Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Acosta.
Hi Teresa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always loved feeding others. As a kid, I would watch cooking shows on PBS on Saturday morning as opposed to cartoons- Julia Child and The Frugal Gourmet were two of my favorites. I enjoyed helping in the kitchen and learned how to make some simple family meals as a kid. Once I was on my own, I started hosting dinner parties and became much more adventurous as an eater, still watching cooking shows any chance I got, especially shows featuring women in the industry like Nigella Lawson and Ina Garten. I was inspired by their love of food and feeding others, finding beauty in the process of creating a meal, and I wanted to do the same. But a career in the food biz wasn’t something I ever really considered. I went on to get a Master’s and work as a school counselor. But my desire to cook never went away. In 2011, I found myself unemployed and a single mom of three kids under five. Having no car and living in a one-room cottage behind my sister’s house, I found a day job and walked 2 miles to work everyday. I cooked dinners for my sister’s family and she ended up hiring me to cook for an event at her home. In those hours catering for my sister, I had never in my life felt so alive and in love with what I was doing.
I continued to work a day job but catered on the side any chance I got. Eventually, I moved into a home in Dunwoody with my mom and my three kids and became very good friends with my next-door neighbors. One day, I brought them some leftover paella and they shared it with others, from which I gained more catering jobs. I started cooking pig roasts for my neighborhood and found that cooking the food of my ancestors brought me the most satisfaction. Though I have never visited Cuba, I feel so close to it when I’m cooking the dishes my mother cooked for me growing up. Last April, I lost my job with JDRF due to the Covid pandemic. I was the Outreach Manager for Georgia, and I truly loved my job and working with other families impacted by type 1 diabetes (my youngest son was diagnosed almost six years ago). Knowing it would be difficult to find a job during this period of economic downturn, I started cooking family meals out of my home for friends and neighbors. The stress of trying to work from home, school at home etc. was unmanageable for many of my friends and neighbors, so I was fulfilling a need for so many. I divided that one day a week, I would make a classic Cuban dish and much to my surprise, my friends and neighbors fell in love with Cuban cuisine.
In October, I through my name in for a contest, searching for a local chef to open up a stall at a food hall. I thought this could be an opportunity to bring my food to the masses and really change the course of my family’s life. Much to my surprise, I passed the first round and was one of three finalists! I had Jamal Wilson and his partners of The Hall in my home for an interview and I cooked the following menu: Paella, Fricase de Pollo, Ropa Vieja con Platanos Maduros, Cuban Sandwich, Yuca Frita, and Chicken Enchiladas I had a wonderful conversation with them, talking about my love of the craft, the joy I get in feeding others and where I would like to go in the future. The final round included fan voting and with over 3k votes, I won the competition and am now in the process of creating a menu. The Hall on Ashford Lane will be opening Summer of 2021.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I went into it a little bit before and I have definitely had many challenges along the way. But creativity has always driven me. Finding that creative outlet has sustained me. Surrounding myself with an incredible support system of friends and family and never giving up on my dream has gotten me to where I am today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Art has always been a passion of mine. And I found that food has given me an opportunity to express that artistic and creative side. I am most known for my Cuban dishes and for always passing the “picky eater test.” I love cooking for families and challenging kids to try new things, and they always end up loving it! I was never the type of parent to order from the kid’s menu for my kids. I didn’t want to patronize them. I wanted them to try new flavors and have an open mind about food. Kids are often the toughest critics, so when they are a fan of my cooking, it is one of the best compliments. What inspires me today are the stories my mom tells of growing up on a farm in Cuba, the traditions around food, and how food has a way of bringing people together. My grandmother, Abuelita Rosita, serves as my greatest inspiration. Though I never had the chance to meet her, I feel very close to her when I cook.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m pretty fearless about talking to others and networking. My advice is to believe in what you do and don’t give up. Believe in it so much, you are willing to risk being a fool for it. Connect with others doing something similar and become their cheerleaders. A few years ago I was in a career path I knew wasn’t right for me and I saught the aid of a career counselor. One of my homeworks assignments was to make a visual aid of my network. I created a solar system- the planets closest to the center were those people closest to me. Their moons were people they knew in their network. I worked on that and found it really expanded my network. I started talking to more people and doing informational interviews. I also became more involved in my community, volunteering in my neighborhood and becoming a member of groups in the area. Opening myself up more in my community has helped lead me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Email: Renzosfire@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/renzosfire; https://instagram.com/thehallatashford
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/renzosfire; https://m.facebook.com/thehallatashford/
- Other: https://explorethehall.com/
