Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Cervin.
Hi Johnny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well, my story doesn’t start with me going to school or getting any type of culinary training. I learned from watching my father he was a backyard cook, family BBQ, and cookouts. When he lost his job and wasn’t able to work no more he started making carnitas in the backyard to sell so he can make ends meet; the people in the neighborhood family and friends would come by to purchase some they were so good people caught wind of it, and before you know it every weekend he was doing it out the backyard of the house I remember waking up and seeing a bunch of random people in the backyard drinking eating and taking food home even the neighborhood Borrachos will show up lol. After he passed away, I was lost I decided I needed to do something I was at a low time in my life dead-end job that I hated not feeling inspired just lost in life and all its curve balls it throws at us, and one day it came to me be a Taquero kinda like how my dad would cook in the backyard and sell carnitas well I’ll do the same but for private events (birthday parties weddings baby showers Etc) not really street sales more like private hire. One night my friend and I were drinking in my front yard. We were both at a low places trying to figure out our next move and how to survive in this world. I shared my idea with him at first, he didn’t really see the vision I had cause he didn’t know much about it or my dad’s backyard talents, but he encouraged me to do it. I had to do something my girl was pregnant with my son I needed to provide for them, and my oldest daughter my girl was super supportive of my idea she loves tacos so she encouraged me gave ideas, and was my biggest critic (like I said she loves tacos) The idea was great but I had to get over myself I was embarrassed and thought people would laugh at me see in my early years I was known for my street dancing I was on many TV adds commercials videos, etc I even had one of the biggest Super Bowl commercials in 2002 (Levi’s Crazy legs) it was huge it change my life but with a blink of an eye it was all gone. (That’s another story) but because of all that, I was embarrassed and thought people would laugh at me and say how’s he gonna go from being up there to now cooking tacos for us in our backyard it was something I was fighting with myself mentally but after I got over myself I figured out people weren’t thinking that it was me thinking that of myself I needed to embrace who I once was and who I now am and once I got over it I went full force people really embraced me and encouraged me, and now here I am today almost 7 years later making tacos and living life off it making people smile and saving lives one taco at a time 😁
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?
It’s never a smooth road anyone ever tells you that they’re lying lol. Lots of obstacles and challenges finding good help is always gonna be one, although I do have great employees despite all the headaches they gave me lol. finding quality foods and at a fair price since Covid, the prices have gone up tremendously, broken down equipment and vehicles. And the biggest Obstacle is you and your own mind the challenges that come with it anxiety, stress, negative thoughts second guessing yourself once you overcome those obstacles, you can be something great.
I was a bad accident last year lost the food truck I work so hard for, but it’s ok I’m alive, and I didn’t hurt anyone; now it’s time to rebuild where I once was after the storm comes the light
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, we all have our different styles of doing what we do. I like to think we are creative by the way we cook and the titles to some of our foods like we have the Darko Marco Quesadilla we have the Junkie Taco we also have the Drunkie Taco, just ideas flavors, and style of us doing our thing it’s nothing special, but it’s our special way of doing things.
What do you think about luck?
It’s not luck; it’s blessing and curses, and we’ve experienced them both we have our good days and our bad days, but it’s how we deal with it that matters. Take it one day at a time
Contact Info:
- Website: www.27Junkies.com
- Instagram: @tacojunkies
- Facebook: Johnny Burst Rock Cervin
- Yelp: Tacojunkies
- Other: Personal Ig @burstrock27junkies
Image Credits
Truvision Media
Jason Alonso
Wicked Willie G
Milagro Ent
