SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Two local restaurant owners are proudly representing and sharing their culture through their food.

“Troupial is kind of like a dream that I started in back in Argentina in 2013,” Owner of Troupial Majo Lapera said.

“It was a dream of mine, it always has been,” Owner of Chazitos Chaz Ortiz said.

Lapera is the owner of the Venezuelan-inspired cafe Troupial. She said it is her mission to introduce the locals to the delicious tastes of Venezuela.

“People love the Arepas, the cornmeal pockets stuffed with different things, mostly savory,” Lapera said. “I love Pastelitos. They are very rooted in my hometown.”

Ortiz is the chef and owner of Chazitos, a Puerto Rican restaurant that began serving food under a tent. However, they are celebrating their 9th anniversary of their brick-and-mortar building on Oct. 18.

“Starting from our backyard as a family, people always tell me you’re amazing, chef,” Ortiz said. “You should never stop cooking, but I had to leave it to provide for my family. I never would have thought that I would have been able to do it for this long. I never take it for granted.”

Lapera said sharing her culture and learning about other cultures is what Hispanic Heritage Month is truly about.

“You’re going to be stronger if you share your culture with others and you receive that kind of education for all our cultures.”

Ortiz said serving classic Puerto Rican dishes to the area has been a blessing. He said adapting to the locals has helped him create a unique fusion of southern food and Puerto Rican food.

“Finding a way to introduce it to people here. I mean, by using a different message, you know, like the Boricua burrito, Ortiz said. “We put everything that would be in a Puerto Rican flavor, but I just identified it, changed it up a little bit and some burrito. I got a burrito. Let me try a little bit.”

Ortiz said their Hispanic culture defines them and they take it everywhere they go.

“It’s humbling to be able to be a representation for the first time to somebody,” Ortiz said. “It comes with a lot, too, but when you take it on, you know that you have that support. Taste my culture, that’s our slogan.”