From feeling inspired by watching her grandmother cook in her kitchen to managing her own restaurant, Clementine’s Kitchen Owner and Laredo College alumna Vanessa Ramirez had to go through several different career choices before setting her sights and heart on cooking.
“I was always obsessed with the kitchen,” Ramirez said. She recalls an early memory of playing with a small plastic kitchen setup for children. As she grew older, Ramirez said she would practice making different dishes for her cousins and brothers while experimenting with recipes. With time growing closer to pick a career and a strong family history of mechanics, she made the early decision to go to school to be an aviation technician.
She graduated with all the fanfare and celebration often seen at a graduation, but being a mechanic simply did not work out. Her calling was still out of reach as Ramirez continued searching for a career. From coaching, firefighting and Border Patrol, none were the right fit for her.
“Sometimes when things don't happen and it feels crushing. I feel it happens for a reason because it will lead you to where you were truly meant to be,” Ramirez said. “It’s not failing, it's experiencing different paths.”
In hindsight, Ramirez said that exploring new and different careers was like tasting all manners of food.
“With food, you won't know if you don’t like it if you don't try it. If you tried it and don't like it, just move on to the next thing,” she said. With the success of Clementine’s Kitchen, it’s clear that she found something that tasted just right.
Ramirez said that the change began when she saw a Laredo College culinary arts professor wearing their chef's attire at a grocery store. This small glimpse was the catalyst that sparked her curiosity which led to her eventual enrollment in Laredo College. Once her kids were old enough to go to school, Ramirez immediately signed up for the Laredo College Culinary Arts Program.
Alongside all the culinary skills she learned during her time in the program, Ramirez also benefited from her internship with the executive chef from the Laredo Country Club and made several friends with the same passion. After years in the field, she still credits LC’s Culinary Arts Program for learning the proper techniques and basics of cooking that set a foundation for success at Clementine’s Kitchen.
Her personal career path became clearer as she progressed through the LC program. Ramirez said that while she wanted more practice before establishing a professional business, a supportive nudge from her husband encouraged her to open a food truck. This food truck was a community effort as family, instructors and friends from her culinary arts class banded together to help Ramirez bring her idea to life. After four successful years running the food truck, Ramirez was offered a space that would be the setting for the next chapter in her culinary journey.
At the time, the thought of moving into a brick-and-mortar restaurant hadn’t crossed her mind but considering her client’s requests for seating, she took the leap and moved her restaurant into the space.
When it comes to following your dreams and taking your future into your own hands, Ramirez’s advice is: “Just go for it. Don't wait for the right time. There is never a right time. You have to just go for it.”