From Horizons Parent to Community Chef: Tequila’s Journey with Boston Food Plug
When Tequila Reyes first walked through the doors of Horizons for Homeless Children, she was caring for her three young sons: an infant, a two-year-old, and a three-year-old. Like so many parents who come to Horizons, she was focused on keeping her family safe, supported, and moving forward. What she didn’t yet know was that her time in our Family Partnerships program would open the door to rediscovering her passion and launching a thriving business now known as Boston Food Plug.
A Serial Entrepreneur with a Chef’s Heart
Tequila’s love of cooking began early. She attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts right out of high school, dreaming of a life in the kitchen. But when she became a mom, she shifted into work that offered more flexibility through hairstyling and a variety of side ventures. “I’ve always been a serial entrepreneur,” she says, laughing. “I love creating things, building things. But food—my passion—never really left.”
It was during her time at Horizons, with the support of her Coaching Specialist, that Tequila found the space, stability, and confidence to bring that passion back to life.
Support that Sparked Possibility
With three young children, childcare and basic essentials were constant challenges. Horizons helped fill those critical gaps through providing early education for her boys so Tequila could focus on her long-term goals, along with practical supports like gift cards, coats, and boots and other resources.
“That stability made everything else possible. It gave me room to breathe. To plan. To dream again.”
As her children settled into their classrooms, Tequila began to sketch out the idea that would become Boston Food Plug, a catering and personal-chef business rooted in her culinary training, creativity, and love of feeding people.
Building Boston Food Plug
What started as small catering jobs quickly grew. Chef Reyes tapped into community partnerships, including a collaboration with a local smoothie bar Herb N Juice to provide culinary services, an opportunity that helped her business gain traction and visibility. Her menu blends comfort, culture, a holistic approach (she preps her food with Kangen Alkaline Water) and bold flavor, reflecting both her formal training and the improvisational spirit she’s honed as a working mom of three.
Some of her signature dishes include her breakfast buffet with red velvet heart-shaped waffles with a cream cheese drizzle, fried chicken and gouda grits. Other popular offerings include a country style barbecue of beef ribs, mac and cheese and caramelized collard greens, or mix and match plates with a protein selection like jerk salmon and a side of rasta pasta or dill potato salad. She offers full and half daily rates for her private chef option in Boston and surrounding areas as well as individual plates for pick up in Mattapan via a call-in ordering system.
Full Circle Moments
Today, Horizons doesn’t just celebrate Tequila as an alumni parent—we’re also her client! Over the past year, we’ve proudly hired Boston Food Plug to cater events such as our Parent Council Gratitude Brunch and our Mother’s Day Celebration. Her food fills the room, but her presence fills it with joy, warmth, and the confidence of someone who has rebuilt her path from the ground up.
"Coming back to Horizons as a caterer was a full circle moment. It’s like—you believed in me then, and now I get to give something back."
Looking Ahead
Tequila’s children graduated from Horizons for Homeless Children in 2025 and are now progressing in elementary school while she continues to focus on her businesses as a personal chef and hairstylist. Her journey stands as a powerful reminder of what parents can achieve when they are given the resources, trust, and support they deserve. Her boys are thriving, her business is expanding, and her entrepreneurial spirit continues to flourish.
At Horizons, we often talk about breaking cycles and building futures. Tequila’s story shows exactly what that looks like: one meal, one moment, one opportunity at a time.
