Today we’d like to introduce you to Trizeth Esguerra.
Hi Trizeth, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. Before we ask about your work life, you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I got my love of cooking and Filipino food from my mom, who would always be our unofficial chef for our family parties and gatherings. I was her “sous chef” and also dishwasher haha. Fast forward to 2013, I graduated culinary school, landed my first cooking job at an authentic Korean restaurant in Jersey City, NJ, and worked my way from line cook to kitchen manager. And that is where I fell in love with the Korean flavors and culture. I wanted more experience in a more comprehensive and fast-paced environment, so I left and started as a line cook at Buddakan restaurant in the Chelsea Market area of NYC. There, I could further hone my skills and confidence in the kitchen. It’s also where I was introduced to the style of modern Asian Fusion cooking. I worked my way from the garde manger line to Fish and Meat. It was fun, and I gained a lot of experience, but I got tired of the hectic commute and the late nights traveling from NY to NJ, so I decided to leave and find a job closer to home. I also wanted to find a job where I could learn more about the business side of things. I started working for my friend who had a dessert shop and took a less active role in the kitchen and more on the management side. After a few years, I became the VP of operations for the company. Finally, in 2021, my husband and I moved to central Texas, having a better understanding of the business side of the food industry; it was the right time and place to take the next step and create something that was eventually mine. Weh Asian Fusion is a culmination of all the passion and experience I have gained over the last decade.
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
Being new to Texas, the biggest challenge for starting the business initially was needing more support from our friends & family from NJ. However, this served as an excellent opportunity for growth, as our hard work genuinely earned the following and the supporters we gained. Other than that, we experience the same struggles as any other business experience, from financing operations to staffing. Still, again, our motto is to grow slowly and steadily, one step at a time. Recently, we had to scale the business back from having a steady service schedule at our location in East Austin to a more “pop-up event” based business, as my husband and I welcomed our beautiful baby boy into this world last January.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Weh?” Asian Fusion is a proud woman-owned/operated business started through my love of food and community. Our mission at “Weh? Asian Fusion” brings joy and comfort to people’s lives through our food and pays homage to the cultures and culinary influences that shaped our identities. Our fusion approach takes the comforting flavors of our many Asian influences and familiarity with Western classics to create genuinely unique dishes we proudly serve. Filipino and Korean flavors heavily influence our dishes. Filipino and Korean cuisine have grown in popularity over the years but have yet to become staples in every household in Texas. At “Weh?” we want to bring more notoriety to both cultures through our take on classic dishes. We decided to get it to cities with little Filipino and Korean representation and push both cultures forward.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you love Korean and Filipino food, this is the perfect place to try both flavors in one bite.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weh-asianfusiontx.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weh_asianfusiontx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weh.asianfusiontx/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/FuzZucpfZr
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KTZz64gtcCwWqkCEA?g_st=ic
