Today we’d like to introduce you to Taimi Carrero Garcia.
Hi Taimi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1977, in the city of Guanabacoa. My passion for cooking and serving through food was inspired by my maternal grandmother, Leonarda, who always said, “Love enters through the kitchen.” She was a simple woman from the countryside who not only fed our family but also took care of our neighbors. Her love inspired me deeply, and she taught me much of what I know about Cuban cuisine. This is why I named my catering company *Cooking With Love*.
My life has been filled with challenges from a young age. I grew up without my father, raised by my mother and grandmother. At the age of 16, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I underwent radiation treatments, which were especially difficult because, in Cuba, medical resources were scarce. Although I could talk for hours about this period of my life, I prefer to skip to when I was finally declared in remission and able to continue my life. I married my husband, the visual artist Raciel Gómez, who supported me through that difficult time.
After getting married, I became his assistant in his art career, organizing dinners for art gatherings at our home and preparing cocktails for his exhibitions. Our friends and colleagues in the art world loved working with him, not only for his talent but also because they anticipated the feasts we prepared. We tried several business ventures, like selling desserts and fried rice to small restaurants, but due to a lack of experience and ingredients, those ventures didn’t take off.
In 2010, we were able to leave Cuba thanks to an invitation for my husband to exhibit his paintings in Mexico. From there, we crossed the border into the United States. Starting a new life in Miami was difficult, as my entire family remained in Cuba, and I only had my husband and a few childhood friends with me. During those early years, I worked different jobs—cashier at a market, kitchen assistant at a sandwich shop—until I graduated as a beauty specialist. However, my passion for culinary arts was always with me, and I vowed that I would only cook professionally in my own business, though we lacked the capital to start one in the U.S.
In 2017, after Hurricane Irma flooded our apartment in downtown Miami, we decided to move to Tampa, which had been my dream city since I was a child in Cuba. Little did I know, Tampa would be the setting for the most challenging chapter of my life. I had been feeling ill in Miami, with symptoms like asthma that no treatment seemed to help. Upon arriving in Tampa, I felt worse and was hospitalized at Tampa General Hospital, where I was diagnosed with severe heart failure. My heart was functioning at only 15%, and I had fluid around my heart and lungs—I was literally dying. Thanks to God, my doctor Debbie Rinde-Hoffman and her team, my church, and my pastor’s prayers, I survived. My husband and our pastors reached out for help, and thousands of people around the world joined in prayer for me.
I spent Christmas 2017 and New Year’s Eve in the hospital. In early 2018, I was listed for a heart transplant. On March 8, 2018, I received the call for my transplant. I was scared but trusted that my life was in God’s hands. During surgery, my new heart didn’t function properly, and I was placed in a coma. The doctors had to list me for a second transplant. Miraculously, within 48 hours, they found another heart, and I underwent a second surgery. After this experience, the hospital staff started calling me “the Miracle Girl,” and I truly believe that God performed a miracle—not just because I received a new heart, but because I survived two transplants in such a short time.
After 21 days, I was discharged, and my recovery went well. I felt like the new heart was truly mine, and I’m confident I will live many more years. It was in 2020, during the COVID crisis, that I decided to pursue my passion for culinary arts and start my catering business *Cooking With Love*. My husband and I began with a paella set for private parties, and it’s incredible how, with just $1,000, we’ve grown to where we are today—running our own restaurant and art gallery, *Apululu Latin Street Food*, located inside the Foodie Labs at the Warehouse Arts District in St. Pete.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has never been easy. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve faced some of the toughest challenges, and I could share even more, but what truly matters is that these struggles have only made me stronger. In the midst of each trial, I’ve found strength and faith in God, which has helped me overcome every obstacle. I don’t consider myself particularly strong, but I do know that I don’t give up easily. With God’s help, I’ve been able to keep going, and I know I’ll continue to move forward no matter what challenges come my way. My journey has taught me resilience, and though I’ve been tested many times, my faith keeps me grounded and ready to face whatever comes next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a chef specializing in Latin cuisine with a strong influence from European culinary traditions. What makes me most proud is my ability to learn quickly, despite not having formal culinary school training, and now running my own business. I believe what sets me apart is my creative freedom. Since I don’t follow any strict rules, I’m always motivated by creativity, and for me, there are no limits. My passion for experimenting with flavors and techniques is what drives me to constantly push boundaries. Another distinctive aspect of my work is the collaboration with my husband, where we blend culinary art with visual art, creating unique, immersive experiences for our guests. This fusion of visual and culinary arts allows me to explore food as more than just a meal—it becomes a form of artistic expression.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
What I want to share with readers is simple yet powerful: no matter how big the challenges are, with the help of God, faith, and hard work, they can be overcome. My life has been full of struggles—surviving cancer, enduring heart failure, and facing the difficulties of starting over in a new country. But through each of these moments, I’ve learned that even when things seem impossible, faith gives us strength, and perseverance opens doors.
I want to encourage everyone to never give up, no matter how hard things get. Challenges are opportunities for growth, and with a combination of faith, resilience, and hard work, you can rise above anything. Trust in God, love the journey, stay creative, and lean into the support of those around you. You are capable of so much more than you realize, and with God guiding your steps, there are no limits to what you can achieve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gotab.io/loc/thefoodielabs/menu/apululu~apululu-latin-street-food
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4bg7SHPhvI/?igsh=MXNqNGhpOW9naHRjeg==
- Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/CWLcatering
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCEGnQk6j0odYmHDWdr3ohsg
