Life & Work with Vanessa Otero of Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Otero

Hi Vanessa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My entrepreneurial journey began in childhood, deeply influenced by my mom who ran a daycare in San Juan,Puerto Rico. I would attend her daycare and vividly remember selling popsicles to the parents and their kids. Watching my mom manage her own business led to a strong desire in me to create something of my own. I admired her tenacity and dedication, this sparked my ambition to follow in her footsteps.

Growing up with Cuban parents, I developed a profound love for our culture and cuisine. My mom’s sazon became an influential part of my passion, and to this day she is still an essential part of our business. I wanted to combine this love for Cuban food with my entrepreneurial spirit. This led me to start my own business, focusing on sharing the flavors of my heritage with a larger audience in Raleigh,North Carolina.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting and running my business has not been a smooth road. One of the initial challenges I faced was not being a Raleigh native. Getting the word out about my business was tough because I didn’t have an established network in the area. I had to put in a lot of effort to connect with the local community and build and continue building relationships from scratch.

Networking became essential, and I had to learn the ropes quickly. Attending local events, partnering with other businesses, and leveraging social media were all crucial strategies I implemented to gain visibility and attract customers.

The winter months were particularly challenging, as foot traffic and outdoor events dwindled, making it harder to generate consistent revenue. I had to find ways to capitalize on the warmer months, which required careful planning and maximizing every opportunity during peak seasons.

Even with these struggles, each challenge taught me valuable lessons and made me more resilient. I’ve learned to adapt, think on my feet, and always have a backup plan. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping the entrepreneur I am today, and they continue to drive me to push forward and achieve my goals.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our focus is on delivering the rich and vibrant flavors of Cuba to the Raleigh community. We are particularly known for our Cuban sandwiches, which have become a customer favorite, and our flavorful roasted pork, which is a staple of our menu.

What truly sets us apart, however, are our surprisingly flavorful tacos. While tacos aren’t traditionally Cuban, we’ve infused them with the unique and savory flavors that define our cuisine, creating a fusion that has delighted our customers and brought a new twist to familiar dishes.

What’s next?
One of my main goals is to open a small restaurant location. While our food truck has been a fantastic way to introduce our Cuban cuisine to the Raleigh area, an actual location would allow us to offer an even more extensive menu and provide a comfortable dining experience for our customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/lacasadelsabornc
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacasadelsabornc/
• Facebook: @lacasadelsabornc