An Accidental Cook

Erica Ramos’s three sons would attest that cooking wasn’t exactly her specialty while they were growing up. As a day spa owner and esthetician with 22 years of experience, they likely received better skin care advice from her than home-cooked meals! However, everything changed when the pandemic began. Having been out of work during much of the lockdown, like many others, Erica spent significantly more time in the kitchen. She started re-creating vegan versions of the Mexican dishes she grew up on, and by the end of the lockdown, she had developed a new passion. Naturally, her next thought was whether she could transform this newfound passion into a business. With the support of her best friends and family, she began doing pop-ups in 2021, testing recipes at food festivals from New York to Miami. By the end of 2022, it became evident that people were willing to drive an hour to enjoy their favorite Pinche Vegana dish. It was in that moment that Erica realized there could be something more. She also recognized that her passion for aesthetics and cooking were intertwined — both are about making people feel good.