Meet Christiana Marie Ruiz

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christiana Marie Ruiz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christiana Marie below.

Hi Christiana Marie, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I developed confidence and self-esteem through my older brother, Emmanuel. We were only two 1/2 years apart, and growing up, I always looked up to him and tried to keep up with him. He was a pure and kind soul always encouraging people along the way.

I vividly remember one day when I was seven years old, thrilled to have finally learned how to do a split. Manny proudly took me around the schoolyard, introducing me to everyone and asking me to show them my new skill. He cheered me on with such enthusiasm, saying, “That’s my sister!” Moments like that made me feel so loved and valued & I will cherish them always and forever.

Emmanuel was also an overachiever in school, which inspired me to push myself academically. Watching him excel motivated me to study harder, strive for more, and believe in my potential.

Our father was tragically murdered when I was only one, and Manny was just three years old. Despite the immense challenges we faced, Manny stepped into the role of protector and guide. He was always there to remind me of my worth, constantly telling me I could conquer the world and accomplish anything I set my mind to.

His guidance and love are why I am the woman I am today. He was my balance, my rock in this world, always reminding me how blessed, beautiful, talented, and smart I was.

I miss him dearly every single day, but I know he is still watching over me and guiding me from heaven. His presence continues to inspire me, and I carry his love and encouragement with me always. Emmanuel’s influence has been a cornerstone of my life, and I will forever cherish the strength and confidence he instilled in me.

Now I have been blessed to open my very own restaurant called Manny Vibez in his loving memory.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Manny Vibez is a chef-owned, family-operated breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant that brings a unique blend of global flavors to Norwood, PA. The concept of Manny Vibez was founded in loving memory by Chef Christiana Marie in May 2023, several months after unfortunately losing her best friend and beloved brother, Emmanuel, aka “Manny” (Sunrise 12/25/87 – Sunset 8/02/22). The entire menu, including beverages and decor, was inspired by Emmanuel.

“This was our dream together for the longest, and it may not be how we imagined, but we definitely still did this together. Thank you, brother, everything that was you. God may not work on our time, but he is always on time. May your vibe live on forever.”

Chef Christiana always knew from a young age that her dream was to become a chef and open a restaurant. She preferred cooking shows over cartoons on Saturday mornings. Although her dream was briefly detoured when she joined the U.S. Army, it was there that she learned the disciplined fundamentals of hard work and the importance of teamwork and leadership.

Later, Christiana pursued her passion by achieving her Culinary Arts & Hospitality degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. During this time, she met her husband and Sous Chef, Mario, dancing the night away at her aunt’s wedding. Quickly, they learned they were a stronger force together than apart. They worked for many years in unity to run a successful catering company, always with the dream of opening their own restaurant someday.

Christiana went on to assist in opening the first healthy food truck for Thomas Jefferson Hospital, Nourished, before excelling in her career to become the Executive Chef at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Feeling the need to expand her culinary perspective, she moved on to become the Operations Manager for Buena Onda Taqueria, for Iron Chef Jose Garces. There, Christiana not only prospered and strengthened her management skills but also created lifelong memories alongside her brother, Manny.

“It was the best times of our lives, and I am truly blessed to have lived them with him.”

Christiana was later offered a more challenging position and became General Manager for OTG Management, a hospitality group exclusive to American Airlines. “Leaving Buena definitely was one of the most difficult choices I had to face within my career, but I couldn’t be afraid of change.”

After just a short year, the world was shut down due to COVID-19, forcing everyone to slow down. During that time, Mario and Christiana were blessed to have two more beautiful boys, completing their family of five.

“Now is the time for me to find myself again and do what I always dreamt of doing, not only for myself and all the angels watching but for my family’s future.”

And so, with further adieu, “Welcome to Manny Vibez, where your food is made with AMOR and you’re treated like FAMILIA.” Manny Vibez is a melting pot of cuisines offering options to satisfy everyone in your family.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience:

Life is filled with challenges, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks has made me become a survivor. Resilience isn’t about avoiding failure but learning and growing from it.

Discipline:
Being able to stay focus and showing up despite whatever life throws your way. Remember the bigger goal and stay focused.

Confidence:
If you don’t believe in yourself how else would anyone. If you have to bet on anything in this world why not bet on yourself. If you don’t bet big you don’t win big. Life is about taking chances.

One piece of advice I’d give is this: Don’t be afraid of the unknown. & Stop thinking you have unlimited time to chase your dreams. Life passes to quickly and we often get comfortable.

It’s okay to make mistakes and learn along the way. Often, growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones and take a chance on ourselves.

Sometimes, we just need to look inward and recognize our own capabilities. You are more resilient and capable than you may realize. Trust in your strength and determination to guide you, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.

Also, be selective about whose advice you take. Don’t listen to people who aren’t doing what you want to do. So many people will give you all the reasons why something won’t work, but they don’t know what’s in your heart. Only you have the determination to turn your dreams into reality. Stay focused on your vision, and don’t let doubt—whether from others or yourself—derail you.

Remember, every step, even the missteps, is part of the journey toward achieving something truly meaningful & self rewarding

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle and challenge I’m currently facing is navigating life while fulfilling the many roles I take on daily, all while carrying the weight of grief from the loss of my beloved brother. I am a mother to three boys—Jacob (15), Joseph (3), and Joshua (2)—and the chef-owner and operator of Manny Vibez, my newly opened restaurant. Balancing the constant demands of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and my own healing has taken a toll on me, both mentally and physically.

Grief is a heavy burden, and some days feels overwhelming. Yet, in the midst of it all, I’ve learned the importance of slowing down. I’ve realized that I can’t control every part of my life, no matter how much I want to. Instead, I am working on trusting God to guide me. My faith reminds me that I am not alone in this journey, and that He will see me through, just as He always has.

Through this process, I’m also learning to give myself grace—to acknowledge that it’s okay not to have all the answers and to lean on others for support when needed. Though the road is difficult, I draw strength from my children, the vision I have for my restaurant, those who I am blessed to serve and the enduring love of my brother, whose memory inspires me to keep going.

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