{"id":4882,"date":"2025-05-09T12:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T10:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/?p=4882"},"modified":"2025-05-10T17:41:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T15:41:58","slug":"milagros-mendez-one-life-a-thousand-paths-and-a-tamal-that-tells-her-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/milagros-mendez-one-life-a-thousand-paths-and-a-tamal-that-tells-her-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Milagros M\u00e9ndez: One Life, A Thousand Paths, and a Tamal That Tells Her Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a quiet corner of The Hague, between the urban buzz and the breeze from the canals, Milagros M\u00e9ndez has built her own version of home. Born in Trujillo (Peru), her life has been a constant journey \u2014 Ecuador, Argentina, Spain, the United Kingdom, and now the Netherlands. With every move, she gathered knowledge, flavors, and memories that today come to life in Tamales Uchu8 , her Peruvian tamal<\/strong> business. <\/p>\n\n

Interestingly, her vocation was born from a Brazilian telenovela \u2014 Vale Tudo<\/em> \u2014 which sparked an unexpected passion in her: cooking. After training and working in renowned European restaurants like Astrid & Gast\u00f3n in Madrid, she decided to found Tamales Uchu8 in The Hague, a small sanctuary of Peruvian flavor where each tamal connects continents and memories. <\/p>\n\n

This article invites you to explore her roots, learn about her challenges as a migrant, and discover how a simple tamal can become a symbol of identity, courage, and passion. And, of course, how Milagros managed to recreate a piece of Peru in the heart of the Netherlands. <\/p>\n\n

Roots and Passions: Between Latin Flavors<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Milagros\u2019 childhood was a mosaic of cultures: the Ecuadorian seasoning of her grandmother (who was from Ecuador), the coastal warmth of her father from Trujillo, and the porte\u00f1o spirit of Argentina. In every home she lived in, she discovered recipes that spoke of memory, affection, and tradition. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cMy vacations in Peru were a festival of flavors: pollo a la brasa, D\u2019Onofrio ice cream, laughter, and family hugs,\u201d she recalls. Those first encounters with Peruvian and Latin American cuisine ignited a passion that, although late-blooming, would eventually shape her path. <\/p>\n\n

At 14, her mother moved to Argentina and Milagros stayed behind in Buenos Aires. There, between classes and homework, she absorbed the richness of local cuisine without ever forgetting her roots. \u201cPeruvian food was a treasure of flavors that always fueled my culinary curiosity,\u201d she says today with a smile. <\/p>\n\n

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Milagros Mendez with Ferran Adria & Gaston Acurio in Madrid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

The Call of the Kitchen: From TV to the Stove<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Her love for cooking began at age 7, inspired by the Brazilian soap opera Vale Tudo , where the kitchen and recipes were central. Without knowing it, that TV story planted the seed of a dream. Seventeen years later, she finally decided to study gastronomy and realized that each technique and flavor was a puzzle piece forming her identity. <\/p>\n\n

Education and Professional Experience: From Buenos Aires to Astrid & Gast\u00f3n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Driven by passion, Milagros left Argentina at 19 to reunite with her mother in Barcelona. Far from fear, she found a cosmopolitan environment that welcomed her with open arms: \u201cBy 19, I was already used to traveling and making new friends,\u201d she confesses. She arrived with few resources but great determination. After four years of hard work and saving money, at 23 she started her studies at the Escuela Superior de Hosteler\u00eda de Barcelona (ESHOB) , a fundamental base for her professional development. <\/p>\n\n

After completing her studies, she traveled to Madrid for an internship at Astrid & Gast\u00f3n<\/strong> <\/em>, chef Gast\u00f3n Acurio\u2019s restaurant. What began as a formative experience became a real job opportunity: after three months, they offered her a position on the team, where she deepened her knowledge of mother sauces, stocks, and seasonings that define contemporary Peruvian cuisine \u2014 pillars that today support her creative style. Later, she took an important step by joining the prestigious two-Michelin-starred restaurant Ram\u00f3n Freixa , where she refined classical and avant-garde techniques, strengthening an ethic based on discipline and respect for raw ingredients. <\/p>\n\n

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\u201cI chose the name Uchu because in Quechua it means chili, that essential ingredient that gives soul, character, and playfulness to Peruvian cuisine. Every tamale I make carries a little piece of that heritage.\u201d \u2014 Milagros M\u00e9ndez, founder of Tamales Uchu8<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Her restlessness took her beyond Spain: she traveled to London, where she worked in renowned restaurants such as Barra Fina<\/em> and Ib\u00e9rica<\/em> , the latter under the direction of Nacho Manzano. In every destination, Milagros expanded her culinary and cultural knowledge, forging a unique gastronomic identity filled with international influences and deep emotional roots. Her career reflects a blend of rigor, creativity, and a constant search for new challenges. <\/p>\n\n

Tamales Uchu8 in The Hague: Tradition and Entrepreneurship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Upon arriving in the Netherlands, Milagros began forging her path in local haute cuisine, working at renowned restaurants such as Lake House<\/em> in Rotterdam. Later, upon moving to The Hague, she took on the role of head chef at Callao<\/em>, the restaurant of prestigious chef Jaime Pesaque. These experiences not only allowed her to consolidate her culinary identity, but also to develop a deep respect for raw materials, technique, and the narrative behind each dish\u2014values \u200b\u200bthat today form the basis of her personal project: Uchu8<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

Once in The Hague, she knew she wanted to offer something authentic and deeply personal \u2014 a gastronomic experience that told her story. Choosing tamales as the essence of her business was no coincidence; they represent her roots, her childhood, and her love for traditional cuisine. The name Uchu8<\/em> unites the cultural and the personal: “<\/em>u<\/em>chu”<\/em> means chili in Quechua, an iconic ingredient in Peruvian gastronomy, while the number 8<\/em> symbolizes luck and infinity for Milagros, reflecting her vision of a constantly evolving project. Although currently only available online, Uchu8<\/em> ‘s ambition is to open a physical location where customers can enjoy a hot tamal served with homemade sauces and artisan bread, creating a complete, intimate, and flavorful experience. <\/p>\n\n

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Chicken’s Tamal – Tamales Uchu8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

For Milagros, these traditional wraps represent the living history of her land. However, finding fresh yellow chili in the Netherlands was initially a challenge. Thanks to the growth of the Latin market and new suppliers, she now keeps her pantry well-stocked and offers a weekly \u201cspecial tamal\u201d that blends local ingredients \u2014 from shrimp with peanut butter to Dutch spices. <\/p>\n\n

Still, entrepreneurship wasn\u2019t without its hurdles. At first, fresh aj\u00ed amarillo<\/strong> (yellow chili) was nearly impossible to find in the Netherlands, forcing her to seek international suppliers and plan purchases in advance. Over time, the growing demand for Latin products in Europe made it easier to access Peruvian ingredients, allowing her to ensure the quality of her tamales. <\/p>\n\n

The Soul of Entrepreneurship: Daily Passion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Far from the glamour of big kitchens, Tamales Uchu8 is a space for collective creation. For Milagros, the most rewarding part is waking up every morning to the smell of corn and fire in the kitchen. Alongside her team, she dreams up recipes, designs marketing strategies, and experiments with new combinations to surprise the European palate. <\/p>\n\n

For now, their only point of sale is online, but the long-term vision is to open a physical location where customers can enjoy a full culinary experience: a warm tamal, served with traditional sauces and artisanal bread. The goal is to create a space that invites discovery, sharing, and feeling a little closer to home\u2014bringing Peruvian culture to the heart of Europe. <\/p>\n\n

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\u201cEvery tamale I make carries a story, a memory, and a part of me. I don’t just sell food; I share a piece of my life.\u201d \u2014 Milagros M\u00e9ndez<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Challenges and Lessons: Migrant Resilience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The COVID-19 pandemic put her fast-moving world on pause. It was a time for reflection, reconnecting with her creativity, and reinforcing her conviction: \u201cGetting discouraged was temporary; giving up was never an option.\u201d Being a Latina woman and entrepreneur in The Hague requires strength and courage, but her cosmopolitan experience gives her the confidence to face prejudice and turn obstacles into opportunities. <\/p>\n\n

Her advice to those who want to start a business abroad is clear: perseverance<\/strong>, passion<\/strong>, and self-confidence<\/strong>. For her, every obstacle is a learning opportunity, and every tamal is a life lesson. <\/p>\n\n

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Tamales Uchu8 – Den Haag<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Connection with Peru and Future Vision<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

After overcoming the uncertainty of the pandemic and the challenges of adaptation, Milagros looks to the future with ambition. She dreams of Tamales Uchu8 becoming as well-known in Europe as Mexican tacos, carrying the message that traditional Peruvian cuisine is rich, diverse, and deeply human. <\/p>\n\n

Although she doesn’t actively participate in events within the Peruvian community, she feels the heart of Peru beating in every tamal, in the criollo music playing in her kitchen, and in the pride of keeping a heritage alive. Her customers discover, with every bite, an authentic piece of Peru. <\/p>\n\n

Meanwhile, she invites lovers of good food to taste her story and share it. Because in every banana leaf that wraps a tamal, there lives the voice of a tradition that has found its place \u2014 and purpose \u2014 in European cuisine. <\/p>\n\n

Did you enjoy this article? <\/strong>We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment and share this content with your contacts.Do you know Peruvians in the Netherlands doing valuable things and think they should appear on our website? Please don\u2019t hesitate to write to us.You can also follow us on social media to stay updated on our upcoming publications. We build peruanos.nl together with you.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

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Dare to try a piece of Peru in The Hague? Visit Tamales Uchu8 or place your order online. Follow her on social media and discover her special tamal every week. Let yourself be wrapped in the memories and passion of Milagros. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

@tamalesuchu8<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In a quiet corner of The Hague, between the urban buzz and the breeze from the canals, Milagros M\u00e9ndez has built her own version of home. Born in Trujillo (Peru), her life has been a constant journey \u2014 Ecuador, Argentina, Spain, the United Kingdom, and now the Netherlands. With every move, she gathered knowledge, flavors, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4842,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"0","show_post_related":"1","show_inline_post_related":"0"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"49"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0","override_dislike_counter":"1"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[302,531,530,529,528],"class_list":["post-4882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-cocina-peruana-2","tag-den-haag-en","tag-gaston-acurio-en","tag-peruvian-tamales-en","tag-tamales-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4882"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4899,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4882\/revisions\/4899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peruanos.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}