When I was in school, I remember teachers always telling us to dream dreams and then to go after those dreams. When we had a dream, we were told to develop a plan so that we could chase that dream to make it a reality.
Through the years, my dreams have been getting a good education, finding a career/job I like, traveling, and lots and lots of animals. These things seem pretty manageable to me. None of them have really been out of my comfort zone. I have never dreamed of going to the moon or Mars, hang gliding, inventing the next great thing, or opening my own business. So, I really admire people who have those dreams, and I REALLY admire the people who make those dreams come true.
Back in December, one of my former students (from when I was a campus minister at UW-Green Bay) invited me to “like” a page on Facebook. Her sister and brother-in-law were preparing to open a Mexican restaurant in Shawano. This was a dream come true for Tiffany and Ignacio. When Ignacio was growing up in Mexico, food was not something that came from a package or a store shelf. Everything was made by hand from scratch. He has continued to cook that way throughout his life. He and Tiffany have long wanted to share that food tradition with others.
A few months later, Ignacio’s Puebla Street Food opened at 230 E. Green Bay Street in Shawano. It is a sit-down restaurant, not a food truck as the name might imply. It serves authentic trompo meats, homemade salsas, breakfast favorites, sweet and savory tamales, and simple dishes made with heart. Absolutely all of the food is prepared from scratch every single day. There is a set menu, and there are daily specials. Ignacio is the main cook, and Tiffany is the main tamale maker. It’s also a family affair with their children and other family members helping out and serving food. And Art and I have been repeat customers!
I just love feel-good stories like this! I am inspired by people like Ignacio and Tiffany who work hard to make their dreams come true. For people who have dreams, I hope your dreams come true. God’s blessings on your journey!
Pastor Beth
