We’re holding all food & beverage workers close this holiday season. As our teams take a short, well-deserved pause, here are a few important reminders:

Emergency Relief Fund: Applications will be paused from December 17, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Please apply before the application closes on December 16 at 5 PM CT. If you have an ongoing case, you can continue working with your case manager. Please reach out to them with any concerns about closures and deadlines.

Behind You Mental Health Program: Applications remain open, and services will be available in January. The earlier you apply, the quicker we can determine eligibility, and you can be ready for when services commence.

Texas Hill Country Floods: Applications close 12/16.

Nicolas Vera & Stephanie Velasquez

Chef Stephanie and Chef Nicolas are owners and partners of Papalo Taqueria in Downtown Houston and EMA HTX, a Maiz, Pan Dulce, and Coffee forward restaurant. Ema HTX is composed of two chefs and a coffee roaster. Our goal is to bring quality food, pastries, and coffee to the Houston Heights area while holding space for our ancestral traditions, beliefs, and practice through our foods. We uphold the indigenous lineage we derive from by showcasing the history of our culture through our craft and creativity. The source and inspiration of our work comes from Mexico and the Latin American gastronomy. Our story is intertwined with memories, nostalgia, travel, experience, and our love for Mexico.

Generously supported by Vinson & Elkins, LLP