Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Machado.
Hi Liz, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Vegan Cuban Cuisine is a Family own business. My partner Steven and I (Liz) started this wonderful business back in 2018 from our own kitchen. The idea was born out of a family event where my mother in Law (Sheila Rodriguez) knowing his son (steven) is Vegan, took a veganized Imperial Rice just so he can enjoy the traditional Cuban dish. It became the center of attention at the party and everyone was Intrigued to try. That same day, we discovered that not only vegan Cuban food can taste Delicious but also, that Miami had no dedicated Vegan Cuban Restaurant. We started the grow the business by going to local farmers markets, keeping a very active social media presence, and always getting huge support from our family.
Then, the magic happened, something more powerful than us awaked inside and occupied our thinking and actions. We started to see the power in our mission and committed to bringing the Miami community the best Vegan Cuban Cuisine. We started introducing new menu items and they all became a success, not only in the Plant-Based Community but also meat-eaters started to discover that vegan food can be a healthier and more sustainable alternative. All of our recipes are Abuelitas approve and are made mostly with Organic or NoN-GMO ingredients. After more than one year of receiving incredible support from our community, we open our first Store Front on September 15, 2020. Our Store located at 9640 SW 72nd Street Miami, FL 33173 is a Ventanita concept with limited outdoor sitting area (no dine-in). We created a system where our customers can order online for deliver or pickup and can also stop by our Plant-Based Ventanita to order for outdoor dining or take-out. Vegan Cuban Cuisine is not only committed to giving the Miami community the incredible option of enjoying plant-based Cuba food but also we take care of our environment by being a Plastic Free business and using only eco-friendly disposable containers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacle we faced was to have non-vegans give our food a try. We wanted to make sure we not only provided delicious food but also educated our community on how small changes in our eating habits can make not only a difference in our health but also in protecting this wonderful planet we all share together.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
(Liz) I have a Masters’s in Architecture from Florida International University (FIU). I have always been involved in environmental work in school and as well in my personal life. I have volunteered at Miami-Dade Environmental Center and being involved in Beach Cleans around our community. I practice architecture for more than two years and got to experience how the love for our environment starts from the simple material use in the building of our homes to the small decisions we make daily. After having our first son (Liam) my partner (Steven) and I started to identify what our priorities were and make sure they aligned with our daily actions. I became vegan for health reasons since I suffered from constant joint pain that will interfere with my daily activities. I sought medical advice and was recommended to consume painkillers for the rest of my life to alleviate the pain. As a 25-year-old at that time, it was concerning to hear such advice from a medical professional. I started my own research and educated myself about the benefits of a plant-based diet and all the medical studies that support its powerful benefits on reducing inflation. It was incredible to discover how our own food can be our medicine or our killer. (Steven) I am known as the family geek guy.
I started my career as a major in Computer Information systems and then move to develop a passion for marketing and the advertising world. I consider myself a free thinker and risk-taker with a strong business-oriented mindset. I always dreamed of creating my own business that will align with my personal belief and help me give something valuable to my community. While working closely with many local businesses helping them develop and grow, it became clear to me that there is nothing more inspiring than offering a product or service in which you believe and find passion. Vegan Cuban Cuisine is our passion and we are more than happy to keep bringing our community the best Vegan Cuban Food. I became vegan for ethical reasons and have found it very rewarding to know my diet makes me feel good physically and mentraly. Just like Liz I was born in Cuba and came to Miami at the beginning of my teenage years. I have a love for our Cuban Culture, our food, traditions, and creating Vegan Cuban Cuisine has given us the opportunity to keep our tradition alive in just a plant-based way.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Behind every local business, there is incredible support from friends and family. We have been extremely fortunate to have unconditional support from our family like Sheila Rodrigues (Stevens Mom-Cook) who by veganising our first recipe (Imperial Rice) she gave us the confidence and inspired us to develop many more delicious plant-based Cuban recipes for our community to enjoy. We also had family members like Naidy Rodriguez (Stevens Aunt-cook) and Keven Machado (Liz Brother-Farmers Markets Coordinator) who believed in our dream even when things looked dark and kept pushing us to move forward. We also had the support of local Businesses who gave us the opportunity to offer our product in their store and so halo us develop our brand. Important to mention are Aguacate Sanctuary of Love, Mana Life Food, Nabati Ice Cream, Suit Habana Cafe and Alis Sweet Treats.
Pricing:
- “Ham” Croquetas $2
- Cubano Sandwich $12
- Imperial Rice $13
- Frita $12
- Pastelitos $2.75
Contact Info:
- Email: vegancubancuisine@gmail.com
- Website: VeganCubanCuisine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegancubancuisine/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vegancubancuisine/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vegan-cuban-cuisine-miami-5
- Other: VeganCubanCuisine.menu
Image Credits
Film For You (photographer Kelly Rostran)
