Most of us don't realize the years a kiosk has been in business and the significance of it's existence in the world around us, we just see it as another small business we drive by and yet take it for granted.
But, Not today. this year "El Kioskito Mio" celebrates it's 20th annaversery. Yeah small things have long lives. Created by Evelyn Meléndez Martínez back in 2002; Meléndez before opening her doors to the general public, she was all about her family, her two girls and being the best that she could be, so much so that her up bringing was academic and athletic. Evelyn Melendez's Father Francisco Meléndez was known as an athletic booster to which to his name helped organize the sport of regata in Salinas and recognized for his accomplishments in the athletic pavilion in 2001 (El Caney de la Fama, La Cultura y el Deporte Salinense) in the sport of Regata. Growing up she enjoyed the benefits of a great education and descipline most people aspire to have had in her era.
After her many educational years she made due and created a family that blessed her with two girls she considers "the light of her life". There after, she pursued what she would consider to be her first love "Culinary Arts".
Most women in Puerto Rico growing up in the 40s besides being groomed to be the best they wanted to be, she was raised in a tradicional family setting, where she learned to appreciate and took a liking for the culinary arts.
We can say that in her yesteryears in Puerto Rico, there didn't exist schools that taught her the intricacies of cooking; the delicate design was taught to her by her mother as she was growing up, and through time she learned to create her own recipe for what she would then use to build her legacy.
In 2002 Evelyn Meléndez Martínez wanted to create a small business were she could display the creative know-how she acquired in her youth. Thus "El Kioskito Mio" was born. According to Meléndez in 2002 there weren't many people making or frying Empanadillas (turn-overs) in Salinas, so she decided to focus her acquired skill on just that. Her ability to season seafood was her nitch and she capitalized on it to the extent that her turn-overs were and are still til this day 2022 a stepping stone for many that do the same today.
In Puerto Rico, Salinas specifically the craft of frying turn-overs is one most people in Puerto Rico can appreciate and is an enjoyable tradition where people buy and eat on the spot to cure their hunger pangs as a weekend treat.
We Puertoricans still love our mothers' and grand mothers' cooking, yet find ourselves traveling the island of Puerto Rico as a fun get-a-way. As we look to enjoy the change in scenery, we make pit spots along the way. El Kioskito Mio is a home-away-from-home, where you can enjoy your mothers' traditional cooking on the beat.
Now under new management, John Alvarado Rivera is the grandchild of Evelyn Meléndez Martínez and instilled in him and his team (Family) is the traditional recipe of his Grandmother's exquisite design. This year 2022 they celebrate 20 years of existence and a family tradition handed down to not only fill your belly, but fill you with happiness in your travels whilst in Puerto Rico; Salinas Puerto Rico specifically as a travel hot spot to visit.
So if you're looking to travel the island of Puerto Rico and your belly starts to grumble, stop by El Kioskito Mio in Salinas, Puerto Rico and savor what 20 years of tradition tastes like.
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