Kim.
The hands behind every pastel.
Born from abuela's kitchen, raised on sofrito and Sunday pernil — Kim turned her family's recipes into Hudson Valley's most-loved Puerto Rican cocina.
NYC
Champdesde 2023
Two-Time NYC Pasteles Champion
Since 2023, Kim has held the title at the New York City Pasteles Competition — beating out 20 other restaurants two years running.
How it happened.
In 2023, Kim packed a cooler of hand-folded pasteles, drove up to New York City, and squared off against 20 of the city's top Puerto Rican restaurants. The judges took one bite of her slow-roasted pork masa — wrapped the old way, in banana leaves — and named her champion.
She came back in 2024 to defend the title. She won again. Same recipe. Same hands. Same sofrito, made fresh that morning.
"I'm not doing anything new. I'm doing it the way my abuela taught me — and I'm not cutting corners. That's the whole secret." — Kim
Gallery
The trophy, the tray, the sofrito on the stove — a look inside Kim's kitchen.
Talk to Kim directly.
Catering questions, holiday pastel orders, or a family tray for Sunday — call or text. Kim answers.