Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Mason and Tara Taliaferro.
Hi Derek and Tara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are big on community and the power of friendship. I (Tara) love to bring people together and connect like-minded individuals. While having friends over to our home in Richardson for Derek’s famous green chili chicken enchilada meal, complete with homemade chips and salsa, we saw firsthand the power of good food. Some of those friends had not met one another, but while gathering around the table, we watched as they became close. Laughter, commonalities, and memories were created that night.
We were encouraged by that same group to share our chips and salsa to a wider audience. You see, while Derek’s enchilada dish is a fan favorite, he is now known for his homemade chips. Our friends filled up on his chips and my homemade salsa, so they barely made it to the meal. We had been searching for something to do for ourselves as a creative outlet for us both. We both work full-time and run this business on the side.
Our hope is that our chips and salsa will help family and friends sit around a table for the community, the comradery, to talk and laugh with one another, to become closer, and to set the stage for memories. Our foundation is set on creating flavors that are best shared with friends. Derek’s family is from New Mexico, where they have made homemade chips for several generations. Our flavors are a combination of New Mexico classics with a Texas twist. For instance, our “biscochito” is a sweet dessert chip. A biscochito is traditionally a cookie from New Mexico, but our version is a sweet chip that goes great with vanilla bean ice cream.
I’ve made homemade salsa and guacamole for many years. I think I’ve perfected my salsa with this recipe. It has a deep flavor that is unmatched. I do not like heat and prefer flavor overheat. I’m proud that I have “converted” many fire-searching salsa eaters to love the salsa I make.
We pride ourselves in continually seeking out the best ingredients. We pride ourselves on listening to the customers’ needs. We take pride in working hard, doing right by others, and treating one another well. The greatest pride comes from those who’ve shared their stories with us – how our foods are bringing them closer together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We’ve made many pivots along the way and have already learned so much in the months we have been doing this. We are certainly still learning, and some days, we definitely feel overwhelmed with how to keep up. We have adapted our packaging and displays at markets. We have learned a lot since we started using a commercial kitchen space – that was a HUGE help in production. One really great lesson has been learned through the power of building relationships with our customers and adapting/adding to our products based on their needs and feedback. An example of this has been working on a gluten-free option for our biscochito. The biscochito’s are one of our best sellers, and customers always rave about how they’ve never had anything like them. We would have groups of people tasting, and there will be one person who stands quietly in the back and does not sample our products. After talking to these customers, we would learn they have food sensitivities and allergies, especially to gluten. I (Tara) also have a gluten allergy, so we’ve been working on creating a gluten-free version of the biscochito. It has taken longer than we had hoped, but we want it to be just as delicious as the original version. We think it’s almost there.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in making homemade chips and salsa. Our chips are different because they are thick, sturdy, and don’t fall apart when dipping them. The flavors are great. Our traditional salt tortilla chip has the perfect amount of salt. The most popular, the perfect partner to our salsa, is the lime-salted tortilla chip. They are great alone, but with the salsa, they’re magic. Our salsa is different from others because the ingredients are roasted. The salsa is thick but not chunky nor watery. The flavor is deep, with just the right amount of heat that goes away as quickly as it came in. Then we have our sweet dessert chips – the Biscochitos. These guys are highly addictive. They’re sweet and crispy, perfect with a vanilla ice cream or coffee or alone.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
We’ve been incredibly lucky along the way and have met and talked with the right people at the right times. We believe it’s all about building relationships. Whether that’s with our customers or other vendors at markets where we sell. We have met many great people who have been incredibly supportive of us and what we are doing. They’ve helped mentor us along the way and introduced us to others who have been equally helpful. It really goes back to the power of community and creating friendships and relationships with others.
Pricing:
- Chips – $10
- Biscochitos – $10
- Salsa – $12
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TexasSunGoods.com
- Instagram: @Texas_Sun_Goods
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089825791569
Image Credits
Armand D. Castilleja
