Long overdue pod. On this episode of Cafecito y Croquetas, we sit down with Miami entrepreneur and real estate investor Viraj Kulhari for a deep conversation on confidence, discipline, mindset, and building the long game.

We get into what it really means to be “confident” (hint: doing the things you say you’re going to do), why delusional optimism can be a superpower, and how life’s setbacks can become fuel. Viraj shares the story behind his clothing brand Confident and the meaning of “Love Always,” plus lessons from building businesses, service, and leadership.

We also talk real estate—from Viraj’s early days underwriting deals to closing a 32-unit property and scaling toward hundreds of doors—and what entrepreneurship teaches you that school never will. The episode wraps with practical gems on consistency, perspective, and feeding your brain with the right inputs.

Tap in for a mindset reset and a Miami-based masterclass in patience, purpose, and execution.

Topics include:

Confidence = keeping promises to yourself

Discipline, preparation, and self-trust

Delusional optimism vs. negativity

Entrepreneurship lessons (Confident + service business)

Viraj’s real estate investing journey and scaling

Perspective, kindness, and controlling your environment

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Welcome back to Cafecito y Croquetas ☕🥐 — and Happy New Year 2026 🎉

In our first episode of the year, we kick things off talking about one of the most iconic Latino New Year’s traditions: the 12 grapes 🍇. Do you eat them before midnight or after? Do you make intentions with each grape, or are you just trying to survive the countdown?

From eating grapes in zip-lock bags at bars to mixing them with champagne 🥂, we break down how different families and cultures approach the tradition — and why it always turns into chaos once the clock hits 12.

We also dive into:

Our personal intentions and goals for 2026

Self-improvement, health, routines & habits

Cutting back on vices and leveling up mentally & physically

Slowing down time, avoiding burnout, and staying intentional

Community, growth, and what we want this year to feel like

Whether you’re big on New Year’s resolutions or just here for the cafecito and vibes, this episode is all about starting 2026 with purpose — without losing who we are.

💬 Let us know in the comments:

Do you do the 12 grapes?

Before or after midnight?

One intention per grape… or nah?

As always, thank you for rocking with us.
2026 is just getting started. 🚀

☕ Still drinking cafecito.
🥐 Still eating croquetas.
📅 Still moving forward.

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Feliz Navidad and happy Nochebuena! 🎄 In this Christmas Eve episode of Cafecito y Croquetas, we’re talking all things Cuban Christmas traditions in Miami — family, la noche, dominoes, cafecito, croquetas, and of course… lechón.

We get into what Nochebuena means to us, why Cubans go hardest on the 24th (and do nothing on the 25th 😅), and the real holiday essentials: pig, beers, and good vibes. Plus, Dre breaks down his lechón process — from mojo + herbs to mastering the chicharrón skin, internal temps, and why cooking the skin slow matters if you want that perfect bubbly crackle.

And the stories? We’re talking Santa trauma, reindeer food (oatmeal + glitter 😂), Three Kings “camel” myths, and why coquito is delicious… and dangerous.

If you’re Cuban, Latino, or just love holiday culture, this one’s for you.

Drop a comment: What’s your favorite Nochebuena tradition? Do you open gifts on the 24th or 25th? And what’s the #1 rule for not messing up the lechón? 👀

👍 Like, subscribe, and share this with your Miami people.

00:00 Christmas Eve vibes + Santa golfing sweater
01:10 What Nochebuena means in Miami
05:40 Lechón talk: seasoning, mojo, and cooking method
08:00 Chicharrón science: slow vs fast skin
14:15 Best Nochebuena memories + first pig story
16:00 Santa stories + reindeer food
18:20 Three Kings / “camels came through” madness
21:10 Coquito = holiday cheat code
23:00 Elf on the Shelf + parents pranking kids

#Nochebuena #CubanChristmas #Miami #Lechon #CafecitoYCroquetas #CubanCulture #Coquito #Dominoes #ChristmasEve #CubanTraditions

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Good morning! In today’s episode of Cafecito y Croquetas, we sit down with returning friend of the fam, Orlando Mendez – aka the Cuban Cowboy ☕🥐🤠

We get deep into what it means to be second-generation Cuban-American, carrying the stories of our abuelos while living a very modern Miami life. Orlando shares how losing his grandparents and being part of the legendary Amparo Experience woke something up in him and ultimately inspired his breakout song “Motherland.”

From there, we dive into his unique journey from:

🎭 Acting in Miami & New York to having everything shut down during COVID

🎸 Picking up a dusty guitar in his room and teaching himself country music on YouTube

🎶 Falling in love with Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw & classic country in reverse (modern → Johnny Cash era)

🌊 Realizing his heart will always be in Miami, the Keys, and on the water

Orlando then breaks down his new project, the “Always Summer Six-Pack” EP, including:

How the idea hit him on a flight home from Nashville at one of his lowest points

A writing camp in the Florida Keys where they knocked out 4–5 songs in 48 hours

The story behind songs like:

“Modern Day Pirates”

“Beers Back Home”

“Saltwater Salvation”

“Hurt to Hit”

Why he wants his songs to become anthems in people’s lives, tied to real memories and moments

We also talk about:

🇨🇺 Owning the label Cuban-American instead of running from it

🌴 Why it’s “Always Summer” in Miami, in the Keys, and in your mindset

🍺 How brands like Johnny Cuba, Cow Bakery, Larona, John Bell Construction & more helped make this independent project possible

🎵 Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, and building a lifestyle around music

If you love Miami culture, Cuban roots, country music, storytelling, and Keys-on-a-boat vibes, this episode is for you.

👉 Always Summer Six-Pack EP drops December 5 – go run it up and show the Cuban Cowboy some love!

Don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe, sip your cafecito, eat your croqueticas, and we’ll see you on the next one.

#CafecitoYCroquetas #OrlandoMendez #CubanCowboy #AlwaysSummer #Motherland #Miami #305 #CubanAmerican #CountryMusic #FloridaKeys

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Good morning, buenas días! Welcome back to another episode of Cafecito y Croquetas, brought to you by Stay Tranquilo & H&Co — and today’s a special one…

🎄 It’s officially the first day of Christmas season!
Thanksgiving is behind us, leftovers are done, and now it’s time for Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and Christmas MUSIC.

In this episode, we break down:
• When exactly it becomes acceptable to put up Christmas decorations
• The great Christmas music debate: our Top 5 Christmas songs of all time
• The classics vs. modern bops — Michael Bublé, Sinatra, Wham!, Pentatonix, Elvis, Ariana Grande & more
• Latin Christmas essentials: Feliz Navidad, Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Salano, Borito Sabanero
• The perfect Christmas vibe: cigars, whiskey, cold weather vs. staying warm
• The chaos of overplayed Mariah Carey (sorry, Mariah 😅)

Whether you're decorating the tree, driving around looking at lights, or sipping cafecito, this is the perfect episode to kick off a full month of Christmas vibes.

🎅 Drop your Top 5 Christmas songs in the comments!
Let’s see who has the best list.

#CafecitoYCroquetas #StayTranquilo #Christmas2025 #HolidaySeason #ChristmasMusic #Top5Songs #MiamiPodcast #LatinoChristmas #FelizNavidad 🎄

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Post-Thanksgiving vibes in Miami. In this episode of Cafecito y Croquetas, we recap Thanksgiving 2025, talk food, family drama, and officially kick off Christmas season in South Florida.

We dive into:

Thanksgiving recap 2025 – turkey vs. ham, fried turkey upgrade, sweet potato, pumpkin pie & all the family chisme

Miami Christmas traditions – when Christmas officially starts after Thanksgiving, Christmas trees, lights, and holiday vibes

Our Top 5 Christmas Songs – classics, Latin Christmas hits, Burrito Sabanero, Feliz Navidad, Michael Bublé, Sinatra, Wham, Justin Bieber & more

Latino Christmas music essentials – salsa, merengue, and the songs that always hit at abuela’s house

Black Friday 2025 – how Black Friday has changed, old-school mall chaos vs. today’s online deals and Cyber Monday

Holiday shopping in Miami – gift ideas, shopping behavior, and surviving the December rush

Sports weekend rundown – Miami Hurricanes, college football, Dolphins playoff push, NBA, NHL and why this is peak sports season

This episode is perfect if you’re searching for:
Thanksgiving recap podcast, Miami podcast Christmas episode, best Christmas songs playlist ideas, Latino Christmas music, Burrito Sabanero, Feliz Navidad, Black Friday and Cyber Monday tips, and holiday season in Miami.

Grab your cafecito, warm up a croqueta, put on your favorite Christmas playlist, and hang with us as we roll from Thanksgiving straight into Christmas. 🎄☕

Follow Cafecito y Croquetas for more:
Miami culture • Latin Christmas vibes • holiday stories • sports talk • South Florida lifestyle

#CafecitoyCroquetas #MiamiPodcast #ThanksgivingRecap #ChristmasSongs #LatinoChristmas #BlackFriday #HolidaySeason #MiamiDolphins #MiamiHurricanes #StayTranquilo

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On today’s episode of Cafecito y Croquetas we’re sitting down with Miami native, author, and environmental advocate Andrew Otazo – a man who has personally picked up 37,200 pounds of trash from South Florida’s mangroves… and is still going.

Andrew walks us through his wild journey: from West Point and the U.S. State Department, to Harvard, Cuban policy work in D.C., launching his own PR agency, writing The Miami Creation Myth… and then becoming the guy who decided, “If nobody’s going to clean this trash, I will.”

We talk about his legendary Miami Marathon stunt carrying a 35 lb trash bag (and later a 135 lb trash cart), how that trash bag ended up in the HistoryMiami Museum, and why mangroves might be the most underrated heroes protecting our city.

In this episode we get into:
🌊 Why Miami’s mangroves matter for hurricanes, wildlife & our coastline
🗑️ How street litter actually ends up in the bay & mangroves (it’s not what you think)
🐢 Microplastics, manatees, sea turtles & the real impact of our plastic use
😳 The craziest things he’s found in the mangroves… including a bank robber
🏃‍♂️ “Miami’s Trashiest Run” 5K & how to plug into local cleanups and activism
🤝 Simple daily things you can do to help – starting with picking up that one wrapper

This conversation is all about purpose, community, and taking ownership of our home. Whether you love the ocean, care about Miami’s future, or just need a push to start doing your part, this episode will hit home.

👇 Tune in, share with a friend, and if you pick up trash in your neighborhood,
tag Andrew & @staytranquilo so we can keep modeling the change together.

Suscríbete, deja tu like, y nos vemos en el próximo Cafecito y Croquetas ☕✨

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Feliz Friday, mi gente! 🦃☕️ In today’s Cafecito y Croquetas, brought to you by Stay Tranquilo & Henco, we’re officially less than a week out from Thanksgiving and already seeing Christmas trees everywhere… so it’s time for some holiday REAL TALK.

We get into:

That awkward “adult” phase of Christmas gifts: cash vs gift cards, asking for deodorant, socks & laptop money instead of toys 😂

The most overrated Thanksgiving foods (yes… turkey catches a stray) and what we wouldn’t miss if it disappeared from the table

Our must-have Thanksgiving lineup: mac & cheese, cornbread, sweet potato casserole, Cuban twists like pan cubano, flan & more

Hot take: replacing turkey with smoked brisket or short rib as the main event 🤤

Dessert debates: pumpkin pie vs pecan pie vs flan vs cheesecake

Thanksgiving game plan: Do you fast or snack all day so you can go back for round 2?

The truth about leftovers: polite to-go plates vs people going berserk and clearing out half the tray before anyone else eats

Hosting vs traveling for Thanksgiving and how the family splits Thanksgiving vs Noche Buena

Drop your thoughts in the comments:
👉 What’s the most overrated Thanksgiving food?
👉 What absolutely HAS to be on your plate?
👉 Cash or gift cards – what are you asking for this year?

Like, comment, and subscribe for more Miami-flavored mornings with Cafecito y Croquetas.
Stay grateful, stay hungry, and as always… Stay Tranquilo. 🙏🧡💚

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