I thought about how many others might also long for that delicious menu like me, with mornings starting with a delicious arepa and hot chocolate or enjoying a delicious tamal. We couldn’t forget lunches featuring hen sancocho or bandeja paisa. I remembered those recipes, which were traditional in my country, always keeping them in mind, especially the empanadas.

So, it was an occasion when I helped a friend who didn’t have a job. She needed help with the rent payment. Therefore, we decided to make some empanadas, and I proceeded to apply the recipe I had learned since childhood from my mother, who took the time to teach me step by step and accompany her to sell them. While I made the thin dough with flour, I prepared the potato and the meat, enjoying the delicious smell mixed together. I remembered the shape that Mom gave them in the end. Without forgetting those words of Mom, “In life, you have to learn everything because we never know when we will need it,” I had them engraved in my memory.

When I finished, very happy to have supported someone who needed it, we decided to publish our empanadas to our contacts. The taste was liked so much that one of our customers supported us to sell the delicious empanadas in a pub. That’s how we started the idea, with the support of this customer; and now the idea was becoming an enterprise. We didn’t take long to buy our first uniforms and kitchen utensils; we had to start. At the same time, we added other recipes such as delicious egg arepas and stuffed potatoes, which connected Colombian people with the flavour and culture. We always sought to add a recipe that would allow the customer to find a pleasant and different flavour, which they agreed had a delicious taste. Soon, people began to request empanadas for social gatherings, and they also wanted to share with people from other nationalities to experience the pleasant flavour of Colombian food. After they tried our empanadas at the pub and moved to the new location, I not only sold empanadas but also had the opportunity to begin preparing various dishes. It was my first time working as a cook, which was a significant challenge because it relied heavily on achieving good Flavors and ensuring each dish was delicious for customers to enjoy. This experience reminded me of my childhood, during which my mother not only taught me how to make empanadas but also various other dishes.

From my mother, I learned to prepare dishes that I had never tried during my years of teaching in Colombia. Now, amid memories and hours spent reviewing recipes, I confidently prepared these dishes, and people enjoyed them, leaving satisfied. As time passed, I continued to refine my cooking skills. Customers experienced the true Flavors of Colombian cuisine, which brought them happiness. Constant practice helped solidify the recipes, and each year, I applied culinary secrets learned from my mom’s empanada recipes to delight customers.

One December 31st, far from my country, I remembered a family tradition my grandmother used to follow preparing a delicious sancocho for everyone. Inspired, I decided to do the same. I invited everyone who wanted to join and made a flavourful three-phase sancocho. It was a pleasant surprise the apartment filled with happy people enjoying the sancocho for free. Even today, customers remember that first sancocho, which made them feel at home.

The cost was high, making it difficult to sustain the staff, but I was motivated by seeing the customers happy when they came to try Colombian food. In Colombia, we have a saying: “there is no evil that does not come from good.” Shortly after, the car loaded with food that I used for preparation was stolen. The raw materials I had at that time were gone. Although it seemed like everything was over, I used the insurance I received from the car and bought another one. I returned to one of the restaurants where I had worked before and stayed there for three years. After this time, they asked me to leave, which tried to demotivate me. For a moment, I thought about giving up the restaurant, but an Australian customer who frequented the restaurant encouraged me to continue and helped me find a new place. Do you know where that place is? It is the one you are in now.

This place, beloved by most of our customers, brings them happiness and a connection to their culture. They describe our food with a single word: “delicious.” Here, many times they cry, and we cry with them, moved by the emotions stirred when they feel that after so many years away from their country, on the other side of the world, they have found truly Colombian Flavors that make them feel at home. All of this is thanks to God and the seasoning I learned at home, with the secrets taught by my mom, who was my mentor in my gastronomic beginnings.

Mana, which within its meanings is a rich and delicious food that God gave to the people of Israel when they were hungry in the desert. I firmly believe that Colombian and Latin food is also very delicious, and on the other side of the world, after a long time without trying it, in this desert of life, it tastes like Manna. We believe it not only nourishes the body but also the soul. That’s why at Latin Manna, we work every day to make our customers happy, connecting them to their home and culture. It’s a blessing that God gave me from heaven to share with all Australians, Colombians, and everyone who appreciates the beautiful cultural diversity of this country.

I conclude my story by affirming that here at Latin Manna, we offer food for the soul.