Meet Monica Berrios | Master Chef, Puerto Rican food restaurant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Berrios and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Our Authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine foods brings a taste of our Island to Akron Ohio, which most importantly, you don’t have to travel to another city or state and relinquish our custom traditional foods in your homes with your family and friends.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I was 5 years old my grandmother gave me a butter knife and showed me how to cook Custom traditional Puerto Rican Cuisine foods, as I grew fortunately working through Restaurants along side Puerto Rico’s roads and streets gave me more professionalism in what I wanted to do in life. My Grandmother’s name is Ada elsa Rosario, and I love her for her intelligence and strength. While I visited the United States, continued to work in different restaurants and learned more about being a part of a business, My family lived in Akron Ohio and determined to introduce my Authentic Puerto rican foods at a Border Gyros Drive through, which it became a frenzy to many as the found out we were selling Our Custom foods. And learning more about licensing we had to raise capital which was very hard because we didn’t have a food truck of our own. My vision became clouded being that capital took time and we didn’t have a space of our own to distribute Puerto Rican foods.. I tried to speak to store owners and see if we can get a chance to raise capital for my food truck or space, but my barriers were our ethnicity, which stagnated us more because of discrimination here in Akron. It never stopped me to move forward Renato Camacho from the Akron and Canton Airport, had opportunity program to sell different foods at the Akron and Canton Airport. We were introduced to the News to help us but we thought we had all the licensing we needed, but didn’t and was shut down till we had proper licensing. We gradually continued to do our homework to move forward and Completed Person in Charge, Manager’s/ Safe Serv program, Connecting with Tim Dimoff and Dannika Stevenson which won the Business Pitch Completion at Bounce Innovation Hub. And became a members of the Wells Kitchen, Compass Cafe. The lesson I learned about this career that to become a business owner, you need patience, knowledge towards perseverance. We had to have a team together with those who love us and loyal to our dreams of our restaurant. We couldn’t do it by ourselves because of it’s existing circumstances in the city and coming together as a group and nation of different nationalities. Our Brand brings our recognition of our traditions and family and forsee our Customs of our Island.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Coming to Akron opened my eyes, in different values, pretty much I would show my friends and family the beauty of this City, going to the Civic Theater gives you goose bumps seeing live performances, as well as eating at the different restaurants here, especially our Restaurant at the Wells Kitchen at Compass Cafe, LA Reina Boricua LLC, with our delicious Puerto Rican Cuisine foods, as well as The Latino Bar on Arlington road. Also bringing them to see and taste the great foods at Luigi’s Restaurant, there spaghetti is so good as everything they make. Going to House 330- LeBron James business, bringing the beauty of different artist and foods to be introduced in it’s best purpose. The Animal at the Akron Zoo, is so valuable by the animals that going extinct and visiting with my friends and family broadens your vision with just feeling nature at it’s best. Also the Penut Shoppe is a very intriguing place to see and taste the Brittle Penuts, The Metro Park trails are so beautiful to walk or ride bikes, and The main Library brings great history to the future of our eyes. Humble people here in Akron Ohio.. Our friends will love this City and State. Meeting our New Mayor, Malik with a beautiful heart and determination to help others, his tenacity vibes off of him.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Renato Camacho, from the Akron and Canton Airport, Ohio gave me the opportunity to introduce our Puerto Rican foods to the community there. With also respects to Tim Dimoff, SACH Consultants pushing me in being more professional at my Hobbie, and Winning the Business Pitch Completion at Bounce Innovation Hub, for $3,000.00. Also Akron gave me vision and help to become part and Member of The Wells Kitchen, Compass Cafe, with help from Kyle and Erika.. Deninka Stevenson, my best friend presents constant dedication in helping me when I am stuck and worried about my business and showing me how to presevere.

Instagram: Berrios3399

Facebook: La Reina Boricua/ Monica Berrios

Image Credits
Let’s Grow Akron, Inc. LET’S GROW Lisa Marie Nunn Director 467 Harvey Ave Akron, Ohio 44314 AKRON (330) 745-9700 [email protected]