We recently had the chance to connect with Yamilett Vazquez and have shared our conversation below.
Yamilett , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
“Lo que más me apasiona no es solamente Yami Yummy, sino también el poder ayudar a la comunidad latina a crecer y traer más oportunidades. Para mí, Yami Yummy es un vehículo, una plataforma para demostrar que los sueños sí se cumplen, pero que también se pueden compartir. Mi propósito no se limita a vender comida: quiero inspirar, acompañar y abrir caminos para otros emprendedores. Cuando veo que alguien más da un paso hacia adelante gracias a una palabra, un consejo o una colaboración, siento que no solo crezco yo, sino que crecemos juntos como comunidad. Esa es mi verdadera motivación.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
“I am Yamilett Vázquez, entrepreneur, mother, and founder of Yami Yummy, a project born from the desire to share the richness of Latin food in Manhattan, Kansas. But Yami Yummy is more than just a business: it’s a platform to build community and open doors.
Today, I collaborate with Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, where my mission is to support more Latinos in taking their first steps in entrepreneurship. I am also part of the Culinary Hub Flint Hills, a space that helps food entrepreneurs grow, learn, and professionalize their ideas.
Most importantly, I am encouraging my own children to become entrepreneurs. I want Manuel and Said to know that their dreams are possible, and that they too can be examples for other young people. My goal is for them to see that entrepreneurship is not only a personal path, but also a way to lift others up and create more opportunities for the community.
Today I work not only to keep Yami Yummy expanding, but also to ensure that more people like me have the tools and the confidence to believe in their dreams. My story is proof that with perseverance, community, and faith, everything is possible.”
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
“One of the most difficult moments in my life was having to start over after losing what I had built and going through major personal changes. At that time, I felt like everything was falling apart, but I also discovered that endings are often new beginnings in disguise. That experience forced me to reinvent myself, to value perseverance, and to realize that with discipline, community, and faith in God, it is possible to rebuild a dream from scratch.
My children became my greatest motivation. They reminded me that I could not give up, that I had to be an example of resilience and hard work. Through them, I learned that setbacks do not define us—what defines us is our ability to rise again.
That chapter also opened my eyes to the power of community. I realized that my purpose was not only to rebuild my own life but also to help others believe in theirs. Today, through Yami Yummy, my collaboration with Black Entrepreneurs, and the Culinary Hub Flint Hills, I know that everything I went through prepared me to be a bridge and a guide for more entrepreneurs.
Looking back, I am grateful, because that difficult moment gave me the vision and the strength that sustain Yami Yummy and my life’s mission. I learned that no matter how many times we fall, what truly matters is rising with greater determination and trust that there is always a bigger purpose.”
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success never could: to be patient, to be empathetic, and to value the strength that comes from our darkest moments. Success brings celebrations, but pain brings depth. It showed me that every setback can be a school, and that there is power even in vulnerability. I learned to listen more, to put myself in others’ shoes, and to recognize that life is not only about reaching goals but about growing as a human being. Today I know that without those moments of suffering, I would not have the vision or the passion that sustain Yami Yummy and my mission to support the community. Pain transformed me into someone stronger, more compassionate, and more committed to lifting others up.”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
“The cultural value I protect at all costs is authenticity. The authenticity of our roots, our traditions, and our way of living community. For me, Latin food is not just a dish on the table—it is heritage, family stories, hard work, and love.
At Yami Yummy, I make sure that every recipe, every event, and every collaboration carries that essence. I also defend the value of recognition and inclusion, because I believe our Latino community has so much to offer: we stand out for our humanity, for the warmth with which we welcome others, and for the way we transform any space into a place of belonging.
I also protect the value of family, because it is the heart of our culture, and faith, which has sustained me through the hardest moments. My commitment is that no matter how much we grow or adapt to new markets, we never lose the essence of who we are as Latinos. That authenticity, that inclusion, and that humanity are what connect us and the legacy I want to leave behind.”
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
“The story I want people to tell about me when I’m no longer here is that I was a woman who never gave up, who turned every fall into an opportunity to rise stronger. That I deeply loved my family and encouraged them to dream big so they could also become an example for other young people.
I want them to say that Yami Yummy was not just a food business, but a bridge that united cultures, opened doors for other entrepreneurs, and gave the Latino community a place of pride and recognition in Kansas.
My greatest wish is to be remembered as someone who lived with purpose, who protected her culture with authenticity, who believed in inclusion, and who led with humanity. If my life inspires even one person to believe in their dreams, then my story will have been worth it.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: yamiyummyantojito
- Facebook: yami yummy antojitos
- Other: tik tok antojitos.mhk
Image Credits
n/a yami yummy
