Meet Abuelas Counter Cristy Bustamamte & Ani Mezerhane | Food Blog

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abuelas Counter Cristy Bustamamte & Ani Mezerhane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abuelas Counter, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We wanted to start something reflective of what we love and what’s important to us. By sharing the recipes we grew up with and new recipes we’ve developed for our families, we have been able to start an amazing community on our food blog.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We are lucky that our creativity is always center stage. Even if we are working on a very old-school and traditional recipe we are always thinking how it can be improved, how the recipe can be simplified and how to present it in a picture or video. The kitchen is a lot of work but a beautiful escape to let your creativity flow. As moms we are always thinking of other moms in the kitchen and their needs. I think that really sets us apart from other Cuban or Hispanic food blogs. The memory of the dish is very important but the functionality of it is just as important. I think we’ve earned the respect of this food community with very solid recipes that people can count on and that fulfill their nostalgic memories.

At first it felt like a huge responsibility to make very traditional recipes such as carne con papa or arroz con pollo. People usually want exactly what they remember their grandmother or mother making. But we quickly realized people were so grateful for the recipes even if they were not exactly how they remembered them they are a great place to start and tweak to a more familiar taste.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A trip to Miami must start with the beach. It’s something we take for granted living here but it really is such a gift. We’ve seen midtown, design district and the upper east side in Miami really come to life in the last 10 years. You can go for the art and food but the people watching is reason enough to stay. Just sitting in the lobby of the Faena Hotel is an experience.

Coconut Grove is also such a special spot to walk around filled with cafes and boutiques. It’s always evolving but there is something artistic that maintains.

Some of our favorite food spots are nowhere near the bustle of the beautiful beach. Islas Canarias bakery will always be king of the ham croqueta. The Gibson Room is a special spot with great food and live music. The cortadito from the iconic Versailles ventanita really is the best. Boia De has some of the most eclectic and delicious dishes in the city. Cafe la Trova has some of the best cocktails and another spot for great music and dinner.

When a out of town foodie comes to Miami I love taking them to Palacio de los Jugos. There is amazing produce and natural juices that they just don’t have in other places. They are equally shocked at the fresh options and how cheap a mountain of rice and beans, pork chops and yuca can really be.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We are called Abuelas Counter for a reason. Our grandmothers had an enormous impact on who we are in and out of the kitchen. I think having them as a constant presence of love and encouragement in our lives had a lasting effect. Grandmothers are the glue and soul of the family. Although none of our grandmothers are alive today to see the blog, we are sure it’s something they would be very proud of. They wouldn’t love that we substitute cauliflower for rice every now and then, but they would still be bursting with pride.

I think going to the same high school, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, and sharing that bond with each other and owners of other small businesses in Miami has really solidified our presence in the community. We look out for each other and support each other in a very special way.

Website: abuelascounter.com

Instagram: @abuelascounter

Youtube: @abuelascounter

Image Credits
Photographs taken by Lala Pereira