Meet Gabriela Perez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Perez.

Hi Gabriela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Orange County with parents that came from Mexico as young adults. My parents always made sure to implement the traditions and customs of their childhood to my sisters and I. I always had a passion for the kitchen and dreamed I could become a chef, but as I further pursued the dream, I realized it didn’t align with my desire to raise a family in the future. I began my career in healthcare and once I had my son, I chose to stay at home with him. A few years later, I had my daughter and my everyday routine is wonderful but I always yearned to be in the kitchen using my creativity and love towards food. The pandemic really allowed a slower pace to daydream, think, and get creative about cooking. As the holiday’s rolls approach one of my family’s favorite things to make are my mother’s family recipe of Biscochitos. They are my grandmother’s recipe of a bite-size Mexican wedding cookie that my mother grew up having during the holidays. It was now a tradition she continued in our home and something we looked forward to every year. Last year as I devoured and hid my stash of Biscochitos from my husband, I began to think why do we only eat these during the holidays? They are the perfect not overly sweet treat with your coffee, mid-day pick me up, or late night snack. For years as a stay at home mom, I try to think of ways to have a hobby or independence for myself while being with my children and managing the home. It occurred to me I could begin to sell these to friends and family And have some fun with it while having some extra income to our family.

I began to photograph pictures, do research, and come up with a name. It took me quite a bit of time, but Biscochitos desde el Cielo finally occurred to me. It was inspired from a song in 1965 by Agustin Lara. It was recreated by Natalia Lafourcada and became my favorite song which at the time my two years old son sang to me. The lyric was “tu eres mi Cielo”. It felt fitting to incorporate the word Cielo which means heaven in Spanish since the recipe is my grandmother’s who is now in heaven. I built up the courage and opened up in Instagram. I made a list of friends I could share it with and they could post and help spread the word. The amount of support and love I received from my friends and family by re-posting and sharing my Biscochitos really helped get the word around. I quickly began to sell out and started to gain my “regular”’customers.

During a time of the pandemic of really not socializing with family and friends really allowed me to connect with strangers who have now become friends. I believe that these Biscochitos have not only warmed bellies but hearts and brought people together during a difficult time.

I am now selling out weeks in advance, creating creative boxes that are personalized with initials, names, milestone birthdays and soon, I hope to have a pop-ups. This has been an amazing opportunity for this stay at home mama who loves baking, the kitchen and meeting new people!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have definitely had struggles trying to balance my time for my children, home and work. I have a hard time turning away customers when I am fully booked. I feel this is such an amazing opportunity that I don’t want to disappoint any of my customers or potential new customers. I am still working on navigating when to truly close all orders, but as long as I have the strength and health, I’ll continue to push myself to my highest potential. A big part of me being able to do that is thanks to my husband who has been my biggest support. He comes home from work and is hands on in taking over the kids to allow me to fully focus on Biscochitos desde el Cielo.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what sets my cookies apart from others is that you don’t need a special reason to have them. They are a rustic, melt in your mouth, simple, no fuss delicious treat! I have received wonderful feedback in regards to my packaging which makes you feel like you are in packaging a special surprise! I’ve also really enjoyed the creative social media aspect! I began to encourage people to take a box of Biscochitos along on their vacations and use the hashtag #travelingbiscochitos. It has been fun seeing customers take them along to Spain, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, Chicago, New York and more locally across California. I have a passion for traveling so I figured if I can’t go on vacation than a part of me can!

I’ve also began creating videos sneaking Biscochitos in everywhere I go! Sometimes you just need the perfect after meal treat and you just can’t get these anywhere.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something people might not realize is the happiness that this new journey has brought me. Being a stay at home mom is a blessing I don’t take for granted, but it can be very selfless and lonely. Being able to meet so many wonderful people and use my creativity in creating reels, stories and posts has given me a new purpose.

Pricing:

• $14 for 2 dozen box of Biscochitos
• $7 for 1 dozen box of Biscochitos
• $44 platter of 75 Biscochitos
• $30 per letter/number with flowers and Biscochitos
• $8 macaron style box of Biscochitos

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Biscochitoscielo
• Facebook: Biscochitos desde el cielo

Image Credits
Xochitl at Live Your Passion Photography Courtney Halverson at Pretty little Fawn Noemi at Bella Modish