Lapatilla
August 12, 2024, 8:49 pm
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In Baltimore, Venezuelan flavor has its own name: “Arepi”. Brothers Harold and Luis Dams, the masterminds behind this culinary treasure, earned recognition at the prestigious Golden Spatula Award 2023 for the best dish and were also ranked among the top three mobile restaurants in the “Charming City,” a distinction that only reinforces the authenticity of their concept. What started as a humble stall at the farmers market blossomed into their establishment in Fells Point.
Although the culinary landscape is continually evolving throughout Maryland, the Dams brothers collaborated to blend Creole spices with a robust business ambition, which has proven to be a successful strategy in the highly competitive realm of street food. Discover the creators of a business that embodies the essence of Venezuela throughout Maryland as the Dams brothers crafted a unique dish, securing their place in the gastronomic scene of the vibrant United States metropolis.
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The Dams brothers hail from Lechería, located in the state of Anzoátegui, having left their homeland over a decade ago. Harold, then 18 years old, and Luis, only 16, confronted an uncertain future, compelling them to migrate to the United States due to the prevailing situation in their country.
“From a young age, we were in the streets, fighting and protesting for our rights and those of all Venezuelans, but our parents worried about our safety and took us out of the country.”Luis shared.
The opportunity to settle in the United States arose due to Harold’s American citizenship, as he was born there during his parents’ short trip, making the migration process easier for the family.
However, their arrival in Baltimore came with a set of challenges for the brothers.“I believe the greatest challenge was leaving family, friends, and loved ones behind and starting over at such a young age, just the two of us relying on each other.”Luis reflected.
Pioneers in Baltimore
The inspiration to create “Arepi” was driven by a gap they recognized in the community. “There were no Venezuelan restaurants, and every time we cooked for our friends, they loved our food, which revealed an opportunity for a new concept the city needed,”Luis explained.
However, starting was not a straightforward endeavor for the Dams, as they faced financial difficulties in establishing “Arepi”. “It was challenging to begin from scratch with the little we had saved, abandoning our fears and jobs to pursue a new project.”
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Since arriving in the United States, the Creole brothers have preserved the nostalgia of their homeland while striving to blend the essence of Venezuelan cuisine with local flavors. “Since we arrived here at a young age and without our parents, I would say we became somewhat accustomed to American food and have slightly Americanized the arepa to suit our taste and that of American consumers.”Luis disclosed.
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The dream of “Arepi” was developed gradually with immense dedication. After working at a food stand at the farmers market, its founders never lost sight of their goal to have a permanent location to serve their clients until they finally established themselves as a cornerstone in the area. “Our aim from the start when we created ‘Arepi’ was always to have a store as we envisioned it. Through diligent work, we have achieved that.”“It was certainly not easy,”Luis recalled.
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Today, both locals and visitors can savor “Arepi” cuisine in the Fells Point, 1616 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231, a prime location nestled in the historic and picturesque coastal heart of the city.
Taste of home
Adaptability is a key ingredient in their success, enabling “Arepi” to become one of the most popular spots on the streets of Baltimore. That is why the menu features beloved Venezuelan culinary stars: arepas, cachapas, and tequeños.
Luis also mentioned a unique proposal for those seeking a different experience, demonstrating a carefully curated strategy to integrate into the Fells Point environment while preserving the essence of their distinctive cuisine. “We offer coffee in the mornings and have an alcohol license to serve beer, catering to the nightlife vibe of the area with numerous bars nearby.”
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Additionally, “Arepi” prioritizes quality and freshness in selecting ingredients to deliver authentic dishes while supporting the Baltimore community. “We’re aware of how processed ingredients tend to be in American cuisine, so we emphasize sourcing fresh, local products from small businesses, thus aiding the local economy,”Luis stated.
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Since its debut, the reception from customers visiting the establishment has been overwhelmingly positive. “The entire community has embraced us and our business wholeheartedly. We have received abundant support; they love our concept and our food.”
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And it’s no surprise, as their concept has deeply resonated with the memories and tastes of Baltimore residents. For the brothers, “Arepi” represents an extension of their identity and cultural heritage.
“It is both an honor and a source of pride for us to showcase the gastronomy and culture of our country,” similar to how we remember it. It’s also our way of contributing and supporting Venezuela from afar since, unfortunately, we are not there doing our part for a better Venezuela.”Luis noted.
The sweet taste of success
The commitment and determination of the Dams brothers have not gone unnoticed. In 2023, “Arepi” was honored with the “Golden Spatula Award”, a recognition that astonished and humbled both of them.
“It feels wonderful, and we are proud to have won it. There were several well-known businesses that we never imagined we would surpass.”
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But this is not the only honor adorning the journey of “Arepi.” The restaurant was also recognized as one of the three finalists for best mobile kitchen in the “pop-up business/food truck” category by Baltimore Magazine.
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Entrepreneurship requires bravery, and the Dams exemplify their dedication to showcasing the best of their culinary heritage in a city that warmly welcomed them to work with integrity. The accolades in their journey and the bond with their customers reflect what “Arepi” signifies for their family—a realized dream that evolves daily and aspires to captivate new patrons in the bustling city of Baltimore.
“We aim to spread our concept throughout every corner of Maryland, the state that embraced us, and we also plan to expand to other states in the near future,” the younger Dams brother affirmed.
Lapatilla
August 12, 2024, 8:49 pm
Venezuelan flavor has its own name in Baltimore: “Arepi”. Harold and Luis Dams, the brothers behind this culinary gem, were recognized at the prestigious Golden Spatula Award 2023 for the best dish and they were also among the three best mobile restaurants in the “Charming City,” a distinction that only reaffirms the authenticity of their proposal. But what began as a modest stand at the farmers market bore fruit in the opening of their premises in Fells Point.
And although the kitchen is reinvented in any corner of the state of Maryland, the Dams brothers joined forces to fuse Creole seasoning with a solid business purpose that served as the successful recipe for a rise in the competitive world of street food. Meet the creators of a business that carries the heart of Venezuela in every corner of the state of Maryland, the Dams brothers joined forces to merge Creole seasoning with a solid business purpose that served as the successful recipe for a rise in the competitive world of street food.
lapatilla.com
The Dams, originally from Lechería, in the state of Anzoátegui, left their homeland more than a decade ago. Harold, then 18 years old, and Luis, barely 16, faced an uncertain outlook and the situation in the country led them to migrate to the United States.
“We were on the streets since we were young, fighting and protesting for our rights and those of all Venezuelans, but our parents feared for our safety and took us out of the country,” Luis said.
The opportunity to settle in the United States arose thanks to Harold’s American citizenship, who was born there after a short trip by his parents, which facilitated the migration process for the family.
However, arriving in Baltimore presented a series of challenges for the brothers. “I think the biggest challenge was leaving family, friends, loved ones and starting from scratch at such a young age, just the two of us helping each other,” Luis commented.
Pioneers in Baltimore
The idea to create “Arepi” was fueled by a need they identified in the community. “There were no Venezuelan food restaurants, and every time we cooked for our friends they loved our food and we saw the opportunity for a new concept that the city needed,” Luis explained.
But starting was not an easy task for the Dams, who went through economic problems to be able to establish “Arepi”. “It was a challenge to start from scratch with the little we had gathered. Leave fear and our jobs to risk a new project.”
Since their arrival on American soil, the Creole brothers have maintained the nostalgia of their homeland without abandoning the goal of fusing the essence of Venezuelan food with local flavors. “Because we came here when we were young and without our parents, I would say that we got a little used to American food and Americanized the arepa a little to our taste and to the taste of American consumers,” Luis revealed.
“Arepi’s” dream was cooked slowly and with great effort. After working at a food stand at the farmers market, its founders never lost sight of having a permanent space to serve their clients until they finally established themselves as a reference point in the area. “Our goal from the beginning when we started ‘Arepi’ was always to have a store that is how we visualized it, and working like an ant we were able to achieve it.”“It wasn’t easy at all,” Luis recalled.
Today, locals and visitors can enjoy “Arepi” food in the area of Fells Point, 1616 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231, a privileged location in the heart of one of the most historic and picturesque coastal neighborhoods in the city.
Taste of Home
Adaptability is one of the key ingredients in the recipe for their success, which has allowed them to turn “Arepi” into one of the most sought-after ventures on the streets of Baltimore. That is why, in the menu, there is no shortage of stars of Venezuelan gastronomy: arepas, cachapas, and tequeños.
But Luis also spoke of a proposal aimed at those adventurers looking for a different experience, reflecting a carefully designed strategy to integrate into the Fells Point environment without losing the concept of what makes his cuisine special. “We offer coffee in the morning and we also have an alcohol license and sell beer as we are in a nightlife area with quite a few bars around,” he said.
Likewise, “Arepi” seeks quality and freshness in the selection of ingredients it uses to offer authentic dishes and, in turn, support the Baltimore community. “We know how processed the ingredients in American food are, so we focus on choosing fresh, local products from small businesses and thus also help the local economy of the state.” Luis said.
Since its opening, the response from customers who visit the store has been more than positive. “The entire community has welcomed us and the business with open arms. We have had a lot of support from the community; they love our concept and our food,” shared the Dams brothers.
And no wonder, since their concept has become deeply rooted in the memories and palates of Baltimore residents. For the brothers, “Arepi” is an extension of their identity and roots.
“It is an honor and a pride for us to make known the gastronomy and culture of our country. In the same way that we remember her, it is also our way of doing our part and supporting Venezuela from afar, since unfortunately we are not there giving our all for a better Venezuela,” Luis pointed out.
The Honey of Success
The commitment and determination of the Dams brothers does not go unnoticed. In 2023, “Arepi” was awarded the “Golden Spatula Award”, a recognition that left both of them surprised and grateful.
“It’s quite nice, and we are proud that we were able to win it. There were very popular businesses that we never imagined we would win,” they expressed.
But this is not the only award that adorns “Arepi”’s career. The restaurant was also among the three finalists for the best mobile kitchen in the “pop-up business/food truck” category of Baltimore Magazine.
Entrepreneurship takes courage, and the Dams demonstrate their commitment to sharing the best of their gastronomic culture in a city that opened its doors to them to work honestly. The recognitions in their career and the connection with their clients are a reflection of what “Arepi” represents for their family, a dream come true that evolves every day and promises to conquer new diners in the most populated city in Baltimore.
“We want to bring our concept to every corner of Maryland, which is the state that has welcomed us, and we also plan to expand to other states in the future,” the youngest of the Dams assured.
