When working at a newsroom with an open sign flashing on the front window, you get used to locals stopping in to say hello or giving us the latest scoop on a story, but they usually don’t come from as far off as Los Angeles.

Bubbly, energetic Julieta Bernal stopped by the office a few weeks ago to sell us some of her homemade empanadas and, as curiosity chasers, we wanted to know her story when she dropped off our crispy, $5 empanadas with her signature homemade chimichurri dipping sauce.

Two years ago, Bernal and her family, with her husband Román and two children, started a homemade empanada business out of their home in Los Angeles. After a while, they decided to purchase an RV and take the business, called Los Rumbos Mágicos (Magical Directions), on the road.

Julieta and Román are both Argentinian, from Malabrigo and Rosario respectively, and moved to the United States eight years ago in search of new opportunities. Their idea was fairly simple: take their tried-and-true Argentine empanada and chimichurri recipe and bring it nationwide. Instead of attempting the wholesale route, the family walks their food directly into businesses across the country. They have documented their entire journey through their social media accounts, which have accrued thousands of followers.

“When we started,” Bernal admitted, “we never imagined that this small business would eventually become our primary source of income and give us the freedom to live and travel full-time.” Now, 145 cities and 26 states down, they view their homemade food as “the engine that allows us to continue pursuing this dream.”

Having young children was a major factor in this decision, and the couple saw the change as a chance to spend more time with their children and give them “the opportunity to learn not only through books, but also through the people, landscapes and cultures we encounter along the way.”

Their RV has become not only their home, but where they make and prepare their empanadas and homeschool their children.

Empanadas and chimichurri are an integral part of Argentine cuisine, and the Bernals employ the flavors and recipes they grew up with in their products that they share with people around the country who never experienced them before. Their products are completely handmade, from the dough to the filling and herby chimichurri sauce. The varieties they sell include beef, chicken, ham and cheese, spinach and cheese, and corn and cheese.

“One of the most wonderful parts of this business is having the opportunity to share our culture with every community we visit. Whenever someone tries an Argentine empanada or our chimichurri for the first time, we feel as though we are leaving a small piece of ourselves and our country behind,” Bernal said.

Despite literally living their dream, the Bernals spoke openly about the numerous challenges they have faced in their journey, which include a constant sense of uncertainty. This manifests through mechanical issues with their truck, as well as constant considerations for sustaining their income, refueling, food and water, electricity, and a safe place they can park and rest.

There are also the different limitations that occur when traveling from state to state, navigating both local and statewide regulations that can limit where they park and sell their products. Bernal remains optimistic, saying “those challenges have taught us new skills, strengthened us as a team and helped us discover that we are capable of solving much more than we once imagined.” It has also been a lesson in understanding that “traveling full-time does not mean being on vacation all the time.”

Their children, too, are learning constantly through their unconventional childhoods. “Our children are also growing up surrounded by different experiences, cultures, landscapes and people, and we believe that is a very valuable part of their education.” They also learn from the consistent generosity of people they have met along the way, who have assisted them, listened to them and tried their food.

Some of their favorite moments have taken place in small towns and villages like Ellenville, places that they “probably never would have experienced if we were not traveling this way.”

In New York, before we met them in Ellenville, the family brought their empanadas to Wurtsboro, Middletown, Kingston and New Paltz. In every community, they said, people “welcomed us warmly and showed genuine interest in both our story and our food.”

They are especially fond of Accord, where their campground was located. They noted a “strong sense of community” there, which they have seen reverberated throughout their entire experience nationwide.

Up next for Los Rumbos Mágicos is a journey further upstate towards Albany and the Adirondacks before moving into and through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. After hitting all the states, the family wants to head into Latin America and slowly make their way back to their first home: Argentina.

“We do not have every part of the journey completely mapped out, but that is also part of the spirit of Los Rumbos Mágicos: having a direction, moving forward one step at a time and allowing the road to surprise us.”

They told us that the best way we can support their mission is by spreading the word of their journey through their many social media accounts. You can see more of Los Rumbos Mágicos on Instagram: @losrumbosmagicos and @chimichurriway, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook.