Discover how one woman’s passion for food and tradition brought her community together and sparked a journey of resilience and empowerment.

“I love being Mexican. I love being Mexican because I have that cunning or that way of being able to create, without many tools, but doing what I can with what I have, doing it well, and making sure it turns out well.”

In the heart of Zapopan, Mexico, where the warmth of community and the rich flavors of Mexican tradition are celebrated daily, I met Ana Gabriela, the proud owner of Tía Petunia, a woman whose story intertwines resilience, food, and culture. Her journey is a powerful reminder that through adversity, we can build something that not only empowers us but our communities as well. 

Food, for many of us, is a simple necessity. But for some, like Ana Gabriela, food is much more—it’s a gateway to understanding, connecting, and celebrating one’s heritage, family, and each other. Ana Gabriela is a living testament to the resilience of Mexican traditions, and through her restaurant, Tía Petunia, she shares that resilience with the world.

But more than just serving incredible food, she has created a space where every meal is an experience—an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of strong women, the power of community, and the beauty of Mexico’s rich food culture. From the vibrant flavors to the heartfelt recipes passed down through generations, we’re about to explore how food can unite, heal, and empower.

“I started Tía Petunia, it’s my space, it’s a place of food, it’s a space that pays tribute to all the women in my family, for being strong, for being resilient. I started it 10 years ago. Every gordita is named after an aunt, and that aunt gave me her recipe. It’s a tribute to the important women not only of my family but also in my life in general, especially my aunts, through food. Because in my house, like good Mexicans, it is customary to pamper each other through food, through meals.”

Through the dishes she serves, Ana Gabriela honors the women who came before her—her mother, grandmothers, and aunts—using food as a medium to transmit love, tradition, and resilience. It’s a reminder that no matter the challenges we face, there is always a way to connect and uplift those around us through the simple yet powerful act of sharing a meal.

I asked Ana Gabriela what inspired her to create Tia Petunia and how this reflected her personal history and her answer didn’t disappoint.

“What inspired me? Well, necessity. You know, when you’re in a vulnerable situation, you have to be very attentive to creativity and not just focus on the drama. Don’t just cry because your situation isn’t going as you expected or thought. Behind a strong situation or a situation where you feel things are going wrong, there’s always a gift behind it, and it’s very important to be attentive. I remember being left without a job, with two kids, and with the help of a very good friend, we began to create this project, and she always told me: ‘In your house, we’re always here with guests, you always cook for us and always make us laugh.’ That’s how Tía Petunia started, and an aunt gave me a big gift box, and when I opened it, there was a wooden gordita maker, and it said, ‘Gift for my goddaughter, a machine to make money.”

What started as a humble endeavor to make ends meet quickly blossomed into something more significant—a business that’s not only about food but about connection, community, and shared purpose. In a world where food brings people together, Tía Petunia is not just a restaurant;—it’s a sanctuary for Mexican tradition and a space where everyone feels like family.

Ana Gabriela also faced a number of challenges when starting her business from scratch and overcoming those challenges took was only possible through her loved ones. 

“Well, the number one challenge was the lack of liquidity, the lack of money, the lack of finances. So, I had to be very creative to do what I could with what I had. A very important resource I also used was love, because I surrounded myself with love, with people who added to me and looked at my project and looked at me, and in a very loving way, they came to help me. My sisters gave me forks, other spoons, other friends gave me tables. So, it was a project that I say is not just mine, but also of the desire to unite with a good purpose many people. But there have been ups and downs, but I repeat, my formula has always worked for me so far: seeing that behind the drama, there’s a gift, we have to take it.”

Ana Gabriela’s resilience wasn’t just tested in her business journey—it was tested in her health struggles as well. She faced surgeries, a life-changing diagnosis, and the challenge of her body rejecting medical implants. Through it all, she maintained her belief that behind every struggle is a hidden gift.

“I have a condition called craniofacial fibrous dysplasia. This part of my skull and part of the bone beneath it is a bone that grows and presses the organs or whatever it finds around it. I was diagnosed with it around the age of 8, but my first surgery was at 13. They removed part of my frontal bone and put in a plate. At 17 and 19, they removed a little more bone and replaced it with pieces of plate. And well, at 19 it seemed like everything had been fixed, even though I was aware that part of the dysplasia remained. It seemed like it was dormant. 

“About a year and a half ago, I got a small hole in my skull, or part of the plate, and cerebrospinal fluid was coming out. It was my skin rejecting the plate. So, after 30 years, the prosthetic plate was changed, from methyl methacrylate to the most modern material called PIC, and unfortunately, I was operated on all of last year because the PIC didn’t work… my skin didn’t accept it. It wasn’t so much the material, but what they explained to me is that last year, the last surgery was on November 20th, 2024. They operated on me 5 times last year and put a graft, well, a lot of grafts from my legs in my head. It was a tough year. A tough year where I had to learn to be resilient the hard way, but with my motto: ‘No, behind this drama, behind this problem, there is a gift.’ And I think that’s what’s important. I’m so glad to be alive. They finally removed the plate because my skin isn’t ready to have a different object inside.

“Of course, physically, it’s not harmonious because it looks sunken. There are parts of my scalp where my hair won’t grow back because it’s from my leg…

“But I’m alive. I learned a lot in the hospital, I learned with… it was very gratifying to meet the life of a doctor there because my son wants to be a doctor. I would see and say, ‘Are you sure you want to be a doctor?’ People don’t live… And I saw my roommates also fighting for their… fighting against death, to be alive, to be healthy. I saw how the nurses, the doctors handled things, but I went to see this human and vulnerable part that they are also complicit in.”

Ana Gabriela’s experience in the hospital was a true test of resilience. As she fought for her health, she saw the way doctors and nurses came together as a team to heal people. It was here, in the midst of so much uncertainty and pain, that Ana Gabriela understood more than ever the power of food to heal not just bodies, but souls.

“So they removed my prosthesis. We have to wait a few years to see if my skin will accept another prosthesis, and if not, well, it’s viable to live like that, with my precautions. And the aesthetic part… well, honestly, at this point… I think it’s the least important. I think I’ve valued my life like never before. I stopped thinking that just working was living. I realized I had worked a lot and that my children had grown up quickly. And I realized I was selling a product at Tía Petunia that I didn’t enjoy as I should. Because life, and that’s what I learned: life is today. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Life changes you on a Tuesday at three.”

Amidst these challenging health battles, Ana Gabriela found an incredible way to connect with others through her food. During her hospital stay, she knew the power of a warm meal. One day, she decided to bring food to the entire medical team.

“Well, I ordered a lot of gorditas, a lot of gorditas. I called here, I said, ‘Send me 100 gorditas for the doctors, 100 gorditas for the nurses, and bring me 100 gorditas for the patients.’ And it was so beautiful to see everyone arrive, thanking me and their faces transformed. Even my roommates could eat a gordita that didn’t taste like hospital food, and when they bit into it, they could fill themselves with hope because someone else was waiting for them outside. That’s something that stayed with me and confirmed that I’m going down the right path.”

Her time spent in the hospital, surrounded by the care of medical staff and the support of her loved ones, reaffirmed her belief in the healing power of food. During her surgeries, Ana Gabriela reflected on how food—specifically, the warmth and comfort of meals shared—could bring people a sense of peace even in the toughest moments. Moving forward, we’ll explore how these powerful lessons extend beyond her health and helped her overcome life challenges that she faced. 

There have been a few moments in Ana Gabriela’s life that have taught her about resilience and hope. 

“Híjole, I think a divorce is very hard. Uhm. I got divorced many years ago. I remarried. A divorce is very tough, and especially as a Mexican, because you live within a structure where judgment is very present. So, that part hurt me. However, I was full of hope because I was going to have the opportunity to tell myself a new life story for me and my children. Another… another situation where I had to be resilient… well, maybe also in the separation of my parents, even though they separated when I was older, already had children, it was also hard for me. Breaking this part, and I think I never spoke about it. Actually, I think it’s the first time I say it. For me, it was… it was significantly hard, but I repeat, this formula always comes back, and I’m very loyal to it: there’s a gift here, and there’s a gift here, and I have to discover the gift.”

Ana Gabriela’s journey not only highlights the power of food to create community and heal wounds but also reflects the deeply rooted Mexican traditions of resilience and joy. From personal battles to community-building, she has always embraced the idea that food is a way to connect people, uplift their spirits, and share a sense of belonging.

But Ana Gabriela’s story is not just one of overcoming health challenges and building a restaurant—it’s also about the legacy of culture, family, and the enduring importance of Mexican traditions. Through Tía Petunia, she has created a space where those values live on, and where every meal served carries the weight of love, history, and purpose.

“I love being Mexican. I love being Mexican because I have that cleverness or that ability to create, without many tools, to do what I can with what I have, and to do it well, and for it to turn out right. And that’s something being Mexican has given me, because now, when I was in my health situation and in the hospital, I saw how the doctors themselves did what they could with what they had to rescue their patients. Just like the patients and their families did what they could with what they had, whether it was money, tools, contacts, whatever. I believe Mexicans are capable of creating many things, and if we set our minds to it, we can do it.”

As Ana Gabriela shares her reflections on what it means to be Mexican, we see how these values of creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness have shaped not only her personal life but also her vision for Tía Petunia and how it will be remembered in the future.

“I love that my business is remembered by the joy with which we welcome people, by the fun we have, by the jokes, the teasing, the camaraderie within… the same team, colleagues, and the customers who come here, and end up becoming our friends and turning into family.”

For Ana Gabriela, Tía Petunia is more than a restaurant. It’s a space where people come together, feel cared for, and become part of a larger family. Food isn’t just sustenance—it’s a way to connect, to heal, and to celebrate. 

“I hope they learn and understand that there is always something important to convey through food. It’s always super important to know that Mexico has an amazing culture, that you said earlier, the Mexican is always celebrating, yes. It’s true, it’s true, we are always happy, we are always joyful, and there is always this comforting feeling for the soul, where we can come together once again.”

Ana Gabriela’s journey is a beautiful example of how we can use food and culture as tools for empowerment. In her story, we see the power of community, the strength that comes from embracing tradition, and the resilience that makes us who we are.

“You know, young people have a great mindset now. Something good I see in this generation is the non-judgment aspect, where everyone can have their own preferences, and there’s no mocking or pointing out. I think they’ve also looked for ways to rescue certain Mexican roots, like dialects, clothing, and even drinks, like tequila.”

Through the resilience of entrepreneurs like Ana Gabriela, and the strength of our cultural traditions, we learn that our heritage is not something to be lost—it’s something to be shared and celebrated, passed down to future generations.

This connection to tradition naturally extends to one of Mexico’s most iconic elements: tequila. Ana Gabriela’s personal memories of tequila are intertwined with her family’s joyful celebrations, where the drink was more than just a beverage—it was a symbol of togetherness and heritage.

“Yes, my paternal grandfather would go to Arandas, Jalisco, to fill his barrel with white tequila. And then, he always had his barrel of tequila. And well, he would have all the kids his age, his grandchildren, playing tequila, playing bingo, and in a bottle cap, he would put a little tequila and let us drink. Haha! And you know, that was many years ago, 40 years ago, and today I think of tequila, and it reminds me of that childhood where we had a great time.”

Tequila, for Ana Gabriela, is more than just a drink—it’s a symbol of the joyful moments shared with family. It connects her deeply to her roots and culture, a theme that echoes throughout her life and business.

When I asked her what advice she would give other women who were experiencing difficult moments in starting businesses, she said, “Generally, and I believe statistically it’s proven, we start businesses when there’s great need. When the water reaches your socks, and you have to run to get out of it, hope always has to be your flag, and always remember that behind drama, behind conflict, there’s always a gift. There’s always an opportunity. There’s always a way to move forward, always, always.”

Ana Gabriela’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, the beauty of Mexican food and culture, and the importance of community. Through Tía Petunia, she has created more than a restaurant—she’s created a space where people can feel the warmth of family and the spirit of Mexico.

If there’s one thing we can learn from Ana Gabriela’s journey, it’s that no matter the challenges, there is always a gift to be found—whether in food, community, or the traditions that bind us together.