Our story begins with her. A strong, spirited Cuban woman with an unmatched gift for cooking, she made the life-changing decision to leave her beloved homeland in search of freedom. Leaving behind everything she knew, she floated across the ocean to the United States, driven by the dream of a better future for her children and the flavors of home carried in her heart.

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A few years later, in the early 1990s, during one of the most desperate chapters in Cuban history—la crisis de los balseros—her children followed her path. At the time, Cubans were not allowed to leave the country legally. The economy was collapsing, food was scarce, and the government tightened its grip. In an act of pure defiance and hope, our family joined the wave of thousands who rebelled against the regime, building makeshift rafts from scraps of wood, inner tubes, and anything that could float.
 

With nothing but courage and faith, they set sail into the unknown, risking their lives across treacherous waters for a chance at freedom. Many did not survive. But by the grace of God, our family did—and they were reunited with our grandmother on American soil.

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Together again, they turned survival into purpose. In 1983, she had already laid the foundation with her food, her stories, and her spirit. After their arrival, the family poured their hearts into the restaurant, making it not just a business, but a home for their culture and community. Today, over 40 years later, that same home stands strong.