a deeper joy and solace cooking at home. I started to experiment more and walk outside of my comfort zone. After endless days of cooking for myself, I missed serving and connecting with the community of industry peers. During the holidays of 2020, I started making empanadas for family and close friends in order to reconnect with others through something that gave them comfort in a very uncertain time.
In March 2020, I lost my bartending job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and found a deeper joy and solace cooking at home. I started to experiment more and walk outside of my comfort zone. After endless days of cooking for myself, I missed serving and connecting with the community of industry peers. During the holidays of 2020, I started making empanadas for family and close friends in order to reconnect with others through something that gave them comfort in a very uncertain time.
Empanadas aka "pastelitos" or "pastelillos" are a holiday tradition and can be enjoyed as a year-round treat. Depending on where you live, it's a rare sighting to find someone selling them in their cart.
Empanadas aka "pastelitos" or "pastelillos" are a holiday tradition and can be enjoyed as a year-round treat. Depending on where you live, it's a rare sighting to find someone selling them in their cart.
This is an homage to all the home chefs who are self-taught + hustle unapologetically.
This is an homage to all the home chefs who are self-taught + hustle unapologetically.
My goal is to offer you homemade, authentic flavors inspired by my cultural background in my own interpretation and style. My empanadas are frozen and offer a convenient solution for a bomb-ass treat you can easily prepare at home anytime.
My goal is to offer you homemade, authentic flavors inspired by my cultural background in my own interpretation and style. My empanadas are frozen and offer a convenient solution for a bomb-ass treat you can easily prepare at home anytime.
This project has been able to satisfy two things I love: to create something that honors my ancestors and deliver happiness through food.
This project has been able to satisfy two things I love: to create something that honors my ancestors and deliver happiness through food.
I am grateful to have this opportunity to bring a little nostalgia to your palette and offer a delicious new experience in the comfort of your own home.
I am grateful to have this opportunity to bring a little nostalgia to your palette and offer a delicious new experience in the comfort of your own home.
Stay safe and stay fed.
Stay safe and stay fed.
Cheers, Ricky
Cheers, Ricky
