268 - Entrevista al joven dominicano Alvaro Reyes, propietario de "Utopia Food Truck" en Hatillo

·47 min·4 clips

Álvaro Reyes abandoned medical school in the Dominican Republic to start a food truck in Puerto Rico.

The episode begins with host Edwin López introducing Enfoque Juventud as a platform highlighting young entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico. He notes this is his first interview with a Dominican resident in Puerto Rico. Álvaro Reyes, 29, explains he moved from the Dominican Republic nine years ago to study medicine but abandoned those plans to pursue entrepreneurship. He previously worked as a nurse in the Dominican Republic. Álvaro describes always having an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for cooking, which led him to start Utopía Food Truck. He explains the name 'Utopía' represents a perfect dream that they're living through their food. The food truck is located in Hatillo on Route 2, operating Fridays through Sundays from 2-8 PM. Álvaro details the bureaucratic challenges he faced when trying to get permits in Camuy, where he received a confusing 15-point list, prompting him to relocate to Hatillo where the process was simpler. He discusses financing the food truck through gradual savings while working another job, personally renovating the 12x6 trailer himself. Álvaro admits their first day of business was terrible but emphasizes the importance of perseverance. He runs the business with his Puerto Rican wife Laura Vázquez, focusing on six core Dominican dishes including mangu with three toppings, mofongo, and yaroa. Álvaro stresses the importance of customer service, personally greeting every table. He advises young entrepreneurs to embrace fear as a companion rather than trying to eliminate it. The conversation shifts to cultural comparisons, with Álvaro noting differences in baseball enthusiasm and carnival traditions between the two islands. He describes Dominican carnivals featuring elaborate costumes that take a year to make. The episode concludes with Álvaro encouraging listeners to support young entrepreneurs and inviting them to try his morir soñando drink.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Enfoque Juventud