Meet Rodrigo Quijano Paredes | Chef Owner of Santa Elena’s

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rodrigo Quijano Paredes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rodrigo, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I think about risk I think in terms of values. What do I value? Family, financial stability, time, my mental health, community. Not all decisions can check every value; with this venture of opening a food truck and now growing into multiple locations, some of the risks have hindered on some of those values: personal time, family time. However its grown in areas of community, financial stability, and with time hopefully I can find more balance with my family and personal time. My wife and I had children earlier in life, and with it came a life of learning to consider some of these risks with some higher stakes, losing quality family time to push forward in a career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Santa Elena’s has been in the works for many years, even without my knowledge. Years after I finished my study’s in fine arts and graphic design, while working in kitchens I connected to memories of a former life as a child in my grandmothers kitchen, or watching my father cook large elaborate meals. My wife became pregnant the last semester of my senior year in college, which changed our immediate future into a whirl wind of twist and turns. Along the way I learned to love work, the work done in kitchens, the systematic way of organization, the relentless drive for perfection, the respect for the community of people who you end up relaying on: farmers, artisans, bakers, suppliers small and large all who come to provide you with the tools for your success, or lastly the creativity that come with changing of the seasons. As a brand I hope that Santa Elena’s can stand for exceptional quality, for consistent comfort. The latter of which is a reflection of being lucky enough to have a grandmother who was talented in the kitchen, yes that comfort of going to your grandmothers house to have that soul food.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Brewery galore! Equinox, Odell, Stodgy, Zwei, Maxline, Funkwerks,
and all the lovely and amazing food trucks that hustle: Brie and Caramel, The Fat Tomato, Double Wide, the list goes on.
Amazing burgers at Al’s, the most delicious coffee at the Fox Den, or coffee and donuts at FOCO DOCO!
The list of trails and endless hikes around the foot hills are countless, though I think that Horse tooth rock is just a quick check of the list. So many great people at the farmers markets, pies from Oh me oh my, or tempeh from my friend Eric, and just as many places as there are to drink and eat, their are venues to catch some great music. Fort Collins has a little of everything for everyone!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family at large all deserve some “shoutout” love! They have been my source of refuge, understanding, courage, motivation, pride, so many positive words that could contribute to the way in which they have supported my growth and success. My wife for her strong will, my mother for her kindness, my children for their spontaneity, my step father for his loyalty. They all have been a part of this story.

Website: www.santaelenas.com

Instagram: @santaelenas

Facebook: santaelenas

Yelp: Santa Elena’s

Image Credits
Rodrigo Quijano Paredes Auden Quijano Fenix Quijano Graciela Cervantes Skylar Monroe Adam Johnson Orein Quijano