About Maria & Pepe
Stichting Maria & Pepe is an ongoing cultural project rooted in the joy of connection and a deep love for the planet. What began as a love story between two people has grown into a living celebration of people, stories, shared meals, and dance expressed through a yearly programme of events and a serving Mexican vegan food in a pop-up restaurant in Rotterdam.
We are guided by the magic of simplicity and the wisdom of Mexican culture. Through food, music, storytelling, cooking workshops and more, we aim for people from all walks of life to connect. To share a moment of laughter, amicable awkwardness, or an encouraging nudge to step outside the comfort zone.
We are idealists, and believe that peace begins by getting to know each other a little better. Stichting Maria & Pepe is our small contribution to that vision; creating a colorful space where listening, sharing, and celebrating together become acts of care for each other and for the Earth.
ABOUT MARIA
Maria has two homes. Mexico City is her first. This is where she spent her days dipping her fingers into bags of chips with hot sauce and lime juice, soaking the sunshine, and feeding her interest of her culture with stories and traditions of the most colorful city in the world. Through the Maria & Pepe programme and serving Mexican vegan food in in Rotterdam, she shares her love for finding gold in the mundane. Her heart belongs to animals and to the sunshine, which she looks for amidst the stone-colored Dutch clouds.
ABOUT PEPE
Pepe’s real name is Joost. In Mexico, Pepe is a nickname for those called José – which translates to Joost in Dutch. Maria’s father named him Pepe at the start of their relationship. Pepe is an ecopreneur and arid tree-lover in search of a joyful, peaceful way of living on this Earth. Time is precious for Pepe. For him, every second is a golden opportunity to make a positive impact within yourself and the world.
our Values
Our values serve as a compass to bring the image that exists in our minds into reality.
We strive to make everyone feel welcome and seen. We believe this helps build the base for the kind of environment we want to live in: peaceful, kind and feels like we belong. We practice non-violent communication with the team (and our guests, of course). This is important to not only maintain a good flow of service, but to build and create a positive and uplifting environment for everyone.
We believe that people are citizens who are naturally disposed to care, and need to have meaningful power in order to sustain that care. As citizens, we believe that everyone cares about the wellbeing of all life on this planet and is willing to participate in taking responsibility for it.
We work toward a relationship with food rooted in kindness and respect for all living beings, fully advocating for their rights. Our kitchen is entirely plant-based, and we use organic and pesticide-free ingredients wherever possible. For us, sustainability is an everyday practice of care for the planet and the communities we are part of.
The brain starts to tickle and giggle once we reach the end of the comfort zone. Maria & Pepe creates a safe and joyful environment where people can try something new — whether that’s tasting an unfamiliar dish, joining a salsa workshop, or sharing a personal story. We believe life becomes richer when we dare to explore it with curiosity and kindness.
We honour the depth and diversity of Mexican culture while inviting our visitors into its kitchen, stories, history and music.
Support
Maria & Pepe functions as a ‘Stichting’ (NGO) since 2025. Support us by joining us for dinner, spreading the word, or making a donation to the project!
Donations:
Stichting Maria & Pepe
NL88TRIO0321076214