Christina's Criollo

07/15/2024

Tuesday we’re looking at 97° to 99° weather! Inside of market will be at least 100° or more! Although I’m fortunate to prep/cook in a kitchen w/ central air, I worry about the well being of my employee at the market stand. On top of the weather, we have a 4-well steam table & heated display case that adds to that heat. So I’d rather be safe than sorry!

Please, please, please be safe! I’ve experienced heat exhaustion a couple of times-IT AIN’T NO JOKE!! 😫

We will RE-OPEN Friday 7/19!

Best,

Christina 👩🏾‍🍳✌🏽

07/01/2024

We will be OPEN TUESDAY at The Lancaster Central Market and will be CLOSED Fri. 7/5 & Sat. 7/6.

Definitely need a little break so I am taking some time off from cooking 🧑🏾‍🍳 to enjoy LIFE w/ my BFF 👭🏽☺️

Online ordering is suspended until I return.

Happy Summer everyone, stay safe!

Christina✌🏽

06/20/2024

It’s going to be a hot 🥵 weekend!! Cool down with one of my signature side salads-all vegan & gluten free!
Available all day w/ HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am

And I know it’s been awhile but I finally got a chance to make a huge batch of SOFRITO!! 🌿 Available starting Friday at The Lancaster Central Market where my girl Esther will take good care of you! ☺️

*Online ordering available at
www.christinascriollo.com

06/10/2024

Come have lunch with us Tuesday at The Lancaster Central Market!

OPENING at 10am tomorrow and I will be working the stand! So come visit, say hi ☺️ and get that delicious Puerto Rican food!

Christina 😉👩🏾‍🍳

04/29/2024

Shhhhhhh! 🤫🤫 Don’t tell anyone but my most requested side salad is making an early appearance at The Lancaster Central Market on Tuesday 4/30!

Run! 🏃🏾‍♀️ 🏃🏾🏃‍♂️Don’t walk and get yourself some of this deliciousness!

We’re open with HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am.

04/22/2024

Come visit me Tuesday at The Lancaster Central Market! I’ll be working lunch shift so come and say “hi” and get some delicious Puerto Rican food!

This weeks SOUP is another one of my favorites; Chickpea & Chorizo. Super savory, packed with flavor… oh and lots of protein 😉

Soup is available all day along with side salads and desserts.
HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am

04/01/2024

Looks like it’s going to be a rainy 🌧️ Tuesday market day! Bring your umbrella ☔️ & have lunch with me! I’m bringing back Sancocho for the soup of the day, PERFECT for tomorrow’s weather! Available all day at The Lancaster Central Market.

As always, HOT LUNCH service begins at 10am AND yours truly will be working the stand!

Christina 🧑🏾‍🍳✌🏽

03/01/2024

Changing up the soup available at The Lancaster Central Market…..
The Sancocho has had a good run but decided to switch it up and bring back one of my favorites
“Fideos con salchichon” Smoked sausage noodle soup.

This soup brings back memories of my childhood for sure!!

Available starting Saturday 3/2!

02/22/2024

THIS! 💛💛💛

Believe me when I tell you that I have some of the BEST customers/clientele! Most are locals of course but there are quite a few that come from outside of Lancaster and even out of state to patron with me…..

My heart! 🥰🥰

01/29/2024

Now is the time to plan ahead for this years events! 🎉🍾
Looking to have an event or dinner party catered, check out what Christina’s Criollo has to offer.

Not only do I offer that delicious Puerto Rican fare 🇵🇷, I’ve now added a few favorites to my website to include: Jamaican 🇯🇲 Cuban 🇨🇺and Southern/Soul food 🇺🇸 options.

No worries, many VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE items available! Check out my website at:

01/19/2024

LONG POST -GOOD READ 🥰

I wanted to share a short conversation I had two weeks ago while working my stand at The Lancaster Central Market.

A gentleman stopped by & prior to ordering he asked if I was Christina. After responding “Yes I am.” & introducing ourselves, I asked where he worked since he seemed to have been at market specifically to get a quick lunch. He responded
“I work at The Lancaster Chamber & I’m craving Puerto Rican food.”
Of course I HAD to ask, “Why come down to market & not just go next door?” (PR 🇵🇷restaurant literally next door.) He said “Their food is good & I go for specific items but I wanted food that (shrugs shoulders) you know, that tastes like grandmas cooking.”
MY HEART FLUTTERED ❤️

THIS PRAISE is what keeps me going in this business. My 1st goal when I started my business back in 2010 was to be the first legit full service caterer to provide Hispanic food specifically for weddings (which there were NONE in Lancaster) Mission accomplished.👩🏾‍🍳 My other goal was to provide truly authentic food using homemade ingredients & cooking with HEART & utilizing these hard working hands that help make my food taste like mamas or grandmas cooking. 🥰

Now, almost 14 yrs. later, there are many more PR or Dominican owned food businesses as well as a couple of caterers that provide my native cuisine, so I absolutely appreciate my customers & clients that patron with me! This is such a hard business to maintain. It takes a toll physically & mentally on your body, especially when you’re a small business like myself where I basically do everything. 💪🏾

And with snow days like Tuesday & today, when not many leave their homes, you have to decide whether it’s worth opening or not. But when you have employees who also need to make money & food is already prepared, you just have to take that leap of faith that people will come through & continue to support your business.

THANK YOU to those that braved the weather today & came and got your Puerto Rican fix at Christina's Criollo!
I APPRECIATE YOU!!!

Christina 💕

01/19/2024

WE ARE OPEN TODAY at The Lancaster Central Market!

Walk, don’t run! 🤣😂

01/08/2024

I’m baaaaack!!! Enjoyed my cruise vacation to the Bahamas 🛳️ 🇧🇸 and am ready to serve you that delicious Puerto Rican fare 🇵🇷 that I have definitely missed on my trip!!
Geez, nothing like my native cuisine, that’s for sure!!! Hope you all missed it as well and come and see me Tuesday at The Lancaster Central Market as I will be working lunch service!

We open at 7am with the following available:

-Sancocho
-Latin style chickpea salad
-Black bean & corn salad
-Coconut cheesecake
-Guava cheesecake
-Guava puff pastries
-Sofrito

HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am with the following available:

-Roast Pork
-Baked chicken
-Yellow rice w/ pigeon peas
-White rice
-Stewed pinto beans
-Yuca
-Sweet plantains
-Empanadas
-Yuca balls

12/30/2023

Wow! What a way to end 2023 at The Lancaster Central Market! THANK YOU to those who came and purchased food. Ya’ll sold me out on Friday and today only a few items were left that were donated!!

I’m officially on VACATION!!🛳️⛱️
See you in 2024!! 🎉🥂

12/28/2023

Be sure to visit us this Friday & Saturday and end 2023 with our delicious Puerto Rican fare at The Lancaster Central Market! 🇵🇷

I will be on a MUCH NEEDED VACATION & will be bringing in 2024 on a cruise! 🛳️⚓️🎉🥂

Online ordering will be shut off and resume when I return.

Thank you all for another great year! I truly appreciate your patronage & continued support!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

12/21/2023

Be sure to come & get your fix at Christina's Criollo at The Lancaster Central Market Friday & Saturday! It’s the last weekend before Christmas to get SOFRITO as well! 🎄🎅

We will be CLOSED Tuesday after Christmas & will RE-OPEN 12/29 & 12/30 to end 2023! 🎉🥳🎊

11/10/2023

SOFRITO is now available again! Sorry for the wait! I’ve been so busy, I didn’t even realize I was down to my last container for ME to cook with 🤦🏽‍♀️😂🤣….So I just made another large batch today, basically” on the fly!” 👩🏾‍🍳
Sofrito is available at the stand at The Lancaster Central Market and you can also order online at
www.christinascriollo.com

Get those HOLIDAY ORDERS in also!
Thanksgiving 🦃 is right around the corner & Christmas 🎄 will be here before you know it! Don’t wait as I do require a 72 hr. notice when ordering online.

11/03/2023

Food is Love Lancaster, calendar!

NOVEMBER features Christina's Criollo 🥰

Hahaha I looked up at my calendar just now to change from Oct. to Nov. and realized “oh wow, that looks like arroz con gandules” …. looked at the bottom right corner and saw it IS me! 🙋🏽‍♀️👩🏾‍🍳🤣😂

10/12/2023

Visit us at The Lancaster Central Market Friday for your DELICIOUS Puerto Rican fare! 🇵🇷🌴

FRIDAY’S SPECIAL are YUCA BALLS! These are deep fried yuca stuffed w/ roast pork & served w/ mayu-ketchu… if you know, you know! 😉

Also back on the dessert menu is the guava cheesecake!

We open at 7am w/ HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am.

Come get your fix this Friday as I will be closed on Saturday 10/14 for catering events.

10/07/2023

Temporarily working my stand at The Lancaster Central Market has been such a joy! Not only do I get to see & interact with many of my regulars & new customers, I get to finally meet some fellow chefs in the catering business.
Emily, owner of GEMs Catering LLC came through & bought my vegan ensemble so I had to take a quick selfie!
What a beautiful lady inside & out!!
Been seeing her on FB & IG & thought to myself, “what a boss!” 💪🏾 And today we met!

10/01/2023

*FULL TRANSPARENCY POST*

SEPTEMBER! You kicked my ass! Let me tell ya’ll how the universe challenged me physically & mentally. 🤦🏽‍♀️

September was particularly busy w/ many catering orders from a vendor partnership & online orders. My body & spirit was truly tested but I made it! When I tell you I work hard, I work HARD!!!👩🏾‍🍳

In the mist of a super busy schedule w/ maybe two FULL days off the entire month, I lost my one & only employee which was unforeseen.😫But I handled it. I just did what I had to do to fulfill all the catering orders & worked my market stand. I shared my dilemma to the market & posted about hiring a new food clerk ASAP. I received an outpouring of support from my fellow market vendors, fellow chef friends, my customers & social media friends! THANK YOU! ☺️
With that said, below is a pic of a lovely young lady named Emily who passes flowers around at market just BECAUSE! 💛 She was such a bright light to this gloom I was feeling. Thank you girl! 🌸

I did received a couple of inquires for the position right away but something told me to wait & carefully consider my options. And then, I receive a text from one of my former helpers at the stand when I first opened back in 2013!! I wanted to cry 😭 reading her text saying, “Hey, I’m currently looking for something part time!” It was like it was meant to be!!!

Working out some schedualing details but I hope to soon introduce you to my new, beautiful inside & out, personable & BILINGUAL employee to represent Christina’s Criollo! In the meantime, bare w/ me for at least the first two weeks in October as I’ll be opening late at 10am. Hey, at least you’ll see ME! 😉

Online ordering will continue to be suspended as I am booked till the 3rd weekend in October. Please feel free to inquire via email for available days in between.

I close this long but sincere post w/ a THANK YOU for the support, all the compliments on my food & the well wishes w/ my dilemma. I appreciate it like you wouldn’t believe! My love language is “words of affirmation” & they were definitely given to me by strangers & loved ones!!

Christina 😉✌🏽

09/29/2023

Good morning! Unforeseen staffing issue for this weekend at The Lancaster Central Market. We will be open for HOT LUNCH service at 10am both Friday & Saturday.

Sorry for any inconvenience to my early shoppers!

09/21/2023

With the weather cooling down & rain ☔️ in the forecast for Saturday, it has motivated me to make SANCOCHO! A hearty & absolutely delicious Puerto Rican style root vegetable soup. 🇵🇷🥣

Pictured below has chicken in it but I will also provide VEGAN Sancocho in the cold display case! Both are GLUTEN FREE.

This traditional soup consist of:
Yautia & Ñame-taro roots, chayote squash, green plantain, carrot, pumpkin & corn stewed in a very savory tomato/sofrito broth. There are many variations to include different veggies & one or multiple meats. This is MY version-hence the name “Christina’s Criollo” 😉👩🏾‍🍳

Be sure to stop by at The Lancaster Central Market & get your fix!
My stand opens at 7am w/ soup, salads & desserts available &
HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am-3pm

08/31/2023

Hello everyone! Just a few things to mention. 📢

First, this Summer has been flying by! ⛱️😎👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 And for those who know me, know I’ve been ready for some cold weather 🥶🧣🧤since the heat started! Contrary to popular belief, not all Puerto Ricans 🇵🇷love hot weather! 🤣😂🤣

Tomorrow is September’s
First Friday 🗓️ AND the last weekend to get your hands on my two most popular side salads at market!

-Summer corn salad: Local corn off the cob 🌽red onion 🧅 tomato 🍅 cucumbers 🥒 cilantro 🌿 mint, S&P, oregano and red wine vinegar.

-Mango avocado salad: Mango 🥭 avocado 🥑 pickled red onion 🧅 lemon juice, cilantro, S&P

Both are vegan, gluten free & oh so delicious!! 😋

SOFRITO will be available (hopefully) next week. My mom is here from PR 🇵🇷 so I’ll put her to work! 😂🤣😂

Most importantly:
It’s going to be an incredibly BUSY September for me w/ catering orders every weekend & a few days in between. With that being said, I have to shut off my online ordering. 💻 I can not accept any orders for any weekend in September. If you’re interested in ordering for weekdays, email me at [email protected] & I do my best to schedule you in!

Christina 😉✌🏽

08/19/2023

08/11/2023

My mama is the best! Just got home from work to find all these items on my kitchen counter!
She arrived today from Puerto Rico and brought me my childhood favorite Quenepas!!! My favorite coffee “El Coqui”, avocados and pigeon peas for work! 👩🏾‍🍳😂🤣😂
Gotta love it!!! 🇵🇷 🌴🌺🥑

08/11/2023

Have you had yours today?

Always available at our stand at The Lancaster Central Market!

07/06/2023

Drove past a guy selling local corn off the side of the road & it inspired me to bring back my “Summer corn salad!” I haven’t offered this in a couple of years!
This corn is deliciously sweet, crunchy & makes another great side salad to add to the menu!

Ingredients:
-fresh corn of the cob 🌽
-cherry tomatoes 🍅
-red onion 🧅
-cilantro 🌿(of course 😉)
-mint
-oregano
-s&p
-red wine vinegar

Enjoy this salad along with the others-ALL are VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE!

-black bean & corn 🫘 🌽
-Latin style chickpea
-mango avocado 🥑 🥭

See you this Friday & Saturday at The Lancaster Central Market.

Remember, we open at 7am with HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am. 👩🏾‍🍳✌🏽

07/01/2023

👩🏾‍🍳✌🏽

06/22/2023

We are prepped and ready to serve you Friday and Saturday at The Lancaster Central Market!

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, we will have to open on SATURDAY 6/24 at 10am instead of 7am…. BUT, I personally will be working the stand!!!👩🏾‍🍳👏🏽👏🏽

This doesn’t happens often so be sure to stop by, get that delicious Puerto Rican fare 🇵🇷 and say hello! 😁