Meet Gabriela!
Gabriela joined our team in early 2017 as an Accounts Payable and Administrative Coordinator.
How did you arrive at Lovin’ Spoonfuls?
I was searching for a new opportunity and found a job posting on Idealist.org. I remember spending all night writing my cover letter over and over again because I wanted the position so bad! I loved Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ mission, the location, and the job responsibilities were up my alley.
Do your friends and family consider you a good cook? Any signature recipes?
Over the years I’ve grown to secretly love cooking. Actually, its more of a love/hate relationship. Last year I hosted Thanksgiving at my place and wanted to cook everything without any help. Everyone was so impressed. They’re even asking me to make the ham again. I have no idea how I am going to pull that off because I literally had two recipes in front of me, notes of my old colleagues favorite ingredients, and just winged it! We will see how it comes out this year. But my signature recipe has to be pollo guisado con arroz blanco – stewed chicken with white rice.
What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
Yogurt, milk, OJ, salami, cheese, and spinach (my son’s ‘Veggie in Trial’ for this week), and beer… there’s always some kind of beer in there.
What’s your favorite childhood food memory?
If my brother and I were woken up to a “clapping” sound at 5am, it meant one thing and one thing only, my mom was making pupusas. Pupusas are a Salvadorean dish of a tortilla with filling. My favorite is pork and cheese. It’s accompanied by curtido and served with homemade tomato sauce. Or another favorite memory is waking up on Christmas Eve to all the spices of tamales filling the air. Christmas isn’t Christmas without tamales in our household!
Has this job made you more aware of your own consumption habits? Have you made any significant changes as a result?
It has! I have a picky eater at home and I’m constantly buying new veggies for him to try. But sometimes some veggies get pushed to the back of the fridge and when I finally remember them, they aren’t good anymore. Now, I only buy two types of “trial” veggies, that way I’m not tossing so many veggies.
What’s your favorite place/restaurant/neighborhood in Boston?
I love checking out the different restaurants in East Boston. It makes me feel like I am back where my parents grew up.
What is your motto?
There’s always room for dessert!
Who are your heroes?
Without a doubt, my mom is my hero. If I could be half the woman she is, I’ll consider myself blessed! I grew up in a tight knit family and despite the good and bad times, I never saw her give up. I love you mom!