Papi Cuisine: Merging Bold Flavors, Culture, and Innovation beyond Food

Papi Cuisine: Merging Bold Flavors, Culture, and Innovation beyond Food

From A Bright Idea by Amber Key

March 18, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

Amber Key interviews Alex Perez about his journey in building Papi Cuisine and the intersection of culture and entrepreneurship.

In this episode of the Bright Idea Podcast, Amber Key interviews Alex Perez, the founder of Papi Cuisine, a unique food brand that merges cultures through Afro-Latin fusion cuisine. Alex shares his journey from humble beginnings in Baltimore to building a successful restaurant and product line. He discusses the importance of storytelling, social media, and community engagement in growing his brand. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced during the pandemic, the mindset shifts required for entrepreneurship, and the definition of wealth beyond monetary success. Alex emphasizes the importance of following one's calling and the impact of fear on decision-making, encouraging listeners to take action despite their fears. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Papi Cuisine and Alex Perez 05:20 The Vision Behind Papi Cuisine 09:48 Baltimore's Unique Food Scene 13:10 Identifying Gaps in the Market 15:03 The Journey from Home Cooking to Business 19:08 The Role of Social Media in Growth 29:02 Transitioning to a Nationally Recognized Brand 29:44 Building a Flavorful Foundation 34:07 Navigating the Pandemic's Challenges 39:39 Mindset Shifts in Business 45:09 Defining Success and Future…

People in this episode

Host: Amber Key

Guest: Alex Perez

Topics covered

  • Afro-Latin cuisine
  • entrepreneurship
  • social media
  • pandemic challenges
  • storytelling
  • community engagement

Keywords

  • Papi Cuisine
  • Alex Perez
  • Afro-Latin fusion
  • entrepreneurship
  • social media
  • pandemic
  • storytelling
  • community

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Papi Cuisine

Places: Baltimore

More episodes of A Bright Idea

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the A Bright Idea podcast page.