1 mar 2025
Bringing authentic Dominican street food to the Capital Region
When Zory Santana's son left for college in 2014, she found herself navigating an identity crisis familiar to many parents: "I had that emptiness...trying to navigate 'Who am I now?,'" Santana said. The answer came from her past — a long-deferred dream of owning a food business that would celebrate her Dominican heritage.
An entrepreneur with a vision for authentic Dominican street food, Santana is one of ten participants in the inaugural class of the HVADC BIPOC Microloan Accelerator program. The Accelerator is a Business Technical Assistance (BTA) program focused on financial literacy, business and marketing plan development, and preparation to access business capital. Entrepreneurs successfully completing the program will receive a microloan through the HVADC Agribusiness Loan Fund.
"My mom loved to cook," said Santana, a first-generation American born to Dominican immigrant parents. "As a child, I didn't care about that. But as I got older, I became just like my mom. I absolutely love cooking."
Zory's Empanadas represents more than just a business venture for Santana — it's the culmination of generational knowledge and authentic Dominican street food traditions. What makes her empanadas special are the fresh ingredients typical of Caribbean cuisine: "garlic, cubanelle peppers, red onion, spices — it’s completely authentic."
Overcoming Setbacks with Persistence
The journey hasn't been straightforward. After conceptualizing her "sweetheart diner" idea in the 1990s while raising children, Santana finally began turning her culinary dreams into reality in 2018. A setback occurred when her newly purchased food trailer broke down on the way back from New Jersey, depleting her initial capital.
Despite this challenge, Santana persevered. In the summer of 2023, she hosted pop-ups at Capital Roots in Troy, though the location's limited foot traffic meant financial success remained elusive. Now, she balances a full-time job as a customer service representative while developing her catering menu and planning weekend popup events in the Capital Region.
HVADC's Personalized Approach Makes the Difference
The HVADC program represents a critical turning point for Santana. Working with program advisors Anita Pierce and Kim Hickok has been transformative: "They map it out for you,” noted Santana. “They say, ‘You're here. Let's talk about this. Where do you want to go?’"
This personalized guidance has helped Santana develop a structured business plan with clear quarterly goals — focusing first on building her social media presence and establishing connections with local breweries for pop-up events before moving toward catering opportunities and, eventually, a food truck.
"What HVADC brings — these ladies — they have been amazing. There are no words," Santana emphasized. "These women are committed, and I have not experienced this with any other resource."
When asked what advice she would give other agribusiness entrepreneurs considering HVADC, Santana doesn't hesitate: "If you want to partner with an organization that really cares, this is it." She added, "It's amazing how dedicated these people are. It's like my empanadas are all they know!"
Authentic Preparation and Community Vision
Beyond establishing a profitable business, Santana envisions Zory's Empanadas as a community cornerstone. She plans to mentor youth through summer employment opportunities and source ingredients locally — connecting with Hudson Valley farmers who might grow specific vegetables and sell organic meats for her authentic recipes.
The preparation process for Zory's Empanadas showcases her commitment to quality. Santana makes fresh dough, marinates meats for days, depending on the type, and fries each empanada for precisely three minutes at 350°F — ensuring a perfectly crisp exterior with a properly heated filling. Her menu also features tostones (fried plantains), yuca fries, and a traditional Dominican "salsa rosa" sauce, with a hand-crafted soda in the works.
Mobile Food as Expression of Identity
For Santana, the mobile food business model perfectly aligns with her personality. “I moved around a lot as a child, and that is how I like things,” she explained. “I like going to different locations, meeting different people, thinking on my feet."
As Santana works to secure her food truck and establish regular pop-up events, her passion for connecting people through food remains unwavering: "I love feeding people."
Additional information about HVADC's BTA programs may be found at https://www.hvadc.org/business-technical-assistance.