We had the good fortune of connecting with Marisol Garcia and Stephanie Goni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marisol & Stephanie, what is the most important factor behind your success?
In one word: authenticity, reflected in many forms. The recipe for Cascabel Salsa Gourmet is originally from Jalisco, Mexico, and has been passed down from generations. We use traditional ingredients and preparation methods, keeping faithful to the original recipe and ensuring our flavors remain authentic Mexican. In this ever-changing modern world, there is one thing that grounds us and that we can always count on, and that is family. Cascabel originates from a family recipe, and we like to think we are keeping our Mexican traditions alive with every single jar we make.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cascabel Salsa Gourmet was born, in a sense, out of necessity: the need for real Mexican flavors. You see, we (Stephanie and Marisol) are both from Mexico. Missing the Salsa Macha that we grew up with and that was always present on our family dinner tables, we decided to re-create it in Houston and launch it as a business in 2016. The journey from launch to commercial product was not easy, with the main challenge being balancing out family life with the business. In 2017, we both had children, and finding the time to be a mom and business owner was tough. As women and mothers, we are proud that we were able to strike that balance and, with a lot of hard work and sacrifice, keep the business strong and at the same time be there for our supportive families. The first product we made was our Traditional Chili Oil, where we used the same ingredients as the original recipe from Jalisco, Mexico that includes Cascabel, Arbol, and Guajillo chiles. It is best described as spicy and smoky and can be drizzled onto any food to give it a nice kick. If you need some spice in your life, this is the one for you. We will be coming out with two new flavors soon: Blueberries, a medium spice level with a bit tart & sweet mixed in; and Peanuts, a mild spice level with a bit of nutty salt & crunch mixed in. We proudly hand make all our salsas in small batches, in Houston Texas. We are filled with joy when, after someone samples our salsa, seeing a smile coming across their face and being able to hear: “Ah, yes, this tastes like what I used to eat in Mexico growing up.” Authentic Mexico. And even though you may not be from Mexico, rest assured that you are experiencing authentic Mexican flavors. We feel blessed that we can bring a moment of joy by evoking memories of home and family, because, at the end of the day, Cascabel Salsa Gourmet is family!

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.
We’d probably start by going to Canino Produce, which sells everything from fresh fruits and veggies to Mexican spicy candies and other goodies. If you’ve ever wondered what a “Tianguis” feels like, you won’t leave disappointed. Crossing the street is El Bolillo Bakery, where their daily fresh bolillos are amazing. But we may have to make a line because people wait for them and snatch them up as soon as they come out of the oven. After this, a stop at La Macro food truck is a must, to try some amazing Tacos Al Pastor. For a nice lunch, we would head over to Fonda Santa Rosa for some awesome Chilaquiles or Queso Fundido con Chorizo. Or to mix it up, we’d head over to Chinatown for a nice bowl of Pho. Houston has awesome small breweries, so we’d probably end up going to SpindleTap Brewery to sample some of their craft beer. If you are in luck, you’ll find the Satellite of Pizza food truck (it has a brick oven inside!) nearby, where you can try their RCO and MVP pizzas, prepared with Cascabel Salsa Gourmet drizzled on top. Yum! For a unique experience, we’d probably end up at Cesar Cano’s @taque_son pop-up dinner. Cesar Cano was a finalist in Season 9 of MasterChef. He makes everything from scratch, and his menu is always changing. Just delicious all around.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! Our story would not have been possible without the love and support of so many people. Starting with Stephanie’s grandma, who created the Traditional recipe we are still using today. Our friends, who gave us the courage to start the business, and who support us as we go along. Our husbands, who sacrificed countless nights and weekends and helped us with the business allowing us to keep things moving forward. The local businesses that gave us an opportunity, we thank them for taking a chance on us! And our loyal customers, for always supporting us especially during the difficult year 2020. Thank you all for believing in us!

Website: https://www.cascabelsalsa.com/
Instagram: @cascabelsalsagourmet
Twitter: @cascabelsalsa
Facebook: @cascabelsalsagourmet
Youtube: CASCABEL SALSA GOURMET https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tQ1P2oJznnW9oVjxt3ZLg/featured

Image Credits
Stephanie Goni

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