Today we’d like to introduce you to Gustavo Aristizabal.
Hi Gustavo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I arrived in Orlando, Florida, seven years ago I started working in a Colombian-Peruvian restaurant, my duties were washing the fryers and cleaning the kitchen, then I started working as a dishwasher and in preparation. Little by little, I was moving up the roles and I got to the customer service part where I was involved in cleaning the tables and the restaurant, then I was a waiter and bartender.
This awakened in me the passion for gastronomy. After working in Mexican restaurants and studying Mexican gastronomy, I loved the culinary techniques that they use with the spices and the way of grinding to season and marinate the food.
In 2018 I had the opportunity to partner with my cousin and his wife to create the first Mexican food concept with which we impacted the East Orlando, FL area. Creating this restaurant was a blessing because it has given me the knowledge and experience to continue learning every day from this beautiful Mexican culture.
One of my biggest and most ambitious plans has been to create the best experience in contact with the guest and restaurant, being part of the cooking and mixing starting from the visualization in front of your table. We have opened the doors of Cocina Maya Mexican Grill & Mezcaleria on December 10, 2021, achieving this ambitious project of creating this experience. We have managed to carry out practices involving cooking, flamed, and smoked in front of our guest’s tables.
We have had a very good response to our concept and I envision the future by expanding our brand.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Success always requires hard work. and the best reward I can get is the great results we have had. The pandemic has been a challenge for everyone that has had a strong impact on the socio-economic side, but perseverance is what has kept us afloat and with good results.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I lived in Colombia, I studied industrial engineering, I moved to the United States in 2015 and I could not finish my degree. I have always been passionate about business, customer service, and the development of production processes. With this project, I have been able to develop myself by applying the experiences and knowledge acquired during my life.
Creativity is something that I could say is what makes the difference, and this is what I have focused on the most to achieve my goals.
What’s next?
In the near future, I am working to expand our brand with strategic points and arrive with new concepts in Central Florida.
The biggest challenge I have now is to work to create our sustainable restaurant concept, where we want most of our species and vegetables to be harvested on our own farms near our restaurant.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cocinamayamez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocinamayamezcaleria
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocinamayamezcaleria
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cocina-maya-mexican-grill-and-mezcaleria-lake-mary
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cocinamayamezcaleria
