The Beginnings - Sofia Luna
Since I was a very little girl I always liked to be in the restaurant environment; the great aromas, the excitement of the crowds when we were rushed, the happy customers and all the activity made it a wonderful place for me to be. My family ran a food stand in Lima Peru and my sisters and I would help in the kitchen every chance we got.
After we came to New York, my mother looked to supplement the household income by renting food stands at parks and festivals in the city. We were just in our teens when my mother, sisters, and I worked nights preparing food to sell at these food stands. We did very well in this venture and eventually saved enough money to open a real restaurant.
In the fall of 1996 Sophie's Restaurant (now called Sophie's Cuban Cuisine) began construction and was born in June of 1997. I am proud to say that the concept has evolved from a small twenty seat restaurant located near the World Trade Center to the multi-unit operation we run now and that I have taken part in every step of this process.
We work very hard to please our guests and have a tremendous appreciation for their loyalty to Sophie's. Every detail of our operation is important to us and if we ever fail to meet your expectations please bring it to our attention so we can do what is needed to make you happy."
Personal
When my parents immigrated to the United States from Peru in 1985 looking for better job opportunities for themselves and a brighter future for my siblings and me I had some doubts. I was only eleven years old at the time and their decision to uproot the family from everything we knew didn't seem to make sense. But now, having two children of my own – Johan and Sebastian - I understand the difficult choices they made. I now embrace this country as my own and I am very happy with how things turned out. I love my family; I love running Sophie's Cuban Cuisine; and, whenever I can make time, I have a passion for travel where I explore new things and recharge myself. Next time you see me in one of our restaurants, please say hello - or if I'm busy, just wave; I'll be glad to see you.