I Chose Faith Over Fear

What would you attempt if you weren’t afraid to fail?

In 2021, at the height of the COVID pandemic, I took one of the biggest leaps of my life: going into business with my sister to create a new taco concept.

At the time, I was living in Miami and visiting my family in Atlanta. What started as a simple, familiar act—selling plates of food from my kitchen—quickly grew into something much bigger.

As more people tried my food, offered encouragement, and returned for more, I began to see the possibility of turning my gift into a business. Those weekly plates soon became Amorous Tacos.

But taking that leap wasn’t easy. I had never put myself out there like that before, especially as a chef. I questioned my confidence and wondered if people would actually like my food.

Experimenting with flavors unfamiliar to Atlanta was daunting. I worried people wouldn’t understand or appreciate what I was creating.

Those fears definitely materialized.

There were moments of uncertainty, doubt, and questioning my choices. But I learned something important about fear: it rarely stems from something we can see.

Fear is an emotion, shaped powerfully by our thoughts.

Taking this leap taught me that it’s okay to feel fear and hesitation. What matters is not letting those feelings stop us from moving forward with our choices or dreams.

The biggest difference between who I was before that leap and who I am today is my faith.

This journey required me to renew my faith and belief in God. Time and again, I’ve seen that God is present in everything, and that sometimes, the biggest leaps require trust before we can see the path ahead.

I’ve also learned that you have to believe in yourself more than anyone else does.

Before taking the leap, I had never experienced the confidence that comes from knowing I could build and run a successful business.

Now I know what I’m capable of, and that belief has changed everything.

I’m also more thoughtful in the way I make decisions.

I’m no longer thinking only about myself. I have a deeper sense of responsibility to my business, my sister, and the vision we’ve created together. Every decision matters, because each one moves us forward—together.

Looking back, the leap wasn’t just about starting a taco business. It was about stepping beyond my comfort zone, confronting fears, trusting my gift, and strengthening my faith.

The lesson I learned is that fear doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make a bold move. It means you’re standing at the edge of something that requires courage.

You can be afraid and still leap.

Hi, I’m Chef Nancy, a lifelong cook whose culinary journey spans Atlanta to Miami. I honed my skills and earned my Culinary Arts degree at Johnson & Wales University, driven by a passion for creativity and a love for food. I’m also a Marriott Voyager Program alum and former Sous Chef at Marriott Biscayne.

I’ve trained under chefs specializing in Peruvian, Indian, and Caribbean cuisines, experiences that shaped my “Miami Southern” style.

Today, I own Amorous Tacos, a restaurant and food truck. Building this business pushed me beyond my comfort zone and taught me to trust myself—one step, and one taco, at a time.