Paraeducator Crystal Colon launches Puerto Rican food truck called Luciannie’s Empanadillas

Paraeducator Crystal Colon is frequently spotted in classrooms or in the gym at ARHS, where she has been the long-term sub for the Unified PE program. Before working at ARHS for the past seven years, she lived in a number of cities. She moved from New York to Boston, and from Boston to New Bedford, before, as she puts it, “finding my way out here.” 

Colon’s latest move is not a physical one, but rather a career move, inspired by a lifelong love of food and family that inspired her to open up a food truck called Luciannie’s Empanadillas, which not only promotes Puerto Rican food and culture, but also honors the childhood memories of her mother and grandmother cooking in the kitchen. Her mother was named Annie, and her grandmother was named Lucia. Colon’s mother and grandmother are no longer with her. “It’s important to me to have that tradition going on,” said Colon.

Colon was not permitted to be in the kitchen at a very young age, so she would instead gaze through the door as her mother and grandmother prepared food. “Just seeing them two having joy and cooking and feeding the family… the feeling that I got from that was amazing,” said Colon, describing how she fell in love with the process of cooking.

As Colon grew older, she was permitted to assist in the kitchen, where she began learning how to cook. Pastelon and yuca fries are some of the Puerto Rican foods she wants people to experience, and they helped her attract the attention of her first customers. Principal Talib Sadiq’s administrative assistant, Lirey Rodriguez, who has known Colon for around seven years, explains the pastelon as “like the Puerto Rican lasagna, but instead of noodles, we use plantains.”

Colon says she noticed a lack of Puerto Rican culture in the Amherst and South Hadley area. She said that while there is Mexican and Chinese food, there aren’t many places to get authentic Puerto Rican food. “I figured, why not bring Puerto Rican food here?” asked Colon.

People fell in love with Colon’s cooking once she began preparing food for the basketball club bake sale. She was also inspired by the positive feedback she received. She wanted people to explore more Puerto Rican food and what she had to offer. “I want to have everybody experience Puerto Rican food, and introduce them to different meals they have never heard of,” she stated, expressing her desire for people to try Puerto Rican cuisine.  

When Colon first wanted to launch her food truck, she knew it wouldn’t be an easy journey. “Sometimes you have doubts about whether it’s going to work or whether it won’t work,” said Colon. However, if you know Colon, you know she doesn’t give up easily, so “for me, I had to fight those thoughts and go for it,” she added. 

“I had to start somewhere,” said Colon, who was fully aware that starting a food truck would be difficult and would require a lot of work. “I also have to work on another job so I can have some type of income to put down as well,” she said. And she knew she had to find the time, put in the labor, and receive assistance with some tech-related tasks.

Her best friend, Nancita Alejandro, has been assisting her; she made her website, the QR code, and the fliers. “She did all the behind-the-scenes for me,” said Colon. 

Community Response 

 “[Her food] is delicious,” said Rodriguez, adding, “I like how she’s creating all these different funky flavors.” Colon adds more than just unusual tastes to her meals, she noted; “she puts love into her food.”  

Gretchen Santiago, a hall monitor at ARHS, has known Colon for about three years. Santiago states how she is addicted to Colon’s empanadas, “ I love them,” she said. Santiago also agreed that there is a lack of Puerto Rican food out here locally. “[People] want food with flavors, and she got that flavor that people are looking for,” said Santiago.

Alejandro has known Colon for about a decade and is Colon’s best friend. In addition to the previously listed tasks, she has assisted Colon in developing her website. “It’s amazing to see a Puerto Rican Afro-Latina woman-owned business serving culturally relevant cuisine,” Alejandro said, adding that she is really proud of Colon. Alejandro remarked, “I was lucky enough to be in the focus group that taste-tested the empanadas, definitely a tough job, but someone had to step up,” said Alejandro.

“Watching her experiment with flavors, perfect recipes, and use her food to bring our culture to life is such a joy…she’s soooo Puerto Rican in the kitchen!” Alejandro added, describing Colon’s presence in the kitchen while cooking, shouting at anyone attempting to sneak a taste before it’s finished, blasting music, and singing off-key. “I love projects that start with a dream and a powerful backstory,” said Alejandro, expressing her deep pride in Colon and her journey thus far. It became more meaningful to help after witnessing her struggle and all that she has conquered. Additionally, she said, “the pastelon empanadas were a pretty good incentive.” 

Future Plans 

“I wouldn’t mind driving out there,” said Colon, referring to her goal to get the food truck beyond Amherst to places like Springfield and even Holyoke. Crystal wants the food truck finished as soon as possible, but she has set a deadline of June. She desired a franchise for the food truck.  “I’ll be the first generation business owner,” said Colon, referring to the fact that she will be the first person in her generation to own a business. She has no intention of stopping there. She went on, “I want to have something that I can leave down for my generations as I get older.”