Join us as our special guest Ulises shares his thoughts about one of my Purple Thoughts!
I was born in Cuba in 1963, my family migrated to Spain escaping communism in 1974, and we eventually moved to the US in 1977 where we settled in Houston and have considered Texas our home ever since. I attended the University of Houston where God introduced me to my wife Maria 33 years ago and gave us three boys to raise, and a daughter through adoption later in life. I can't remember a family event that didn't involve food, or start with prayer. It was always amazing how my mother was buried in the kitchen the entire time we had guests and managed to feed huge groups with some incredible dishes. I picked up on that knack for cooking and entertaining family and friends, and these days we love sitting around the table eating, sharing, and laughing. I personally enjoy after dinner the most, where conversations over dessert and coffee can take you in very unexpected directions. I started in the restaurant business back in 1979, while I was in High School, as a dishwasher at a Marriott cafeteria inside a Texas Instruments. After that, I got a job as a waiter at the first Pappasito’s in Houston at the corner of Richmond and Hillcroft. From the Pappa’s family I got the bug for the business, and I never looked back. I was fortunate to also learn from some of the best restauranteurs in Houston, working for Mama’s Café, Carrabba’s, and The Palm. In 2006 I created my own restaurant concept called Eden Café. The menu reflects where I’ve been in my career, so it showcases what I know…Tex-Mex, Italian, seafood, steaks, Southwest, and American comfort food. Over the years, I have been fortunate to add some very talented staff to my kitchen team, so the menu has evolved with their ideas and creativity. We are also fortunate to be in an area that continues to grow, as we meet new customers everyday who have recently moved to the area. While I carry hospitality in my veins and love what I do, I also have another passion for telling stories and the art of performance. Early 2 / 2 on during my college years, I participated in several live stage productions, some with lead roles, and found out how much I enjoyed that. After a break of a few years focusing on my restaurant career, I went back to pursue more acting work, and ended up switching to film. But I realized what I really wanted to do was used my gifts to glorify God and help people heal from trauma and pain, as well as point them in God’s direction, so I’ve been blessed to work in faith-based films and TV series that do just that. I see both careers as forms of serving, whether I’m cooking or acting, but I also know God is not finished with me yet