By Christina Fernández-Morrow, Hola Iowa
Des Moines, IA-Since moving to Des Moines at fourteen, Ana Alheli Perez has dedicated her life to the restaurant industry. From her family’s Mexican restaurant on the south side to a food truck and her own restaurants in Ankeny and Des Moines’ north side, Perez has experienced it all. However, when the pandemic forced her seafood restaurant to cut hours and switch to take-out only, she began to envision a different future.
“I love baking, and during that time, I decided to take some online classes. That’s when I started thinking about doing something different,” says Perez of her idea for Café con Leche.
Having owned two restaurants before, she knew she didn’t want another establishment that required long hours on-site and preparing for the next day’s diners. She wanted time to be more involved in her children’s lives. A brunch spot was the perfect solution. But would Des Moines embrace her unique take on a morning and afternoon menu?
It became a family affair. Her husband, with decades of experience as a chef, and her children with refined palates, helped create fun drink and coffee options that incorporated ingredients they loved, like cinnamon and rice water for horchata milkshakes and caramel for dulce de leche treats.
Photo by Tar Macias / Hola Iowa
“I’m grateful that the community supported me and the café,” says Perez. She recalls how friends, family, and customers from previous eateries were the first to try the new place when she opened in 2021. Seeing how it’s grown to new faces who return with other new faces fulfills her. She hopes it brings them the same feeling of home she felt as she planned Café con Leche. “I wanted a place where we could enjoy a cup of coffee, but not just sip on coffee; to have an experience that triggers memories of your childhood, where you’re from, time spent with family,” she says. “Customers tell me our Mexican hot chocolate tastes how they remember their grandmother used to make it.” This reaction to a warm drink she remembers from her own childhood in Michoacan feels like she’s meeting her goal. “Sharing that with customers feels like I have achieved what I set out to do, not just to serve food, but to tap into nostalgia.”
Her favorite menu item is chilaquiles, a typical breakfast enjoyed throughout Mexico that combines fried tortillas smothered in red and green salsa, over shredded chicken, beef or pork, often topped with a fried egg. The dish comes from the practice of reducing wasted food, so that even old tortillas leftover from dinner can create a new meal the next day. It can be served with any Mexican staples on-hand like beans, cheese, crema, cilantro or onions. Perez loves seeing customers enjoy a dish that is likely linked to memories of sharing or preparing it with loved ones.
“The first and second years were tough as the community was getting to know us. We had our friends and family supporting us, but it was difficult. What kept me motivated was seeing the customers’ reactions to the menu items, and inviting their friends and family to join them,” says Perez. The growth of her business is proof that her objective to create a welcoming place that feels like home and elicits feelings of warmth and familiarity is a reality.
Recently, she celebrated the results of that commitment when she and her husband accepted the “Coffeehouse Classic” Award from Cityview Magazine. It’s especially meaningful because it is based on customer votes. To know that customers voted Café con Leche the best coffee shop in Des Moines means the world to Perez and her family. That wasn’t the only recognition they got. They were also named the Best Café in Des Moines by Restaurant Guru.
Café con Leche is a wonderful example of how a vision, plus family support and a commitment to community, can lead to success. Relying on her deep cultural roots, which prioritize family and the euphoric memories associated with sharing food, are the cornerstones of Perez’s success. By offering a nostalgic blend of Latin-inspired flavors and a unique brunch experience, Perez has created a space that feels like home for anyone looking for a delicious breakfast or lunch, no matter their background. The recognition and awards Perez and her family have received are a testament to how much the community values her vision and how much it has added to the Des Moines restaurant scene.
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