Christina's Criollo

08/12/2025

I’m baaaaaaaack!

We will re-open Tuesday 8/12 at The Lancaster Central Market after a brief vacation. 🏝️⛱️☀️

Come get some of this DELICIOUS Puerto Rican food! 🇵🇷

As always we open at 7am with
HOT LUNCH service to begin at 10am.

08/08/2025

On VACATION in Nassau Bahamas 🏝️🇧🇸 celebrating my 50th!!! 🎉🎂🥳🎈

Forgot what it feels like to have consecutive days off!!! 🤣😂🤣

See you all next week!!!

07/06/2025

Thank you to William Ortiz from La Voz Latina Central for this wonderful article about my small business. I shared my story via a phone interview that quickly became a conversation with banter and laughter and surprisingly enough became a "therapy session" I didn't know I needed. I am a very private person, yet I felt comfortable to share intimate details that were eloquently & PERFECTLY translated in writing. I appreciate you!

PS. Article written in both Spanish & English!

El sabor que recuerda: Christina’s Criollo cumple 10 años con un legado movido por el amor Cuando Christina Maldonado entró en el Mercado Central de Lancaster para su primera entrevista con un vendedor en 2015, escuchó algo que se le quedó grabado: “los vendedores aquí han durado décadas. ...

07/03/2025

Just a REMINDER that The Lancaster Central Market is OPEN FRIDAY FOURTH of JULY & so are we!!!!🇺🇸🧨

Come get that DELICIOUS
Puerto Rican food! 🇵🇷 🏝️🥭🥑

HOT LUNCH SERVICE starts at 10am!
😋

06/23/2025

It’s going to be a HOT one at The Lancaster Central Market tomorrow but don’t let the heat stop you from getting some of this DELICIOUSNESS!

Stop & cool off with one of our signature side salads:

-Black Bean & Corn
-Latin style chickpea
-Mango avocado
*All salads are vegan & gluten free!!

TOO HOT to eat anything heavy? Don’t forget, we have our MINI pork -or-chicken & rice meal-just enough to satisfy your hunger but not feel stuffed!

And of course we’ll have empanadas and yuca balls along with all other meal options and desserts!!

Open at 7am with HOT LUNCH SERVICE beginning by 10am!

06/16/2025

Our stand at The Lancaster Central Market will be CLOSED on
TUESDAY June 17 for a catering event. 👩🏽‍🍳

We will RE OPEN Friday June 20th.

FYI: Our popular mango avocado salad will be making its return!! 🥭🥑
SOFRITO will also be available after a short hiatus 😉

See you this weekend!

06/11/2025

The Lancaster City Alliance recognizes businesses in the city of Lancaster with MILESTONE AWARDS.
Christina’s Criollo received this prestigious award for 10 years Lancaster Central Market!

As chef & owner, I am super proud!!!
I started my small business back in 2010 with a fundraiser to help purchase a proper headstone for my 18 year old son that passed away tragically. 😔 I then burried my grief in building a brand by selling my native cuisine at the very school I graduated from with a degree in Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management. From there I hustled in the HOT 🥵 Summer months participating in as many outdoor markets that I could and by word of mouth I eventually began to book clients. I became the first (I believe) PROFESSIONAL catering business that offered authentic Puerto Rican 🇵🇷cuisine in the city!

5 years later in 2015, I made a huge leap and applied to be a vendor at Central market. This move opened up so many catering opportunities that helped my business grow even more!

I’ve experienced many business model changes throughout the years such as co owning and managing a vegan restaurant & food truck. My managing skills and trust in employees were tested for sure! Covid played a huge role in figuring out what was next and how I could remain successful through the pandemic.

I have once again changed my business model to where I am a “one woman show” (with the exception of my two market stand employees) so that I can do what I enjoy with less stress, make money AND most importantly not work too hard as this business is very physically demanding and can be mentally exhausting.

I’ll be 5️⃣0️⃣ in August which I will absolutely be celebrating along with 15 YEARS as a small business owner in the great city of Lancaster!!!! 🎉🥳

I have HUMBLY accepted this award and still cant believe 10 years have gone by so quickly at market! Wish me luck as I still have about 18 years to go to retire! 🤣😂

Oh and to the gentleman that had commented on a LNP article about my stand opening up at Lancaster Central Market back in April 2010 saying “She won’t last a year”….

How you like me now SIR! ✌🏽
You mad??? 😂🤣😂

04/15/2025

Wait a minute wait a minute!!! I JUST realized that I’ve hit the 10 year mark at The Lancaster Central Market!!

I was already 5 years in as a small business owner hustling in the hot Summer months vending at any outdoor market I could participate in hopes of attracting more catering clientele. And one day, a young lady said to me, “You should apply to become a vendor at Central Market downtown. You would do so well there because your food is amazing!”

After much hesitation-only because I knew I would have to be open early in the morning and I was NOT a morning person! 🤣😂🤣 I took that leap and it was the best business decision I’ve made thus far.

I was surprised to hear of how many years some vendors have been at market….i’m talking about 20, 30 and even 50+ years! I never thought I would ever stay this long and here I am…already 10 years in and they have gone by so quickly!!!

Cheers 🥂 to me! I got another 18 years before I can retire…😂🤣😂 wish me luck! 😜

04/14/2025

Hey hey everyone! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted!! So to grab your attention, here’s a pic of me🧑🏾‍🍳🤣😂…….and a few reminders of why you should come to The Lancaster Central Market for some DELICIOUS Puerto Rican food!😉 🇵🇷🇵🇷

I’ll be working the stand for HOT LUNCH service from 10am-3pm Tuesday 4/15. Come and say hi!!

Christina 💕

01/13/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!! 🎉🥳

Just came back from VACATION in PUERTO RICO! 🇵🇷🌴☀️The weather was actually tolerable for me-84 degrees & NO HUMIDITY!! BUT for those who know me know I LOVE COLD weather!!! 🥶So hence the photo! I’m back at my happy place 😜🤣😂

Our stand at The Lancaster Central Market will be back open on TUESDAY 1/14 7am-3pm w/ HOT LUNCH service beginning at 10am. I will be working lunch so come & get that DELICIOUS 🇵🇷 food & say hi! ☺️

12/21/2024

Sorry for the delay…. but I finally made my last huge batch of SOFRITO for the year & will be available Saturday 12/21 at The Lancaster Central Market

Be sure to stop in for some as well as our delicious lunch options since we will be CLOSED on Tuesday 12/24 Christmas Eve (market is open till 1:30pm).

And as always, HOT LUNCH service begins at 10am…..oh & did I mention, SANCOCHO has made its return as well! 😉

11/27/2024

Dorothy Vertti You are the WINNER of a FREE 1/2 DOZEN PASTELES! You were My 6th order that came through!

Thank you to those entered in the drawing by commenting on a post earlier this month.

I have 8 dozen pasteles left and you still have time to get yours TODAY until 5pm!

Order online at:
www.christinascriollo.com