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?…