We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
My mother and I were born in Mexico City. My grandmother widowed with 8 children to provide for alone. She began to sell food at construction sites and from there on she influenced my mother’s life. Cooking was a big part of their everyday life. Wanting to provide for her kids drove her to work very hard. Seeing her struggle has impacted us in trying to be someone in life. Continuing her legacy maybe not backed by a title of chef, but by the love to cook and provide customers with a home cooked meal. We strive to make our employees feel part of our family and our love is poured into the food we make for our customers. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My mother always encouraged us to go to school. I was able to attend the University of Houston/Downtown and graduate with a Bachelor’s in Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. It was hard to learn English at the age of 13 when I first moved here to Houston. I focused on my studies and was given grants to pay for school. Kept good grades and made the Dean’s list on a few semesters. I applied my grandmother’s advice to tend to my studies first and I became the 1st one in my family to graduate from a University. Overcoming a new culture and a new language and succeeding in achieving such honor of graduating with honors has made me feel super proud and accomplished. Working for my family business has helped me apply my studies in understanding customers and our employees.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While visiting Houston, ideally to me our museum district is a must. The museum of Natural Sciences, the Miller outdoor Theater, Herman Park and why not a trip downtown using our light rail. For food I enjoy a lot of our seafood restaurants and visiting Kemah would make it enjoyable for outdoor activities and good seafood. I’m not much of a drinker but clubs downtown and midtown I hear are good options. For some shopping definitely the Galleria, who doesn’t enjoy window shopping and yes some nice restaurants too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother Maria Gonzalez, she began this dream, she became the owner of the restaurant she worked as a cook and waitress at. She brought us to the US to provide us a better life and since 2003 we have been working hard to continue her dream.

Instagram: aliciagh2014
Facebook: Alicia H. Gonzalez
Other: Instagram for the restaurant: chapultepeclupita

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