Yadi Derisse
Yadi Derisse founded Yadi's Artisanal Empanadas to bring authentic, handcrafted empanadas to college campuses in New York. Starting with family recipes, she built a small operation into a growing business. Each empanada is made fresh daily, blending Latin American tradition with student convenience.
Yadi Derisse's Bio
Yadi Derisse is the founder of Yadi's Empanadas, a Latin and Caribbean food business operating on the SUNY New Paltz campus in New York. The business serves freshly made empanadas Monday through Friday, 11am to 7pm, and is open to both students and the public.
Yadi built the business around a simple premise: fresh, homemade food made with care. Her Instagram presence, active since at least early 2026, has documented team culture, National Empanada Day celebrations, and community engagement. She appeared on the How I Built This Advice Line in May 2026 to talk through an expansion strategy for her college campus-based empanada business.
The team behind Yadi's Empanadas has become a core part of the brand's identity. Social media posts regularly highlight the people who make the business run, framing the operation as a team-first environment. Yadi also maintains an active presence on Facebook and TikTok, sharing behind-the-scenes content and promoting the daily menu.
Career Timeline
2018 — Founded Yadi's Artisanal Empanadas
Founded Yadi's Artisanal Empanadas to bring authentic, handcrafted Latin and Caribbean cuisine to SUNY New Paltz and the broader community.
