Interviewing 4 entrepreneurs has been incredibly insightful, their ambition and work ethic are unshakable, through the stamina and the grit, their stories are unique and an inspiration to us all. I spoke to 4 go-getters, passionate about music, art, food and drink, who are making it their business to succeed.
Family is at the heart of Enrique Orioli's world. As a child, spending time in the kitchen cooking with his grandmother, Nonna Elda, ignited a lifelong passion for cuisine. He tells me “Thanks to my grandmother, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and inspiration when it comes to the world of food. She has been an invaluable influence on my culinary journey, and I am forever grateful for the lessons she has taught me.”
Enrique began working at the first family restaurant when he was 16, his grandparents had just opened Via Emilia Restaurant, and it was his introduction to the world of hospitality. Located on Cypress Creek Parkway then later relocating to its existing location in The Woodlands. The family of restaurants has now grown to 5, with the most recent addition being the beautiful Costa Fina located in Creekside. “Each restaurant possesses a unique character that distinguishes it from the others, yet they all share a common set of values that distinguish them as excellent dining establishments,” Enrique explained. The latest addition is wonderful for family, offering a great menu for everyone, as well as a super patio area where it’s ok to bring the family dog along too if you choose.
Running 5 restaurants is no mean feat and Enrique told me that to simplify his day he creates routine plans to prioritize tasks, creates lists of daily goals and affirmations and stays hydrated to maintain a clear mind and keep his energy levels up. The occasional cup of espresso also gives an extra boost! To wind down he loves to spend time with his loved ones, go for a walk and surround himself with nature. He also loves to listen to podcasts and music to shift his focus to his own thoughts and feelings.
The Orioli Restaurant Family believes in giving back to the community and supports countless charitable organizations, Save The Children, Make-A-Wish, No Kid Hungry, Autism Speaks, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, The Pangea Network and The National Multiple Sclerosis Society to name but a few. “We are committed to supporting these organizations and many more in their mission to make a positive impact on society,” Enrique states.
In addition to Via Emilia and Costa Fina, a visit to Marcoza Trattoria in Creekside, Terra Vino on Research Forest and the beautiful Azzuro which boasts a lakeside location in Hughes Landing, is a must!
Chazz “Fiyastarta” Padilla is no stranger to the music industry, as a kid, he was signed to Arista Records and had a #5 billboard hit with an anthemic Latin house track. He has established his award-winning company, Epicenter Music, providing music for movie trailers, commercials and TV, in Hollywood and around the globe. Clients include Amazon Prime, Hulu, Warner Brothers Entertainment, Sony Pictures and an endless selection of TV channels. “My main thing is creating music, and I love producing music in different genres.” He says. Inspired by the authentic sounds of early hip hop led to him recording the trailer music for Gran Turismo, and later, 21 Bridges and Maradona. Chazz tells me “I did a lot of rap and hip hop, then I fell into dance music, EDM, Latin music and I always loved scary music, so I do a lot of horror music too.” Favorite inspiring movie scores include classics, The Shining and Halloween, Epicenter Music has an entire division for horror, namely Deranged Muzic. “The trailer for Resurrection won one of the biggest awards in the industry, The World Trailer Award, for the best trailer music design and trailer music for North America. Chazz is also the music director for the prestigious Golden Trailer Awards, for 2023 and 2024.
Working from a home studio in the Spring area, everything produced goes through his laptop, Chazz studied recording engineering and is an expert in mixing and mastering. “I have a really powerful laptop… I use that as my main rig and plug it into a screen monitor….. it’s also my mobile rig and I can put it into my backpack and travel, so I have my full studio with me everywhere I go.”
Believing in life that you must be relentless, Chazz tells me “This is what I do best, with this stuff I’m on top of the world”.
Chazz’s favorite thing to do locally is to attend some of the many concerts at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, his favorite band Depeche Mode, were the inspiration for him to buy his first synth!
When we think of watercolor paintings we tend to think of delicate florals, and gentle landscapes, but Francisco Andrés Carrión has taken watercolor to a different level with his industrial renderings of oil and gas industry themed paintings. These works are a blend of values, the lights and darks of moody skies and deep water, heavy machinery and the splash of high visibility overalls and lifeboats. The people in the paintings keep it real, and we are drawn to an understanding of the danger of the work and the harsh conditions endured for our daily comforts.
Francisco’s artistic expertise is thanks to his father. An oil painter who studied art in the 1960’s and created modern geometric works. Francisco would spend time in his studio, where a group of his father’s contemporaries would gather in the evenings. He was able to experiment with oils and inks and whatever was around the studio, but eventually concentrated on watercolors due to their practicality and versatility.
With a background in the oil and gas industry Francisco’s visits to oil rigs and industrial plants fuel his current work, after pinning some of his paintings on his office wall colleagues were keen to purchase and find out more. Commissioned pieces for the oil giants followed, paintings of oil rigs, tankers, and the people of the industry were presented as awards and gifts for lifetime achievements, milestones and retirements.
Describing his work as traditional realism with some expressionistic strokes Francisco tells me, “I start with a very thin layer in the background and then build up from there, the drawing is suggested and then you mostly draw with your brushes” YouTube documentaries of his process and style are being finalized now and will be available to view in the near future on his website https://www.industrialfineart.net/
Fishing trips to Galveston with his son is how Francisco likes to relax, he is a true lover of water in both his business life and free time.
When it comes to buying local we don’t generally think of whisky, gin and vodka, but allow me to introduce Kyle Wray of Avonak, a local distiller, manufacturing small, handmade, craft batches of beautiful elixirs, right here on our doorstep!
Kyle was raised in Napa Valley where his grandparents owned a small, traditional winery, once he left the area, his interest in local, craft-made spirits continued to grow. Traveling through Austria, Germany and The Netherlands, he was inspired by the loyalty and development of organic, local resources utilized by the breweries and distilleries he visited. After talking to master distillers and industry professionals, his award-winning company, Avonak, was launched in 2015.
Working closely with local investors with international backgrounds makes for a diverse foundation, each appreciating different flavors and a distinctive feel and quality. Avonak's branding is modern, contemporary and fresh, with an aura of purity, which matches their aesthetic and approach. Their location at 22131 Rothwood Rd, Ste 402, Spring, 77389 offers tours, tastings and cocktails. You can create your own custom flavored vodkas for memorable birthdays, achievements or other milestone events, or just for the fun of it! Bottles are available to purchase and take away!
Avonak products are available in many local liquor stores as well as bars and restaurants, if you ask for something local, they’ll likely suggest something from the Avonak range. The products are named after local spots, “Fifty9” and “Eye10” gins, as well as “Post Oak” Bourbon, Avonak, being the area where the distillery is located.
Future range additions include rum, flavored bourbons, a single malt and an agave spirit! Follow Avonak on social media to keep up with their ever-increasing selection.
Kyle's favorite part of his practice is developing new flavors, he has created several different gins, and his sales team is more than happy to taste his new blends. His personal favorite cocktails are whisky or gin sours.
Supporting local is at the core of Avonak, Kyle recommends that we “shop locally, spread the word, buy gift cards, leave reviews and engage on social media”. Avonak also offers some great deals that help local charities!
He emphasized - “Quality isn’t just a goal – it’s our standard”.
Childhood dreams, ambitions and influences have really played their part in the foundations of these four entrepreneurs, now growing successful businesses in the things we enjoy, the arts, culture, food and drinks, and we are admirable that they followed their hearts, and just love that they’re so local!