Life & Work with Yolanda of Cypress CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda.

Hi Yolanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story with Senor Big Ed started in the 1980s. I started working as a dishwasher, prep and cook or anything that needed to be done, one day at a time, with dedication and a love for hard work. In 2002, the restaurant was offered to me. I remember at the time, I didnt have the money to buy it, but I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. I had to ask family members for loans and the kindness of the previous owner who allowed me to make payments, we were able to purchase Senor Big Ed. The first years were very hard, running a restaurant is definitely not for the weak. but we stayed committed and kept pushing forward. With social media and the power of word of mouth we began to grow and connect with more customers. Now we are proud to share Puerto Rican food with people of all nationalities. I love to see how open everyone is to trying something new.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. As a business, one of the biggest challenges we faced was during COVID. Our sales dropped so low there were months we didnt make enough to pay our rent. I was scared we would have to shut our doors. We wanted to keep our employees but unfortunely we had to lay them off. As the pandamic continued, we added ways to keep our customers safe such as third party deliveries and parking lot drop offs.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Here at Senor Big Ed we specialized in Puerto Rican food. We are known for our delicious pasteles. A pastel is a traditional dish similar to a tamale but made from green plantain or yucca. The pastel usually includes pork and its wrapped in a banana leave, tied and boiled. Here at Senor Big Ed we make over 1000 dozens pasteless throughout the year. Making pasteles is not easy. Its a process that takes time, but its one of the most loved dishes we prepare.
Im most proud of making pasteles to the community and offering them everyday not just during the holidays. We are one of the few restaurant in Souther Californa that offer pasteles. It means a lot to us to see customers come in knowning they can enjoy a pastel any day of the week. Thats something that really sets us apart.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Social media has helped our restaurant in so many ways. It helps us see new foods trends, share our dishes, and reach people who might have never heard of Puerto rican food.

Pricing:

• Dozen Pasteles $62.00
• Dozen Alcapurrias $48.00
• Dozen Pastelillos $48.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.puertoricanrestaurant.com
• Instagram: Srbiged
• Facebook: Senor Big ED
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Latin+American&find_loc=Cypress%2C+CA