Welcome to Partner Provisions, where we introduce you to the incredible people and stories behind the restaurants, food trucks and caterers helping Zerocater feed the workforce – breakfast, lunch, dinner and every meal in between.
- Name: Alicia
- Restaurant: Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas
- Cuisine: Mexican
- City: San Francisco
- Website: https://www.aliciatamaleslosmayas.com/
- Instagram Handle: @aliciatamaleslosmayas
- Facebook: @Aliciastamaleslosmayas
- Twitter Handle: @aliciatamales
In one sentence tell us who Alicia’s Tamales is.
The best tamales are stuffed with love, and the best people are stuffed with Alicia’s Tamales.
Tell us about Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas!
Alicia’s Tamales offers the best in tamales and Mexican cuisine, handcrafted with authentic Mexican sazón and using the freshest and highest quality ingredients available. And, of course, there is the most important touch of all—love.
Where did the idea to sell tamales come from?
I learned to make tamales at a young age with my Mami and Abuelita in the city of Mazatlan, Sinaloa in the Northeastern part of Mexico. When I arrived in the United States, I was amazed to find the many cultures represented in everyday life and wanted to connect my story to those around me, through my tamales. In Latin America, tamales are an important part of holidays and special occasions from Christmas to weddings and other celebrations. I named it Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas because tamales were a gourmet plate, made for royalty and warriors in the Maya civilization.
La Cocina helped me get my business off the ground, I began selling tamales door to door, at farmers markets and events, making up to 500 tamales in a single week. Today we make over 4,500 tamales a week!
What was the very first menu item?
The tamale my Abuelita made, a chicken tamale with carrots, potatoes, peas, zucchini, and tomatillo salsa.
What is one thing not many know about Alicia’s Tamales?
We truly cook with love and hand make our tamales. I spent a couple of weeks making a vegan recipe with nopalitos, bell peppers, garbanzo, and green beans. We also sell our tamales in Berkely Bowl, Gus’s Community Market, and Whole Foods. You can also find us at festivals like Outside Lands.
What’s your favorite thing about feeding companies?
I love meeting people in the office. It’s exciting to get feedback from them and hear how much they enjoy experiencing a new cuisine and culture.
What do you like most about partnering with Zerocater?
In the beginning, I remember being quite stressed thinking of how would I market myself to get the business I needed for Alicia’s Tamales to survive. I was fortunate to receive an introduction to Zerocater, and the company saved us. We learned a lot about office catering, logistics and how to formalize our processes to be able to succeed in the world of corporate catering.
Do you eat tamales with your hands?
Yes.
What is your biggest challenge as a restaurateur or chef?
As soon as the business is growing, you’re getting more experience in things you never thought you would, like HR and Accounting. I never imagined I’d be so involved in the business end of things because my true passion is being in the kitchen, but you find the right people who are good at those parts and learn from them.
What piece of advice would you offer to someone starting out in the food industry?
If it’s really your dream, just go for it. I like to support people with a dream, but I’m very honest. It’s not easy. You have to be passionate, persistent. You have to be there every single day, every hour, every minute. But it’s so worth it.
Where do you see Alicia’s Tamales in the future?
I want to be worldwide, like McDonald’s. Drive through tamales!
Order from Alicia’s Tamales for your office
