Today we’d like to introduce you to Lulu Armendariz
Hi Lulu, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1990 at the age of 22 years old and moved into a Convent where my aunt (my mom’s older sister a nun that had just moved back from Japan and would be in LA after two decades) allowed me to stay and begin a new journey. I originally thought it would only be for a couple of months. My cousin and I felt El Paso, Texas was too small for us and wanted to experience living in a metropolitan city. We left our family our pets and boyfriends behind to experience living this adventure before we committed to a long-term relationship. I had never cooked an egg, washed my own clothes or taken public transportation but with only a small luggage with my name and a tiny dorm surrounded by nuns and respecting that lifestyle I don’t think I had a clue what I had gotten myself into. Left my job for the Army as a civilian, left school and moved here to start from zero. I wanted to meet new people other than my high school friends and family as accustomed back home. We came out of our comfort zone and met multi-cultural folks, different cultures, cuisines and art, weather, fast track lifestyle. Taken public transportation and landed my first job in LA in the Mid-Wilshire area. Met professionals from all over the world and wanted to absorb everything I would learn and listen on my cubicle. I felt I had the world in my hands but at the same time I had to mature and grow-up, I no longer had Mommy and boyfriend to aide me. I didn’t miss my hometown, but I miss my family and the food. I could not find a place where they prepare the food, I was used to so in order for me to satisfy my urges was to learn to cook. This was the era prior to internet, cell phones, I started by creating my own cookbook with the recipes from the mom, my grandma, and Concha the lady that helped us at home. I started getting a licking for going to the farmers markets discovering new vegetables and adding my own to our family staples. Cooking connected me to my roots and tasting the dishes made me feel close to home. I made lots of mistakes but with practice I realized that that was my calling. I work in a 9-5 job and became the Ops Manager at a very young age earning a good living. This job gives me stability and I like what I do, but my passion is cooking. I love to see the reaction on people’s face when they taste my dishes. I traveled within the US and different cities in Mexico. Love to go to the mercados and talk to local people in each city, I keep in touch with various folks from different cities. I became fascinated with traveling and came across a show in PBS from a Chef Rick Bayless. He would talk and feel exactly the same way I felt. I traveled to Chicago to go to all his restaurant, got to meet him and get his autograph recipe book. That is how I started my collection and expanded my knowledge to new dishes. Got married to my Texas boyfriend, gave birth to two handsome boys that are the world to me. Cooking for my family is not a chore but a pleasure. Just like my mom taught me to serve them first then sit down and enjoy dinner with family and connect daily. I realize that food brings people together. Potlucks at work trying a variation of dishes from Thailand, Philippines, Argentina, Cuban, Italian, etc. was always what I look forward. My life at this point was to be the best Mom and Wife for my family and keep working to provide for them and give them a private education. Once my kids got older, I felt I needed to find something that could fulfill that hollow from not being that nourishing Mom. I saw a clip-on TV on day visiting my mom’s home that they wanted Latinos with a passion for cooking but not professionals. That was my chance to follow my passion at the age of 50… I left for Miami with some luggage again full of dreams hoping this was my calling, things didn’t work out the way I expected them. I realized some of the contestants where actors and I know then my changes on moving forward would be slim. I was too old to waste my time and left under my own terms. Came back home disappointed not knowing that my mom would suffer a stroke that her health would be affected. I brought her to my home and took care of her for two and half years with the help of my husband, kids and siblings. She was the center of the universe our queen and this was our change to care for her as she did for us. I thank God for giving us the opportunity to prove to her the love we had for her and did everything within my reach to give her the best life possible. Learned to tease her hair and do her makeup just like she did on her own. We had the blessing of caring for her and seeing the love in her eyes and how she felt comfortable in our home. Five years ago, this month she passed away before the Covid hit us. We had an opportunity to have a beautiful funeral service she deserved. I still had my grandma surviving my mom at the age of 100 and she died shortly after that… I went to a depression and wanted to spend more time sleeping to keep me from thinking of my mom and Grandma. I had some health issues and things did not look good. My son also had a health issue and that was a rude awaking to get my act together and live life. During this time, I saw another announcement from MasterChef Latinos and told my eldest son about it he pushed me to audition, and I was able to make it to the show again. This time around I forgot about everything else and enjoyed every moment to the fullest. Before I know it I made it to Top 9, went to culinary school for two months and acquired technical culinary skills that I would never imagine. As a chef, I’ve achieved a personal milestone and I committed to continuously refining my culinary skills, exploring innovative recipes, and Deeping my understanding of food.
I’m passionate about giving back to my community by sharing new recipes and preserving our cultural traditions for future generations, empowering them to celebrate and honor their heritage. Growing up in a vibrant border town like El Paso,
Texas, I was fortunate to be immersed in a rich cultural heritage that continues to inspire me today. Thirty-four years ago, I made the move to Los Angeles, where I’ve had the freedom to innovate and put my own twist on the traditional recipes passed down from my mom, Mother-in-Law and Grandma, while staying true to my roots. That is why my social media name is Lulu La Vida – bits and pieces of my passions.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My life has not been a smooth road, I lost my father at the age of ten years old and had to grow up fast since my mom was a single parent to three children, two years, 8 years and 10 years. I started working at the age of thirteen during the summers, the absence of my father at a young age marked my life. We move to a different neighborhood then my mom remarried, and our life made a drastic move. We moved from being middle class to upper class, but I saw how material things became more important in my life and I didn’t like the person I was becoming. One of the reasons I decided to move to a convent in LA and become humble, best decision I made for my wellbeing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have been working for the insurance industry for over 35 years and started at the bottom in the filing room, got promoted to Ops Manager six years later. Had a six-figure salary, my own office and would travel all the time. I realized that my kids both of them in elementary needed mommy more than my coworkers and decided to leave this job and took a job that was not in management to have work, life balance. My kid’s childhood was my priority, and I don’t regret this move. I was available for the Christmas programs became the homeroom parent and volunteered at the school. Money and power is not as important at the time with your family and making memories. Kids grow up quickly and it’s time you cannot recuperate.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 10 years I see myself retiring from the Insurance industry but in the interim continue to cater small parties and meet great people along the way. Create a legacy for my kids and teach young folks the art of cooking from the heart. Anybody can follow a recipe but that one on one connection is priceless.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lulu_la_vida_catering
- Facebook: Lulu La Vida
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lulu-armendariz-ba63214b/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@LuluLaVida
