About us

Mariel Boatlift (1980) was a mass emigration of Cubans from Mariel Harbor, Cuba, to the United States between April 15 and October 31, 1980. Approximately 125,000 Cubans made the journey, primarily to South Florida, and this includes Abuela and her two daughters, who, at the time of the horrifying escape, were ages 7 and 9. Therefore, the Mariel Boatlift represents a massive wave of boat travel from Cuba to Miami as they sought refuge, as no food dictated Cuba. Cubans will have to come together as a family to combine the ingredients they had at hand to make an extraordinary meal. Abuela brought her passion for food from Cuba to Miami and wants to spread her love and passion for food in San Antonio, Texas.

Pasteles De Abuela began in Abuela's Sunday kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into edible love-flavored cuisine with guava, arroz con leche, and a café con leche to tie the knot. She baked with passion, love, and happiness, creating flaky pastelitos de guayaba for my sister, senoritas for me, and arroz con leche with raisins and a whisper of cinnamon for my brother. Her hips swaying to a salsa beat from her record player, Abuela moved with the effortless grace of transforming traditional Cuban cuisine into a feast for the heart and soul, as it did for our family and friends.