Our Story

Growing up in Mexico, I was always surrounded by mi familia. We shared memories, milestones, and from one generation to the next, our love of cooking traveled through generations. At any given time of the day, you could find my mom, grandma, grandpa, and aunts and uncles busying themselves in our kitchen. 

I spent much of my childhood with my grandfather, a caring man who took his position as the patriarch of the family quite seriously. In his youth, he had a talent for baseball and as he gained a name for himself, he was affectionately known as "Novato." He could be rather strict at times, something I miss now, but his perfectionism is something that I apply to my recipes as I desire to create dishes that both taste delicious and honor my roots.

As much as I like to brag about my culinary skills, I have to admit that my grandma—'til this very day—makes the best Mexican food I've ever tasted. Her gift became my mother's before landing at my fingertips, and even as a child, I knew I was being taught lessons in the kitchen that couldn't be learned anywhere else in the world.

When I was three, my mother and I moved to Orange County, Calif., and began testing out what America had to offer when it came to Mexican dishes. I found some restaurants that I liked quite a bit, but when it came to tasting a salsa that reminded me of being home with my family in our Tijuana kitchen as the enticing aromas of spices filled the air, I was disappointed.

Over the years, I've become busy with life, but after becoming a mother, I had a wild idea: Why don't we try to bottle some of our favorite salsa recipes? It didn't take much convincing to get the ladies of my family on board, and soon, my mom and I were traveling to Tijuana every weekend. El Novato was born, birthed from the feeling of togetherness, and it's taken years to evolve. We named the company after my grandpa in honor of his memory, as he passed away eight years ago. He was such an important man in my life—like a father to me and beloved by all of us—and I know that his love is the main ingredient in everything we create.

Professionally, I work as a costume designer/costumer/stylist in the entertainment industry, but whenever the opportunity presents itself, no matter how busy I am, I'll switch hats and cater parties and special events. You can also find me on YouTube where I share my cooking videos, and with the help of my cousin Becky Diaz Acosta, a nutritionist, and two of my aunts, Tia Carmen and Tia Rosario, we've developed a line of El Novato salsas that we're sure you will enjoy.

Additionally, our family wants to make sure that we deliver a quality dishes so we only use organic products. Becky is in charge of balancing nutritional values while Tia Carmen helped me develop the taste, as she's known as the salsa maker in our family. Tia Rosario helps manage our products and keeps us on our toes while making sure anything we cook up together is consistent and holds true to the heart of who we are.

We're all so excited that you've chosen to welcome our traditions into your kitchen, and we hope that you delight in these foods with your loved ones as much as we do.

Love, 

Gaby Acosta & the El Novato Family