Angelica Urrego on Clubhouse

Bio

Angelica Urrego is the creator of ArepaBabe, a pop-up business launched in 2020 that brings Colombian street food to the hungry and curious bellies of Phoenix, Arizona.

Angelica is driven by her mission to create a space for food, culture and fun centered on the traditional flavors of Colombia. In doing so, ArepaBabe is the main ambassador of Colombian sabrosura in Southwest desert.

Angelica is a native of Bogotá. This concrete jungle nestled in a valley of the Andean mountain range in Colombia inspires her. Angelica’s family raised her to value the spaces, flavors, and culture that represents tradition.

But the journey to creating ArepaBabe is one of introspection, healing and reconnection. In Phoenix, Angelica is known among her friends as a giver, often hosting gatherings where she shared traditional foods of Colombia. The COVID-19 pandemic put an end to those gatherings. In the spring of 2020, Angelica found herself stranded for three months in Bogotá, unable to return to the US when Colombia’s government closed down its international borders. What was supposed to be a quick birthday trip ended up becoming a three-month internship at her mom’s, Rocio, kitchen. In that time, Angelica honed in on her mother's cooking techniques, like the magic caldo (broth) and [insert other dishes]. When she returned to Phoenix in the summer, Angelica realized she had wounds that hadn’t healed. A local healer recommended she reconnect to her roots through cooking. She gave it a try. At the chopping board, on the steamy stovetop, and fingers deep in ground corn, Angelica found a place of authenticity in the kitchen. The taste of this food made with tradition and intention gave her strength and a sense of identity she had lost as an immigrant trying to adapt to the US. In this space, Angelica perfected the arepa - made from pure ground corn and a combination of cheeses - that is now the staple of her business. In the fall, ArepaBabe was launched.

The inception of ArepaBabe has been received enthusiastically by the Phoenix community.

Www.arepababe.com
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