Cafe Con Leche with a Guava and Cheese Pastelito

Arlene is a first-generation Cuban-American.
She lives in Southern California with her husband who is from Mexico, where they are raising their three multicultural children and a pet tarantula.

A daughter of Cuban immigrants who bravely came from the Caribbean Sea. As a young girl, Arlene loved to read books and watch I Love Lucy. Ricky Ricardo was her favorite Cuban on television.

A field trip to the zoo + bully classmate.
“Go back to the flock—ugly flamingo. No one likes you.”
It was true. Thanks to my strange, lanky legs and quirkiness.
Turns out, this flamingo analogy was a beautiful alignment to my Taíno roots (indigenous natives of the Caribbean).