Maria's Paella

Maria Perez started cooking as so many do, at home helping mom and dad get food on the table. That extensive experience with “prep” work led her to a job in the kitchen at Rio City cafe as a young woman who came to America to help take care of her grandmother. She took English classes and became proficient enough to move to being a server at Zocalo. After nearly a decade in restaurants she said “good riddance” and became a full time real estate agent.  But then Covid hit and being stuck at home got her cooking for her friends and neighbors, and that feeling of love and community, and the tragic loss of her brother had her reevaluating life, and pulled her back into the kitchen.  She launched Maria’s Paella at the Midtown Farmer’s Market and hasn’t looked back. People wait in a long line to get a taste of her paella and original empanadas, which she fills with the taste of her heritage, lived experience and love.   Check out Maria’s Paella at her website and instagram   Subscribe to our show or send someone the link to our website dineonesix.com   Follow us @dineonesix   Email us [email protected] or [email protected]