We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pedro O. Perez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pedro O. below.

Hi Pedro, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Like many, the dream to come to the US was the only thing I had to start with. So, I started it by getting here. It is not easy for immigrants starting from scratch. There is lack of support, you are here without family or established systems. It’s harder but not impossible. I joke about how my background is Italian because my first job was washing dishes at a local Italian restaurant. I never had dreams to come and open my own restaurant, but I found my way into the kitchen and my pathway changed. Working in that setting developed an appreciation for flavors and a love of how they brought me home in that moment. Memories that couldn’t be seen but only remembered through taste. I wanted to keep those memories alive for my Kids (before I had them )but also bring that experience to others. We wanted to share a little bit from our home to yours. So, our mission was born. We wanted to bring our flavors to your front door just like you would with authentic street food. The simple yet unforgettable flavor blends from southern Mexico and Central America. iUn poquito de lo nuestro con sabor!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are Delicias Maya, an authentic comida Latina food truck.

In 2018, after years of working in the food industry, chef and menu innovator, Pedro O. Perez decided to open his first food truck in Katy, Texas.

Drawing on his traditional Mayan roots and incorporating the flavors of South Mexican and Central American cuisines, he brings an authentic yet distinctive flavor experience of street food straight to your neighborhood.

“Each of our delicacies we serve have the freshest ingredients. My love and passion for food and cooking has really inspired me to share these flavors with others.”

– Pedro O. Perez

Whether you’re craving chilaquiles for breakfast, a spicy torta for lunch, or a cup of elote for a snack, you’ll find all your favorites here!

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

We participate in Ecommerce in a limited way for delivery services. We have done the research to try to expand some of our products through online platforms but have found it not to be cost effective. As a small business we cannot afford to use online platforms because of all their fees. One platform asked for a flat rate, a delivery fee, and even an additional percentage of sales. As far as expanding for food sales, there have been other companies that have reached out to help with our site but do not provide anything additional (except for fees) to what we already have offered through platforms like Square in use with DoorDash, GrubHub, or UberEats. All these fees easily add up to be over 50% of sales and when you add in food and labor costs, it leaves us with nothing. Algorithms on these platforms are also not small business friendly. What we have found is that these platforms do not work well for us

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Believe in what you are doing. We have struggled. Many factors throughout the last couple of years have kept us on our toes. COVID19 came in and challenged everyone. Currently we are faced with the rise in prices for everything. We continue to look for ways to grow including opening our salsa line. We also have a product called Sabor de Olla which time travels you back to Abuelita’s cafe de olla in the form of a simple syrup to add to your everyday cup of coffee. Each of our products hold our mission close to heart as we think of the flavors we bring to your table. Our products are available in local markets throughout Houston. We also enjoy working with the community in pop-up markets and school events. What keeps us pushing is knowing that success comes from consistency and hard work. We continue because we have family and purpose. I believe in the simplicity and love of food. People want to experience other cultures. It is also our responsibility for our future generations to teach them to be independent and self-supporting and what better way to do that through food and family business. Food will always bring people together.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deliciasmaya.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliciasmaya1/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Thedeliciasmaya1

Image Credits
Pedro O. Perez /Michelle A. Saker