Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebel Mariposa.
Rebel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My relationship to food started in childhood. My dad taught me to be humble and not wasteful with food. My mother taught me that what you put in your body decides if you feel good or not. My grandmothers and my aunts taught me that communal cooking is healing. As a teenager I stopped drinking cows milk when I learned it was more harmful than helpful to the human body. Later in college, I was influenced by my peers who were activists. They made me aware that consuming meat was link to terrible violence towards animals.
While I was living in San Diego years ago, it was easy for me to start eating and cooking vegan foods. I liked veganizing family recipes and sharing the meals with friends and family. I enjoyed it so much I started to do pop-up events around the city. When my family back in Texas got wind that I was making vegan food, they started to ask me lots of questions and for my help. Back then, not a lot of people in San Antonio knew much about veganism, yet doctors were instructing them to eat more plant-based foods. It made me realize that my community in San Antonio needed me and I moved back. A year and a half later I opened La Botanica Cafe.
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?
Not at all. The restaurant world is dominated with men in all aspects of the business. I have had to work twice as hard to gain respect and be strong with all the men who want to refer to me as “sweetheart”. Opening a vegan restaurant in a meat-loving state was not easy. I was told many times I would fail. Yet here we are four years later. Most of our customers are not vegans they just love the flavors of our food and the atmosphere we provide.
Please tell us about La Botanica.
We are Texas’ first vegan restaurant with a full bar and community venue. I am very proud of that. I am proud of that fact that we are known for our diversity with our clientele and events. We make room for local and nonlocal talent to showcase their art. We have several events to raise awareness for non-profits around women’s and LGBTQIA rights. We have monthly DJs that play music from all over the Americas as well as a Tejana XXXplosion a night where people can come together and dance under the stars on our outdoor dance floor and patio.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Birthday parties. I love cake, music, fun and swinging at pinatas.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2911 N St. Mary’s St
San Antonio TX 78212 - Phone: 210-716-0702
- Email: labotanicasa@gmail.com
- Instagram: labotanicasa
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/labotanicasa
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaBotanicaSA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-botanica-san-antonio
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
