US Army veteran, Iraq combat tour, tattoo artist, restaurant owner, and co-founder of The Purple Heart Project — Chef Mark Sierra (Compadres Hill Country Cocina) sits down for a wide-ranging conversation about the road from the Rio Grande Valley to a combat zone to a Boerne kitchen that's been named the best Mexican spot in town two years running. Mark opens up about the parts of military service nobody trains you for, what cooking actually means to him, building a Tex-Mex backyard-barbecue concept that doesn't apologize for being different, and the work he and his wife Dahlia do honoring Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. What we cover: From the Valley to the Army: growing up in La Joya, what "Mexican food" meant when it was just food, and walking into the Odessa mall recruiter asking to "blow some shit up"Iraq: a 15-month deployment, the 65 brothers his brigade lost, and the part of basic training that doesn't prepare you for what comes afterInk in a combat zone: how Mark started tattooing fellow soldiers downrange and ended up featured in National Tattoo MagazineCooking as therapy: why making tortillas keeps him grounded, connected to his grandmother, and at peace when "shit hits the fan"Building Compadres Hill Country Cocina: dethroning the established Mexican spots in Boerne, the smoked Tex-Mex backyard-style identity, and the pricing conversations every owner facesThe Purple Heart Project: founding it with his wife Dahlia in 2020, honoring 100+ recipients, and what the annual gala looks like — standup mode, Andy Griggs's "If Heaven," and a room going up and down all nightThe unseen weight: anxiety, breakdowns at the pit, and the morning NBC's Today Show called minutes after he hit bottomAdvice for anyone thinking about the restaurant industry: thick skin, love the work, and why if it turns into work, you're doneGuest: Chef Mark Sierra — US Army veteran, owner of Compadres Hill Country Cocina in Boerne, TX, tattoo artist, and co-founder of The Purple Heart Project with his wife Dahlia Why this matters: The Hill Country has more veteran-owned businesses than most people realize, and the stories behind them are rarely told all the way through. Mark's is one of resilience, service that didn't end with the uniform, and a kitchen built around the food he grew up on. If you've eaten at Compadres — or you're thinking about supporting a Purple Heart Project event — this is the conversation that gives every plate and every gala more weight. If you enjoy this episode: Share it with a neighbor or a veteran in your lifeSubscribe and leave a reviewVisit Compadres Hill Country Cocina in Boerne, TXLearn more about The Purple Heart Project at https://purpleheartpro.orgSponsor: This episode is brought to you by BKKPRS. BKKPRS (Bookkeepers) helps businesses with bookkeeping, accounting, accounts receivables/payables, payroll, and fractional CFO services. Learn more at: https://bkkprs.com Connect: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thicketpodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4z9NNpxM6sJqbR1bPR729v Facebook: https://facebook.com/Thicketpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethicketpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thicketpodcast X: https://x.com/thethicketpod Website: https://thicketpodcast.com
