I’m a NYC-based Latina food writer, on-camera host, and cookbook author whose work explores American Latino cuisines, restaurants, and food culture. I’ve written for publications including the Michelin Guide, Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, Eater, and Zagat, and I’m a former James Beard Award Foundation judge.
My debut cookbook, Latin-ish: More Than 100 Recipes Celebrating American Latino Cuisines (W.W. Norton/August 2024), was named an Amazon Editor’s Pick, and featured on the TODAY Show. I regularly appear on television and digital platforms as a food expert and host, and I’m an active member of NAHJ and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
Latin-ish: More Than 100 Recipes Celebrating American Latino Cuisines is my debut cookbook (W.W. Norton/Countryman Press), published August 2024. Latin-ish was selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Cookbooks - and I was live on the TODAY Show cooking with Hoda and Jenna from the book. It has received glowing reviews from the Washington Post, Epicurious, Forbes, Publishers Weekly, The Week, BookRiot, and the Library Journal as well as TV appearances on Fox5, ABC7, Pix11, KATU, KING5, and KSAT12 so far.
My specialties are traditional Latin American. and American Latino foods with fun riffs (I am originally from Panama and part Cuban), Japanese food (I lived in Japan for 4 years), Hawaiian food (I lived in Hawaii for 3 years), Spanish cuisine (I lived in Madrid), and wine (I write for top wine publications and studied wine tasting. I love fun wine pairings). My range within the food industry is deep: I cover fine dining, the technical side of cooking, dive deep into cultural context and have interviewed politicians, celebrity chefs, non-food celebrities to undocumented workers. When I’m not writing about food, I write for beauty, health, and wellness publications like Well + Good, PureWow, and mindbodygreen.
In front of the camera: In addition to frequenting national daytime televisions (over 200 television appearances), I'm also the host of United States of Spirits on Spirits Network and Driven to Dine on MSG Networks. Catch me on live television the TODAY Show, NY1, KSAT12, and more. You may have also seen me on Food & Wine's newest show Beat the Receipt! and on the Food Network, I am the host of HelloFresh's latest mini-digital series Fresh Takes on Takeout.
I've been featured on NY1, ABC10, InsideHook, NYT Cooking and more. I am a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Newswomen's Press Club of New York, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.