Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz was a British-born food writer who popularized Latin American cuisine

Latin American cuisine

Latin American Cuisine refers to typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America...

 in the US and Great Britain.

Born in Harrow-on-the-Hill, she moved with her family to Jamaica and Australia. Her early publications included poetry, murder mysteries, film and theater reviews, and a memoir of her life in Jamaica. Marriage to the diplomat Cesar Ortiz Tinoco resulted in further travel, often in Latin America.

Her 1992 Encyclopaedia of Herbs, Spices and Flavourings won awards from Julia Child

Julia Child

Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...

 and the International Association of Culinary Professionals

International Association of Culinary Professionals

The International Association of Culinary Professionals is a United States based not-for-profit professional association whose members work in culinary education, communication, or the preparation of food and beverage....

. In addition to her books, she wrote extensively for Gourmet magazine and Time-Life

Time-Life

Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....

publications.