Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Rosales
Hi Isabel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m originally from Chicago and I moved to San Diego 8 years ago. When I moved here, I couldn’t find tamales that I liked and so I started making them from home. One day at Mujeres Brew House, I saw that they were having a tamale night, where you can go sell homemade tamales on a Tuesday night in December, so I signed up and I loved it! That was the start of pop ups for my tamales. Every year I’ve gone back to sell at tamale night at Mujeres Brew House since 2021 it’s so much fun. I would sell them at work and to friends and then one day in 2022, I heard on the radio there was a tamale contest so I entered it and I won 3rd place. I’ve always had a passion for cooking, I’ve taken the leap to run my business full time and now I offer catering services and tamales all year around. I love to join pop up markets in Barrio Logan and serve my community. For me, this opportunity was not always something that I was able to do as I was in a domestic violence relationship for 16 years, getting out of that relationship and regaining my confidence and life back has allowed me to go after my dreams and hope for a brighter future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road for me but it has been fun. I am a single parent of 3 teenagers and the sole provider for them, so for the first 3 years of being on our own, I couldn’t think about my dreams, I could only think about surviving and ensuring that my children and I were getting the appropriate care and healing we needed at the time. I knew though that it was possibly an option for me to finally run my business in some shape or form, I kept cooking for pot lucks at work and catering and decorating co-workers parties in their homes, all while keeping my full time job and running every day life for 3 teenagers as a single mom. Financially, it’s always been a struggle because when I wanted to join a pop up and sell tamales, I also had to pay rent or I had to get groceries for the week or I had to pay the phone bill but I would take the risk and bet on myself and use my money for bills and make the best version of my tamales and sell them all, ensuring enough money to pay my bills and put back the money that I had taken from. Long nights and sleepless weekends have been a constant but it’s worth it, I’m able to provide an experience to my community and to families through my food. Getting my business started and finding time for me to solely focus on my business has been a challenge and so I have decided to focus on it full time, I want to dedicate myself to my business to show my kids it’s never to late to go after your dreams, and you are truly capable of fulfilling your dreams if you believe in yourself
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I make tamales, I am best known for the tamales preparados at the pop
Up Markets around the Barrio Logan area. I serve you a tamal of your choice and I add homemade yummy salsa, lettuce, sour cream and Queso cotija. I also cater food – breakfast, lunch or dinner. Anything I would make for my kids at home to eat, I can make in large quantities for you to enjoy with your families and guests at your parties. I also offer desserts such as cake pops, chocolate strawberries and mini cheesecake bites and do a wide range of balloon decorations for any type of party. I think what sets me apart from others is my connection to people, I try to understand your needs, work with you to get the best package possible to serve your guests and I try to be flexible. Also, being a resource to help you find all your party needs and have a memorable celebration.
I’m proud of the name I have been able to make for myself in the community. That people can rely on me and they can refer me to a friend or one of their clients with no hesitation because they know that I will take care of them with the best intentions. I’ve been able to start to build a positive pathway for myself as well for my children into a community that has embraced us with so much love and support.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is to always network, to
Always connect, especially in our community. We all have our strengths and we all can help each other and learn from each other, inspire each other. That has worked for me. It was putting myself out there and allowing myself to meet so many wonderful clients, vendors, business owners, entrepreneurs, staples in the community that I have learned from and I have taken a seed from and planted within me. That I have been able to be that resource for others and it empowers me to continue to give hope to others that no matter what situation you come from you do deserve a beautiful life and you can attain it with the mentorship and support of community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @_isas_sweets
