Their tables are piled high with leatherwork, brightly painted crafts, and food.

I stop at a stand with a red sign that reads “Alberto’s Snacks”. Alberto and his wife Mayra are standing amid cardboard boxes, filled with freshly made bags of ribbon fries and a treat called “buñuelos”.

Ribbon fries (left) and Buñuelos (right). CREDIT: Natalie Van Hoozer

“El buñuelo es como un postre, porque es dulce con azúcar, sabor naranja, vanilla,” dice él.

(“El buñuelo is like a dessert, because it´s sweet with sugar, orange flavor, vanilla,” he says.)

Buñuelos are fried, crunchy tortillas, which go well with drinks like hot chocolate and coffee. While the couple has been making their snacks for about three years for family and friends, their business is new.

Alberto says they are off to a successful start serving at events and parties because buñuelos and other Mexican foods aren’t very easy to find.

For him, the food he makes is more than just a business.

Para que no nos olvidemos de México, toda nuestra gente mexicana que estamos aquí, y no olvidarnos de nuestras raíces de México,” dice él.

(“So that we don´t forget Mexico, all of our Mexican people that are here, and that we don´t forget our Mexican roots.,” he says.)

Thank you to Anthony Leman of the University of Nevada, Reno, Spanish graduate program for help with translation. 

This report was produced in partnership with NPR member station Reno Public Radio, KUNR 88.7 FM.