Photography by Kathy Tran
Micaela Sanchez and MaryJesse Muñoz saw a need for a better michelada.
The cocktail, which traditionally mixes beer with spicy tomato juice, is known for its power to make the morning after more comfortable.
“The mix everyone uses is Zing Zang, and why?” Muñoz says. “It doesn’t taste great. But it’s because there’s nothing else out there.”
Sanchez and Muñoz were just acquaintances, even though they’re 35 and 34 and both grew up in Oak Cliff. When Sanchez had the idea to give michelada mix its day, Muñoz was the first person she thought of.
Muñoz, who previously had a business producing pickles and salsa, is a caterer who was out of work because of the pandemic. Sanchez, a nurse practitioner, is part of the family that owns La Calle Doce, and she worked in that restaurant for years. She was a little bored working from home and wanted to do something else on the side.
They started Vuelve a la Vida in September and did everything themselves.
Muñoz came up with the recipes, which are made from fresh ingredients. Besides the standard red version, she also came up with a tomatillo-based green one, which she recommends mixing with mescal.
They decided they needed their own chamoy rim dip for making over-the-top michelada concoctions, so Muñoz developed one that is spicy and flavored with watermelon.
Besides that, they designed their own logo and the label, which represents our neighborhood with “Oak Cliff, Texas” printed prominently on the front.
Vuelve a la Vida products are available at Hill Town Liquors, Dan’s Food Store and Tienda Choris, as well as online. They’ve shipped it to customers all over the country already.
Ultimately, they want a major grocer to pick up the product. The mix comes in 16-ounce bottles that make four cocktails and cost $13. A 4-ounce single serving costs $4. The rim dip is $7 and delightfully messy, with a sprinkle of Tajin salt, on anything from Corona to La Croix.
“I want to get this into Spec’s. I want to get it into Goody Goody. I want to get it into Whole Foods,” says Sanchez, who is known as Mica.
Sanchez and Muñoz are working moms. Muñoz has a 4-year-old, and Sanchez has two kids, ages 18 and 4.
Their michelada cart is available to make post-vaccine gatherings unique.
The cart comes with the works, including ceviche floaters and all manner of garnishes, such as pickled vegetables, grilled shrimp and beef jerky. It serves 15 people for $375, including a server. That doesn’t include alcohol.
“It’s perfect for a backyard brunch,” Sanchez says.
Vuelve a la Vida, 214.356.9596, vuelve.ala.vida.llc@gmail.com, Vuelve a la Vida TX on Facebook, Vuelvealavida_tx on Instagram
