Laredo College Culinary Arts Program Graduate Goes from Basics to Business
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Apr 26, 2026, 0 Comments
Courtesy Daniel Zaragoza,
(Laredo, Texas)-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. “
