Today we’d like to introduce you to Xose Velasco.
Hi Xose, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Mexico City. From a very young age, my parents made a point of bonding over food. Even though neither one had a culinary background, cooking came naturally to both of them. That marked me profoundly in a way that, to this day, dictates a lot of how I move through life. Sharing experiences through a meal or cooking with someone became a way for me to connect with other people.
When I was 11, my family immigrated to the United States, to the north side of Houston. Moving to a different country at that age had a big effect on me. I left behind the place, people, and culture that I knew, and it took time for me to find that same sense of familiarity and belonging in a new place. Looking now, I think food became one of the ways I stayed connected to who I was and where I came from while building relationships and a new life here.
While living in Houston, I befriended one of the most important people in my life, Anthony Pratto, who would later become my business partner.
Cooking at my parents’ house with Anthony, my family, and a group of close friends became a tradition. We celebrated special moments together, and that tradition eventually centered around a dish I had shared with them at one of my birthdays.
My father, Jorge Velasco, was born in the northern state of Chihuahua. Even though he grew up and lived in the central part of Mexico for most of his life, he incorporated certain aspects of the area to this northern Mexican dish, which is Discada. So something that had been introduced to me from a very early age eventually became a centerpiece for this group of people I spent my everyday life with.
Anthony and I became really close friends, and eventually he moved to Austin. We kept in touch over the years and always laughed about the fact that he would joke about making a business around Discada. Now I know that all those years, he wasn’t actually joking.
In 2017, during a trip with that same close group of friends, we talked about it again, and this time he finally convinced me. In 2018, we decided to start it. I moved to Austin, and we did.
We’ve now been open for almost nine years, and so much has come from that decision. It completely changed my life for the better. Over the years, I’ve met people through this industry whom I’ve come to appreciate greatly, and I truly believe that serving food to the people of this city was the best way I could have built this chapter of my life.
I’m incredibly grateful for all the recognition that has been given to me and, more importantly, to the team behind me, from the very first piece that was written about us to eventually being recognized by the Michelin Guide.
To take something as personal to me, my family, and my closest friends as this dish, and to be able to share it with so many people is probably the greatest accomplishment I’ve felt.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Even though it has been a very special project for me, it definitely hasn’t always been an easy road. This was the first business I ever started, and not knowing many aspects of how to properly run a business was a challenge in itself. There were a lot of things we simply had to learn as we went.
As the business grew, figuring out how to implement systems to make everything run properly while also adapting to constant changes became a learning curve of its own. You start with an idea you’re passionate about, but eventually you realize there is so much more behind keeping a business moving forward.
There have definitely been moments when that responsibility has felt heavy, but I’ve learned to see those moments as useful lessons. Every challenge has forced me to adapt, evolve, and become better at what I do, both personally and as a business owner.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Discada?
I am the cofounder and head chef of a taqueria named Discada, where we specialize in one type of taco of the same name.
Discada is a dish from the northern part of Mexico. Our recipe consist of different layers of pork, beef, and vegetables that are marinated for 24 hours and then slowly cooked confit-style, in a modified tractor plow disc. We serve it on a nixtamalized corn tortilla lightly fried in duck fat and topped simply with onion, cilantro, and pineapple.
There isn’t one specific recipe for this dish, since it’s prepared differently throughout each part of Mexico and can vary from region to region. Our recipe has been passed down through my family for generations, and what makes it unique is that while its roots are in northern Mexico, it has also been influenced by the central area and through my family’s history.
I think one of the things that sets us apart is our decision to focus almost entirely on this one dish. From the beginning, we didn’t want to build a large menu just for the sake of having options. We wanted to take something that was very personal to us and give it the attention it deserved. That simplicity has allowed us to be intentional about every part of the taco, from the way the meat is prepared and cooked to the tortilla and the final toppings.
One of the things that I’m most proud of is Discada always having a very clear identity. We took something that came from my family’s backyard and built an entire concept around it without trying to turn it into something that is not. As the business has grown, we’ve been able to maintain that simplicity and stay true to what made it special to us in the first place.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I consume a lot of podcasts that are originally from Mexico. Somehow, keeping up with them makes me feel closer to the core of who I am and keeps me connected to the culture I grew up with. There are a few that I listen to regularly, but they tend to change depending on what I’m interested in or curious about at the time.
As far as books, I’ve spent a lot of time reading about Stoicism and philosophy in general. I don’t know that I could choose one particular book as a favorite, but I’ve always been drawn to ideas about perspective, self-awareness.
I think more than any specific book or podcast, I’m constantly looking for things that make me curious or give me a different way of looking at each situation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.discadatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discada?mdxt=emRnMGRvdHB4eTNj&utm_source=qr
