“Being a mom has been the most amazing experience,” says Maria. “My kids are my greatest creation. But even while raising them, I always felt this flame inside me, a calling for something more.”
Maria explains how, with no family in the U.S. and living in Virginia, she worked part-time to balance motherhood. Yet, the desire to pursue something bigger never went away.
That desire took shape when she began making her grandmother Licha’s chorizo recipe. “I realized this was what I was meant to do. It felt natural because I’d watched her make it my whole life—cleaning peppers, peeling garlic, mixing spices. At last, I felt like everything had fallen into place, and my family participated in the process.”
After moving to San Antonio, Maria joined Break Fast & Launch, a culinary business accelerator, and founded Hess Street Foods in May 2023. “At Launch SA, we had incredible conversations with food industry experts—restaurateurs, CPAs, and mentors. They guided us on how to bring our ideas to market. I was determined to take things to the next level.”
But there were challenges. The raw pork in her original chorizo recipe created barriers to bringing it to market. “I was so discouraged,” she says. “Then, I could sense my grandmother’s advice saying, ‘If pork is the problem, Maria, take it out.’ The next day, I shared my new idea, and my classmates were so supportive. That’s when I knew I had to focus on the seasonings.”
Maria reflects on the support from her family, especially her husband. “We’ve only missed two farmers’ markets in over a year. The markets have been my lab, where I get direct feedback from customers. They’re honest, and that’s how I’ve improved my product and packaging.” The butterfly on the label symbolizes the monarch who migrates from place to place.
Hess Street Foods is named after the street her grandparents lived on in San Antonio. “It’s a way to honor my heritage and my grandmother, who inspired this journey.”
By March 2023, Maria was ready to scale and applied to H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best. The highlight of her journey came when she made the top 20 of nearly 500 applicants. “Then I made the top 10. Winning first place? That was beyond my wildest dreams. It showed me that anything is possible.”
With her prize winnings, Maria plans to invest in ingredients, jars, and labels to meet growing demand. Her chorizo paste is vegan-friendly, with no additives or preservatives—just all-natural ingredients. “In less than 10 minutes, you can have a healthy, delicious meal.”
Reflecting on her journey, Maria says, “My story is about resilience, creating identity, and building bridges between communities. Through my seasoning paste, I’m sharing the love and food memories of my childhood. No matter our backgrounds, we all connect through food.”
With her children growing up between two cultures, Maria teaches them to embrace their heritage. “Helping them understand who they are and what is possible—that’s what matters most.”
