A Cuban family that emigrated to Brazil and started making pizzas by order in their home kitchen managed to open their own food business in the state of Minas Gerais, after balancing their daily jobs with long nights of work for some time.
Daniela Martínez Hernández shared her story in a video posted on Facebook, where she showcased part of her family's journey to owning a pizzeria in the Brazilian town of Tarumirim.
"We are a family of migrants who decided to start from scratch in Brazil," Daniela expressed while presenting a story marked by hard work, patience, and the determination to embark on a journey far from Cuba.
The first steps were not easy. As they recounted, during the day they worked at a market, and upon returning home, they dedicated their nights to making pizzas for delivery.
What began as a supplementary activity grew thanks to the recommendations of the consumers themselves. Customers started sharing their experiences, and each new order represented an opportunity to promote the venture.
"Thus, our house was filled with orders, laughter, and the aroma of freshly baked pizza," Daniela recounted.
The family continued working from home while saving to acquire the necessary equipment and materials to turn that home project into their own establishment.
The expansion did not happen overnight. As the young woman explained, they gradually purchased what they needed, all while keeping the idea of having a physical store to serve their customers in mind.
"With effort and patience, we bought everything necessary for our dream, until one day we said: it’s time to take the next step," he said.
That moment came when they decided to find a storefront and invest in the business they had developed from home.
"We searched for a location, put everything on the line, and here we are today, with our own pizzeria in Brazil," announced Daniela.
The establishment is located at Praça Monsenhor Horta, number 42, in Tarumirim, a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil.
The location indicated by Daniela matches public commercial records that identify gastronomic activities in that square.
A Brazilian business directory also includes a registered establishment in the name of Daniela Martínez Hernández at Praça Monsenhor Horta, 22/42, in the center of Tarumirim.
The video shows family members working together, images of the pizzas they prepare, and part of the business facilities, as well as Daniela speaking in front of the flags of Cuba and Brazil.
The presence of both symbols summarizes an important part of their history: a family that left their home country and found in Brazil the opportunity to develop their own project through their work.
His account highlights the importance of the early customers, the recommendations among acquaintances, and the decision to reinvest the earnings to continue growing.
Dreams do come true, you just have to work on them with love and faith, Daniela stated, inviting those who knew her story to follow the development of the family venture.
"We are a family of enterprising Cubans and this is just the beginning of many more dreams here in Brazil," he concluded.
The experience of this family is reminiscent of other Cuban emigrants who have managed to open food businesses after starting with limited resources and developing their own recipes.
In Mexico, for example, Cuban entrepreneur Ricky Thyam succeeded in setting up a pizzeria in Mérida, Yucatán, after arriving in the country in 2017 and developing other professional projects.
Originally from Banes, Holguín, the young man explained that his culinary business began when he started experimenting with recipes for Cuban pizza. A friend ordered ten units, and that first order became the starting point for Atope Pizzas.
Over time, he managed to involve his parents in the venture and hire employees, while envisioning the possibility of expanding the business to other cities.
In the United States, there are also stories of Cubans who have turned to gastronomy to build a new life. Dany González, originally from Caimito, Artemisa, opened a food business in Kendall, Miami, specializing in grilled meats and dishes from Cuban cuisine.
After emigrating to the United States, the young man decided to start his own business after working in the food industry. His venture, Al Fuego Grill, was born from his decision to take the risk of working independently.
"If you don't take the risk, you'll always wonder if it could have gone well," he expressed at that moment.
But starting a business also involves challenges. A Cuban woman who opened a pizzeria in Houston shared in July 2025 that she was considering closing the establishment due to a lack of customers, just six months after starting operations.
Her experience reflected the economic challenges that small businesses may face even after managing to open their doors.
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