Growing up Latina, food was always the center of every occasion and big milestone. My family prioritized weekly gatherings to share a meal, in which each family member would bring their own dish. Don’t even get me started on Christmas and all the prep that went into helping my grandma with tamales. Because of this, I have always associated memories with food. Like when I first left for college, my stepdad ordered oysters at Taps and made me try them. Or one late night after a concert and finding the El Ruso taco truck thanks to Yelp. And looking forward to sushi nights where my friend would bring fresh tuna he caught that morning.

I was always the kid to beg my parents to try new restaurants or the friend who always suggested places I would find on Yelp. I needed somewhere to permanently share my findings and thoughts, that’s why I created Eeleesuh Eats. I dubbed the name Eeleesuh Eats because it’s the pronunciation of my name, which so many people had said incorrectly. I posted my first review on April 27, 2022, just a couple of months before I would start my first semester at LMU. 

Two years later, I have found my footing at a university that led me to a new passion: writing. Last semester, I published my first guide in the Loyolan, highlighting Hispanic-owned restaurants on the West side of LA. I have learned that I can combine my two passions to create pieces I am proud of. Now here I am doing that again with this new format, creating something that I can look back on and be proud of. Eeleesuh Eats grows on.