By Kelly Nicholaides
Jessica Barahona, 37, is a Guatemalan immigrant, mother of four, wife, entrepreneur,
and advocate for Kearny youth. Her business, Curiosity by Nest – Asian Fusion, is a
haven for teens after school, moms meeting up, laptop-carrying remote workers, and
more.
“Children come for ice cream or other desserts, make friends, and enjoy the lounge and
play areas in the back, and have fun with board games and art projects,” she says.
While cradling her son on a quiet weeknight, Barahona settles easily into the role of a
boss woman that suits her lifestyle. She previously owned a salon, an entertainment
company, and a cafeteria. Her husband owns a construction business. “You might as well
chain yourself to the door; you have to be here all the time,” she jokes. “There are good
and bad seasons.”
Barahona employs eight Kearny teens, giving back to her community. “Ruby” enjoys
the atmosphere, lush with planters throughout, creative spaces to work, and artwork like
the Japanese mural painted by Instagram artist martian.art.
She chose Midland Avenue for her newest venture in 2020. It was originally called
Asian Fusion. The new name, Curiosity by Nest, reflects comfort, home, and whimsy—a
space to kick back, connect, and be creative. The walls are lined with paintings,
drawings, and poetry by Kearny children.
“This is a comfortable space for community,” she says. “The kids need somewhere to go
after school so they’re not on the streets. Here, they have things to do, other kids to
spend time with, and a bite to eat. Parents bring the younger children into the play
areas, and workers stop by for their lunch break. There’s not a lot of foot traffic, but I
keep pushing to try to revive this area. It’s not like Kearny Avenue, but Midland Avenue
is up and coming.”
The inspiration for her menu goes back to her time in culinary school, where Barahona
and a Korean/Japanese classmate shared ideas about Latino and Asian cuisines for an
assignment. “We created this imaginary restaurant for class, and we chose Asian
cuisine,” she recalls. “I didn’t know much about it, but I loved it when we started
cooking. We bonded over food. In the Asian culture, you eat with purpose, not just
because you’re hungry. Guatemalan food is connected to Mayan times. Our purpose of
eating is similar: Nourish yourself and reflect on the history of the food.”
Barahona moved to Kearny from Clifton eight years ago. Her husband owns a
construction business. Their children are ages 1 ½ months, 5, 16, and 18.
Before emigrating to the United States when she was 21, Barahona worked as a Pre-K
teacher in her homeland. Arriving with her siblings and parents for a visit, she stayed to
care for a sick relative, worked as a babysitter, and quickly learned English.
“There were no translation services, so it was much harder (to assimilate],” she says. “We had
to show that we had economic stability and family roots here, and that we would not
become a public charge. There’s a lot of pride in it.”
Hard work and family are steeped in her culture. Her father operated barber shops in
Guatemala. Her maternal grandfather worked as a chef—providing early inspiration for
Barahona’s future.
Curiosity by Nest features Japanese, Asian, and Korean fusion. Barahona creates more
than 20 sauces for every preference, including sweet, spicy, and sour. Appetizers
include onigiris, scallion pancakes, dumplings, satay chicken, edamame, and stuffed
steamed buns. Entrees include a veggie bowl, teriyaki dishes, beef, and Gochujang as
well as full- or student-size vegetarian, pork, and chicken ramen bowls. Desserts
include mochi waffles, acai bowls, affogato ice cream, brownies, cookies, and more.
Barahona is also a barista, so good coffee is always on the menu, including Italian and
French. Specialty iced teas are popular in summer.
Artisans find her on Instagram and meet up on site to network and sell their wares at
pop-ups, showcases, Mercaditos events, and much more.
“There are so many things I love in this community. It feels warm, people recognize your
efforts, and it’s great for women-owned businesses to support each other,” Barahona
says.
Curiosity by Nest
161 Midland Ave.
732-400-1717
Instagram: CuriosityByNest