Today we’d like to introduce you to Rudy.
Rudy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I got to where I am thanks to an article that taught me to chase experiences over anything. “Can Money Buy You Happiness,” was shared by a mentor of mine in 2014, a few months after I had graduated from college. The article talked about how spending money on materialistic items, like a new car, are awesome, and the new car feel brings you happiness, but the happy feeling fades as soon as the new car loses its “new” feel and it becomes part of your day-to-day routine. On the other hand, spending money on an experience, like traveling, can have a long-lasting effect when it comes to happiness.
Although a travel experience only lasts a few days, the memories you build from the experience are the ones that continue to pay dividends. Days, weeks, months, and years can pass by, but the moment you relive a memory from that travel experience you’ll notice the wave of happiness still brings you the same joy as when you first experienced it. When I put the article’s message into perspective, it made a lot of sense. I hadn’t traveled a lot before, and I only did a few road trips here and there, but recalling on the road trip memories was enough to convince me that perhaps living a life full of experiences was the lifestyle I wanted to live by. So, in 2015, I booked my first of many travel adventures and was determined to live by the principles this article had instilled in me.
The first city I visited was Miami, Florida—home of Ultra Music Festival, one of the biggest festivals in the world! As a big Electronic Dance Music (EDM) fan in college, I only dreamed of attending a big music festival like Ultra one day. Words cannot describe what Miami did to me. There was a vibe to the city unlike no other—and till this day I can still agree there is no city that gives this vibe like Miami does. I remember vividly experiencing the beach for the very first time, surrounded by young people from all over the world having the time of their lives in this amazing city. These same young people would be same ones attending Ultra the days to follow. I enjoyed all three days Ultra had to offer. This experience was nothing I had experienced before. I was falling in love with the city and this was more than what I had expected. And for a minute I thought Ultra would be the highlight of my trip, but something else outdid Ultra.
In the heart of South Beach, on the corner of Washington Ave and 6th street, I had my first Cuban Sandwich at an amazing restaurant called Las Olas Café. I fell in love. Mesmerized by what the “Cubano” experience did to me, I became curious to what other amazing dishes I could get my hands on in Miami. It was from here on out that I became a foodie. For the time that was left in Miami, I made it a goal to try as many new dishes as possible. It was through this experience that I swore to live by a rule that would change the course of my lifestyle for the better. No matter what city I visited, I chose to never eat anything I could find back home. I fell in love with eating dishes I had never experienced before. As I traveled to new cities that hosted raves, I was introduced to new kinds of foods. The more food I tried, the more I got curious to what other dishes were out there. What started as a search to find the best EDM experience out there, turned into a search to find the best staple dishes known in the United States. This is how Ay Dios Mio was born.
From San Diego to Portland, and Los Angeles to Memphis, I traveled the US in search of the most delicious meals I could taste. For a year and a half, this became my lifestyle. I would visit a city, try their staple dish and come back to Dallas to work on perfecting the dish as if it was an original. I launched Ay Dios Mio in September of 2018 at the Dallas Farmers Market with the idea to share with everyone in Dallas how awesome our nation’s foods really are. Our menu covers dishes from coast to coast and it hits home for a lot of people. Whether you’re a transplant, someone who vacationed in the cities we have represented on our menu, or someone who is curious to experience our travel experience through our food, Ay Dios Mio is a one of a kind experience. With a Latino touch to the name, Ay Dios Mio (which stands for Oh My God in English) is what you say when you taste something that is out of this world. Ay Dios Mio is the food experience that brings you the travel adventure to you without the travel cost. Through our food, you’ll be reliving that memory you always carry with you and with that memory will also come to that joy that never ceases to fade. Built on the principles from that wonderful article I read right out of college, ADM is the beautiful outcome to a life full of experiences.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone who starts a business considers their road a smooth one, but it is one well worth taking. I think the biggest struggle along the way has been dealing with that voice inside my head that likes to point out all the negatives that are present. I’m a human being and I too experience self-doubt and question if what I am doing is the right thing for the business in the long run. I have an end goal in mind, and this is what keeps me moving in the right direction even when I get off course. Out of this struggle, I’ve learned to accept the insecurities that come with the journey as well as the attributes I bring to the table. Both are needed to make it worthwhile. I’m now okay accepting these struggles.
Please tell us about Ay Dios Mio.
I call Ay Dios Mio the first of its kind: American Fusion. ADM brings you staple dishes from across the US to the Dallas area. Our menu covers dishes from San Diego (CaliBurrito), Los Angeles (Bacon-Wrapped Hotdog aka “Street Dog”), Texas (BBQ), Memphis (Pulled-Pork Cheese Fries) and Miami (Cuban Sandwich). As one of our clients said it once, we offer the hidden food gems this country has to offer. We’re bridging gaps in the food scene and bringing you dishes that were once only known to be found in the city they are from. It’s the ultimate food experience offered all in one spot.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I think my favorite memory as a child was growing up playing soccer. It was my passion and I have so many memories from all the experiences I had from playing the sport. A lot of the lessons I learned from winning and failing in soccer are ones I’ve applied to ADM.
Contact Info:
- Address: 920 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201
- Website: www.aydiosmiomg.com
- Phone: 2143928116
- Email: aydiosmiomg@gmail.com
Image Credit:
@photo.replublick – Personal photo
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