Meet MARIA ESCOTO | CHEF & OWNER

We had the good fortune of connecting with MARIA ESCOTO and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MARIA, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Since being in the culinary industry for 9 years, I soon realized that I was not really meant to be in someone else’s kitchen. I loved cooking for others with my own touch and my own menu. Within the first month of announcing Covid back in March 2021, I found myself unemployed like many. I couldn’t fathom just being at home doing absolutely nothing. One morning I was in bed scrolling thru Instagram and saw a Tea House was offering to go Tea Boxes to enjoy afternoon tea at home. I immediately started to see If this was something I can do myself and thought “Hey what can I lose?” I bought my logo for $50 and started creating my own menu. Within 2 weeks I launched my first box and sold over 70 boxes. It was such an amazing feeling. Ever since day 1, I have had many people support my small business and I have been forever grateful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
If you were to ask anyone that has tried my tea boxes they would definitely say that my scones and clotted cream are what sets me apart from others. They are ridiculously addicting. Especially with the cream. Its the perfect bite every time. It took years to get me where I am now. Ive always had small side businesses with food and none of them ever made me happy. I had meal prepped for lots of people after I had my daughter and hated doing it because it just wasn’t something that I enjoyed doing but had no choice since going back to work was not an option I had and still had to make ends meet. That was one of the toughest thing I had to overcome. It put me in a very depressed state and I finally just told myself to end my business venture with meal prepping after my daughter turned 1. Owning Steep and Sip Afternoon Tea Delight has brought me so much joy. It has bloomed into something I never could imagine. From doing afternoon tea at home boxes to afternoon picnics and weddings. Its such a beautiful thing to be apart of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Considering my best friend now lives in Florida and is planning to come down in a few weeks, I would have such a fun filled week for her. Our monthly tradition would always be the both of us going to our favorite BBQ restaurant and sharing the huge tri-tip plate. It amazes me that the both of us practically finish the entire meal. Since the both of us are really big home bodies, we would probably catch up at my house and watch a ton of scary movies. Most of the time we end up talking through most of it about random stuff. Usually we start talking about old memories and just bust up laughing. We’ve known each other since we were 7 so we have seen each other grow up through our most awkward phases and always make fun of each other for it. More than likely we will stop to make a snack run at 7Eleven and come back with a ridiculous amount junk food. That’s our way of enjoying each other and it never gets old.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to say that working at The Queen Mary’s Tea Room back 2012 is what gave me ideas on how to make my menu. I worked there for 4 years and loved it. I admired how dainty the whole set up was. The tea sandwiches were so small yet so delicious and beautiful. Of course while working there I always had different ideas as to how I would do my own set up but never could express them as they had a set menu and were not looking to change it. So when I finally got to creating my menu I was really excited to finally be able to put those ideas into my work.

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Image Credits
CODY MUNIZ