Meet Evelyn Davila of Empanadas Milonga in Colorado Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evelyn Davila.

Evelyn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I can’t talk about Empanadas Milonga without mentioning my family first. Four years ago, my husband and I made the decision to move to Colorado Springs from Miami Beach after becoming parents to our beautiful daughter Izzabella.

After a couple of years of being a stay at home mom (at the time my husband Adrian was traveling often working). I had this idea of starting a business for some time. So, I thought to myself, What do like to do? I like cooking. I love gathering with family and friends over a home cook meal. The kitchen is the heart of my home and wanted to share this passion with others. I’m Puerto Rican and my husband Adrian is Argentinian, I learned the craft of making empanadas from my husband and he learned it from his mother lovingly called Peti. I fell head over heels with Argentinian culture in my youth thru watching movies and listening to the music. Milonga (the name for our business) is actually a form of Tango.

With determination in May, 2018 (Adrian was working in Wyoming at the time) I wend in pursued of my entrepreneurship dream. My first experience as a small business owner came from renting a vendor space at Pikes Peak Market Downtown, Colorado Springs and working out of a commercial kitchen. Is during this time when, I met my friend Lorena Jakubczak (owner of Azteca Gourmet Foods). She have been a mentor and colleague in the business of farmers markets and food. This past winter and summer season, We worked the local farmer markets scene (CFAM,WPFM). I also had the pleasure of working several vegan events with JL Fields. I was a guest in Teresa Farney KRDO Table Talk radio show. We also had articles writing in the Gazette and CS Independent newspapers. Just recently, I was invited to be a guest in FOX21 morning segment. I’m feeling very blessed and loved.

I’m currently collaborating with Lorena working out of her commercial kitchen turn eatery. I have a space where I make and serve Artisan Argentinian empanadas. There are currently 10 flavors of empanadas on our menu (beef, chicken, pork, tuna), and we also serve vegetable options (mushroom, spinach, sweet corn, butternut squash, eggplant, caprese). Some empanadas are seasonal, we alternate flavors weekly, and also offer them frozen easy to cook take home and enjoy! Last but not list, we make fresh Chimichurri (Parsley) and Criolla (fresh tomato) sauces to accompany your fresh oven baked empanada.

My future goal is to expand my business and bring more delicious and traditional home cooked dishes. With homemade pastas, Malbec wines, sweet deserts alfajores and even a alfresco Asado Parilla (Argentinian classic BBQ). Not just dishes “a destination of new flavors” for everyone to have the experience of being in Buenos Aires.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I definitely had my share of bumps in the road and continue to do so, but the beauty of it all is figuring it out, to take action every day. Some days can feel like a marathon. Finances can be tight, but is all part of the territory of trying to build your own and not forgetting what’s important, staying focus and not giving up. The most challenging thing for me have been balancing family and business. My husband and daughter have made big personal sacrifices to support me. A true story and close to my heart while living and working in Wyoming my husband Adrian after 10-13 hours a day on a Friday would drive 4 -5 hours (depending in the traffic) to come home and make me 50 pound of dough and cut (by hand) the tapas (disks) for the empanadas.

Early Monday morning, he would drive back to Wyoming and be back to work at 6:00am, he did this for about 6 month. God have been good to provide work for my husband close to home and I’m grateful to be home and be able to raise the apple of my eye Izzabella.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Empanadas Milonga takes pride in making Artisan Argentinian Empanadas in the traditional Buenos Aires style. I close every empanada individually with different repulgue (seal or crimp) to denote each flavor. Empanadas are then oven bake. I like to give the Crimini Mushroom an artful twist by adding paprika in the dough, and Turmeric in the Eggplant Curry. You can get them frozen or ready to eat on the go. We are located inside Azteca Gourmet Foods kitchen/eatery. Our hours of operation are Wednesday thru Saturday for lunch 11:00am to 2:00pm. We also have our empanadas available party platters cocktail size (please call 10 days in advance to place order.)

What were you like growing up?
I love music growing up during the 70’s was just the best. I was very timid. Love school. Wrote poetry. I love dancing and swimming. My favorite thing to do was days just hanging out with my friends.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2378 Academy Pl 80909
• Phone: (719) 243-3597
• Email: evelini@empanadasmilonga.com
• Facebook: @empanadasmilonga
• Instagram:  empanadasmilongacos

 

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.