Ramón Vargas's journey didn’t begin in Venezuela, but in Cuba, where his mother was born and where he learned first-hand the harsh realities of living under a dictatorship. With her experiences of Castro's regime deeply ingrained, she warned her son about the impending situation in Caracas—that it would replicate the same model of scarcity, censorship, and lack of freedom. Initially, Vargas didn’t heed his mother’s warnings, as he shared with La Voz de Asturias. However, as time passed, her predictions came true: the economy collapsed, crime rates soared, and daily life became unbearable.
“I never imagined Venezuela, with one of the largest oil reserves in the world, would experience what happened in Cuba,” admitted Vargas, now 52, who ultimately escaped two dictatorships: the one that shaped his family's past and the one that forced him to emigrate. In 2017, after almost a decade of bureaucratic hurdles and dreams of a brighter future, Ramón left for the Canary Islands, starting anew. He was later joined by his family: his partner, son, parents, and sisters. “In the end, we all had to emigrate,” he reflects with sadness, yet certain it was the right choice.
Five years later, driven by love, he moved to northern Spain. In Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, he began to rebuild his life and is now the proud owner of La Pollería de Otero. Surrounded by mountains and the humid Cantabrian air, the landscape reminded him of Mérida, the Venezuelan city of his youth: “The temperature is similar, not too cold in winter,” he notes. He also found warmth in the Asturians, describing them as “incredibly friendly and welcoming.”
His background in hospitality—learned from his Basque father, who once owned 14 businesses—led him to open La Pollería de Otero, a small eatery with an open kitchen where Ramón blends the flavors of Spanish, Venezuelan, and Cuban cuisine. From arepas to tequeños, and including rice dishes, paellas, and fideuás, the highlight is his cider-sauce rotisserie chicken, a nod to Asturian tradition. “On a single Sunday, I can sell between 50 and 60 chickens,” he says proudly.
The road to success wasn't smooth. Ramón invested thousands of euros, took out loans, and renovated an old space to transform it into his culinary home. “I never saw the aid they talk about,” he admits. Yet, through determination and homemade flavors, his business flourished, becoming a neighborhood landmark in Otero, attracting loyal customers from as far as Gijón and Mieres. “As long as I can pay off my loans and live peacefully, I’ll keep cooking,” says Vargas, who isn’t contemplating retirement yet.
His dream is to open a restaurant where he can serve his dishes at tables and share his life story, one marked by struggle, migration, and hope. Despite everything, he holds onto the dream of returning one day to a free Venezuela and visiting his mother’s Cuba, once both dictatorships fade into history. “I want to go back when it’s possible to live with freedom and without fear,” he asserts, convinced that his story, like so many exiles, is a testament to resilience and rebirth.
Ramón Vargas's Journey and Success
What inspired Ramón Vargas to leave Venezuela?
Ramón Vargas was inspired to leave Venezuela due to the economic collapse, increasing crime rates, and the oppressive conditions that mirrored those of Cuba, as warned by his mother.
How did Ramón Vargas start his business in Spain?
Ramón Vargas started his business, La Pollería de Otero, by utilizing his hospitality experience, investing in a space, and blending Spanish, Venezuelan, and Cuban culinary traditions to create a unique dining experience.
What are the specialties of La Pollería de Otero?
La Pollería de Otero specializes in a variety of dishes, including arepas, tequeños, rice dishes, paellas, fideuás, and the signature cider-sauce rotisserie chicken.