Kuniko Yonaha, a Japanese woman now known as Maria, has two sisters and one brother. She came to Brazil in 1963 when she was just 11 years old. She studied until the 2nd grade of primary school but had to interrupt her studies to take care of her younger sister while her parents worked in a grocery stall. Her childhood was difficult, and she faced numerous challenges. When she was 14, her parents changed professions and set up a pastry stall at a street fair. Her routine involved returning from the fair, making the pastries’ fillings and dough until 8 PM, and then waking up early to prepare the pastries. When she finished, it was already time to go back to the fair. At that time, there were no machines, freezers, or any of the infrastructure available today. She learned a lot, set up her own pastry stall, and always believed in the success of her business. Today, her tasty treats can be found in six street fairs throughout the city and in a beautiful shop in the Pinheiros neighborhood. Her famous meat pastel won the title of the best in the city in 2009 and came in second place in 2010. Maria’s pastel is crispy and dry. It contains garlic, onion, tomato, parsley, olive oil, and ginger, which give it a special and irresistible flavor. Another secret is frying it at a temperature of 180°C. Cleanliness, hygiene, and meticulous service also explain the success of this delicacy that has become a craze in São Paulo.