Chavez Kitchen: Everyone is Family and Welcome in Their Kitchen By Annette VanDeCar, Communications Coordinator In less than two years, Waaesenh (Msh) and Mynor (Oscar) Chavez went from making pre-ordered Mexican dishes from their home for customers to having a popular food truck in the Petoskey, MI, area. Waaesenh (Msh) and Mynor (Oscar) are the owners and operators of Chavez Kitchen LLC, an LTBB Citizen-owned small business in Petoskey. Their food truck is frequently located in the parking lot near Odawa Hotel in Petoskey. “We started our business in the fall of 2023,” Waaesenh (Msh) said. “When we moved back to Northern Michigan, my husband, Mynor, was having difficulty finding a job due to his status as an immigrant. To support our family financially, we started selling pre-order plates. As word spread, we became more popular, and eventually, we had to move to a government building where we sold plates as fundraisers.” After that, they received a loan from Northern Shores Community Development, Inc. and purchased their first food truck. Waaesenh (Msh) said it was a huge risk, but they were determined to make it work. “Once people began to try our food and word spread, we became more popular,” Waaesenh (Msh) said. “That’s when we decided to take a leap of faith and start our business through the tribe. We kept selling plates in various locations, and it just kept growing from there. We DIYed (do it yourself) our first food trailer. It was definitely a family effort. We worked with my Uncle Alan Norberg/Compo, who helped paint the trailer, and we did everything ourselves – installing the hood, setting up the kitchen, and making sure everything was ready to serve. It was a lot of work, but it felt amazing to finally open in the summer of 2023.” The LTBB Department of Commerce regulates business within LTBB’s jurisdiction, including business registrations and filings for corporations (for profit and non-profit), limited liability companies (LLC) and Doing Business As (DBAs). It also maintains records of LTBB Tribal Citizen-owned businesses for the purpose of facilitating contracting for services and/or products and maintains a list of LTBB Citizen-owned businesses (51% ownership or more) to assist the tribe and/or general public in accessing services and products from these businesses. In January 2024, they decided to purchase a new trailer from Mexico, which is their current food truck. “As the months went by, our business started taking off,” Waaesenh (Msh) said. “The demand kept increasing, and we quickly realized that we needed a bigger truck to keep up. It’s been a game-changer for us and has allowed us to serve more people and expand our reach.” Chavez Kitchen offers a variety of food including churros, birria pizza, torta with fries, burritos, birria ramen, carne asada fries, quesadillas, birria tacos, rice and beans, fajita/alambre taco and chicken, steak, pork and chorizo tacos. “I started working as a cook in numerous Mexican restaurants when I moved to the U.S.,” Mynor (Oscar) said. “Over the years, I perfected my craft and added my own inspirations to my plates. Cooking became more than just a job – it became my passion. Opening my own restaurant has always been a dream, and Chavez Kitchen is my way of making that dream a reality.” They post regularly on their Facebook page Chavez Kitchen, and they park their food truck at the Odawa Hotel in Petoskey on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. They regularly run specials and also offer other types of food and drinks on occasion in addition to their regular menu. “Without the support of the tribe and the community, we wouldn’t have made it this far,” Waaesenh (Msh) said. “That’s why we decided on the name Chavez Kitchen because each plate is a plate at our table, and anyone we serve is welcome in our kitchen. We want everyone to feel like family when they eat with us.” After experiencing Chavez Kitchen’s food for the first time, Alexander S. Petok, Jr. of Little Traverse Gluten-Free, wrote the following on Facebook: “We stopped by Chavez Food Truck for the first time and wow, what an experience!” he said. “One of the things we love about food trucks is being able to taste the passion in every bite, and Chavez brought it with bold, beautiful Latin American flavors that hit home. Food trucks are long hours; owner-operated, and full of heart. We do it because we love it and when you love what you do, the food reflects that. Authentic, flavorful, and made with soul. Support local. Support passion. Support food trucks.” In addition to the food truck, catering services are also available. “We offer catering services for various events and special occasions with our food truck,” Waaesenh (Msh) said. “Depending on the customer’s needs, we can either serve directly from the truck or set up a buffet-style meal. We pride ourselves in offering flexible services to meet different event requirements.” After the recent ice storm, Chavez Kitchen offered 50% off for linemen and first responders. “You are generous and thoughtful for giving discounts to workers,” Minnie Wabanimkee wrote on Facebook. “Thank you. Blessings.” As for the future, Chavez Kitchen hopes to continue growing and expanding. “We’re hoping to join the LTBB Pow Wow this year as a vendor,” Waaesenh (Msh) said. “It would be an incredible opportunity for us to connect with the community and showcase our food. The community has been so supportive, and we’re incredibly grateful for that. We’re also looking to add more catering services and possibly expand our food truck operations. Our dream is to keep serving good food and bringing people together through our kitchen.” Waaesenh (Msh) and Mynor (Oscar) have a daughter and a son who join them in the food truck. Courtesy photos.