“I am going to confess: I go down makeup tutorial rabbit holes on TikTok.”
—Maria Rivera, CEO, Smalls Sliders
In her monthly “Grab Bag” column, Editor in Chief Laura Michaels asks the tough questions—What superhero power would you most like to have? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?—to show a side of franchising execs you don’t normally see.
What’s your favorite franchise brand that’s not your own?
One of my favorites is Dave’s Hot Chicken. I think they’re disrupting the space. The chicken wars are real and I follow the chicken space really closely. Dave’s, they’re sticking to one product and actually doing it better than anyone else. I also think Swig and Tropical Smoothie are making a splash in their space. On the national stage, it’s Taco Bell. I’ve been a consumer of Taco Bell since college. I think what they do really well is self-disrupt. I’m cheering them on from afar.
Who would play you in the biopic about your life?
Penélope Cruz or Salma Hayek. It has to be a Spanish actress for sure. Penélope Cruz is one of the greatest actresses of this generation—and we’re the same generation. They don’t hide their heavy accents, and neither do I, and they’re both really authentic to who they are, and so am I.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Lack of order, and complacency. I am massively organized and disorganization is my trigger. And then complacency … self-disruption is necessary or you’ll be left behind. It can be really uncomfortable, but you have to do it.
What’s something you would seriously stockpile if you found out it wasn’t going to be sold anymore?
My red Fenty lipstick, 100 percent. It’s called The MVP. It’s a matte, deep red. I have two or three in my makeup bag.
What’s one restaurant or food trend you wish would disappear?
Boba or bubble tea. I don’t understand it, but then again, I don’t have to. I appreciate all kinds of food, but for me, putting fruit or those chewy pearls in drinks, I just don’t get it. I’m not as big on following the beverage category as maybe I should be. Also probably sandwiches that are too big and too tall. And I hate those supposed ‘cooking’ videos on TikTok where really, they’re just throwing things together set to music and calling it cooking.
What fictional character do you think would be most interesting to meet in real life?
Totally Lady Mary Crawley from ‘Downton Abbey.’ Give me anything Victorian any time. Or from my childhood memories, I’d pick Carmen Sandiego.
Which time period in history would you want to visit?
100 percent, Victorian. Anything that has to do with the 1700s, 1800s. I love history. I’d be doing something in history, maybe art history, if I didn’t have my restaurant career.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I am going to confess: I go down makeup tutorial rabbit holes on TikTok. That is my end-of-the-day way to unwind my brain.
Who or what did you have posters of on your bedroom wall as a teenager?
Boy bands, right? In my case, there was a very popular boy band from Puerto Rico, where I’m from, called Menudo. It’s the group Ricky Martin came out of. I followed all five of them, but Ricky Martin in particular.
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Laundry, 100 percent. I woke up this morning at 5 o’clock to do it and it’s just terrible. It’s the folding and putting it away. It drives me crazy.