Food is my first language — mi manera de decir “I’m here.” What some might call “cheap food” has always been, for me, a vessel — a way to root, to build comunidad, to find home away from home. Every bite carries memory; every dish is a quiet return to where we come from, a grounding, a reconnection con lo que somos y con nuestra gente.

La cocina is where I feel most free — a space to express myself sin miedo de ser vista, to have the courage to leave a mark, even if it’s just through a salsa that tells its own story. Food, for me, has never just been about flavor — it’s about people. About knowing who your people are, sharing space with them, creating something that tastes like belonging.

We learn that our differences nos hacen más fuertes. The bridges we build — through effort, through understanding — are what truly connect us.