Ay Caray! A
Mexican Food Truck
Love Story

Mexican Cuisine On Wheels

For love, he moved to Amsterdam, where he quickly found a position as a chef in one of the city's first Mexican restaurants, Roses Cantina. But after years of working in various restaurants, Gabriel could not suppress his entrepreneurial spirit. Combining his love for cooking and his experience in the hospitality industry, he decided to start his own business - a food truck named Ay Caray!. This name is a commonly used expression in Mexico that expresses both surprise and admiration. And it's exactly the reaction Gabriel hoped to receive with his authentic Mexican dishes, served from his food truck. His inspiration came from his wife, Stephanie, who suggested the idea of a rolling Mexican restaurant. They wanted to offer something different from the usual Tex-Mex food trucks, and that's exactly what they did. Gabriel: "I thought, why work for someone else? I can do it myself! Then I can also make real, authentic Mexican dishes, which I grew up with."

Ups and Downs

Gabriel has a lot of work experience and learned a lot about practical and financial matters from his wife, who is a DTP designer with a background in commercial economics. However, the start of Ay Caray! was not without challenges. The purchase of the food truck was a big investment and Gabriel had to get used to the unpredictable Dutch weather, with rain and wind. Gabriel: "The toughest moment was a winter storm with temperatures of -10 degrees Celsius, which caught us during a catering job. But even this job had satisfied customers!". The low point was when almost all his assignments were canceled due to the COVID crisis. But Ay Caray! was able to keep afloat during this period. Gabriel's hard work and dedication have paid off: Ay Caray! is now a well-known name in the Dutch food truck scene, loved for its authentic Mexican dishes and the lively Mexican atmosphere it brings.