This “3 Questions With” comes from a sponsored interview in partnership with Tecovas.
Conexión Américas is a nonprofit organization serving Nashville’s Latino community by creating opportunities for families to pursue entrepreneurial goals, improve their English, succeed in school and college, and celebrate their heritage. One of their yummiest initiatives is Mesa Komal, and we spoke with Co-Executive Director Martha Silva about it.
What is Mesa Komal?
“Mesa Komal is a culinary incubator open to food entrepreneurs in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Conexión Américas is a Latino nonprofit that was established 22 years ago, and we are the lead organization that created Casa Azafrán, the community center. When we moved in 2012, we created this 2,500-square-foot commercial kitchen.”
What are some of the food trucks or chefs you’ve worked with at Mesa Komal?
“Many of our entrepreneurs have graduated to bigger kitchens and bigger partnerships. Hummus Chick started at Mesa Komal, and now she's successfully in multiple states and major stores, like Whole Foods and Kroger. When we talk about food trucks, we have The Inka Trailer and La Cocina de Juanita. Limo is a Peruvian restaurant in East Nashville that opened recently. We have worked with Pelican & Pig, Little Gourmand, King Tut’s. The list is long, and that's why we want people to have access to our website, to know who is currently in our kitchen and who has opened their own place.”
Things are gettin’ hot in the kitchen. (Courtesy of Conexión Américas)
What does a day in Mesa Komal look like?
“The first vendor comes at 4 a.m., and the last vendor leaves easily at midnight. It’s a very complex program. We have a system where people schedule their equipment, their time, where they have their supplies, etc. We also have great partnerships with organizations like World Central Kitchen that allow us and our entrepreneurs to continue serving those in need.
“The concept is a community kitchen, so entrepreneurs share the space. At the same time in Mesa Komal, 10 different entrepreneurs might be elbow to elbow working together. It's a hot kitchen, literally. But the beauty is that a lot of partnerships take place there. People assist each other, learn with each other, and reduce the cost of their business because they are all sharing a very affordable kitchen.”
