Zarela Martinez
Encyclopedia
Zarela Martinez is a New York City
-based restaurateur and cookbook author born in the Mexican
border town
of Agua Prieta
(Sonora State), who learned cooking from her mother, Aida Gabilondo, also a cookbook author. She began cooking professionally out of necessity.
While taking a cooking class in New Orleans, Martinez captured the attention of Paul Prudhomme
, who serves as her mentor. Other opportunities soon opened after New York Times
food editor Craig Claiborne
published several of her recipes under the heading “Memorable Dishes from a Mexican Master Chef." In 1983, she was asked to design a menu to be served at Ronald Reagan
’s ranch in California for Queen Elizabeth II.
That same year, Martinez moved with her twin sons to New York, where she first designed the menu of the new Cafe Marimba before opening her own restaurant, Zarela, in 1997.
Her first cookbook, Food from My Heart (Macmillan, 1992) was nominated for best international book of the year by The James Beard Foundation
. Two more books followed, The Food and Life of Oaxaca [Macmillan, 1997], and Zarela’s Veracruz [Houghton Mifflin, 2001], which was also the companion book to the 13-part PBS
series Zarela! La Cocina Veracruzana (WMHT Educational Television
2001).
Martinez’s work has received awards from the New York State
Restaurant Association, the Women's Venture Fund, the Women's Leadership Exchange, and the Orgullo Award from the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services. In July 2004, she was singled out in the “Americans at the Table” issue of the U.S. State Department’s online publication E-Journal USA: U.S. Society & Values as one of seven crucial “taste setters” who have redefined the American culinary landscape since the last half of the twentieth century.
One of Martinez's sons, Aarón Sanchez
, is a chef.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based restaurateur and cookbook author born in the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border town
Border town
A border town is a town or city close to the boundary between two countries, states or regions. Usually the term implies that it is one of the things the town is most famous for. Border towns can have highly cosmopolitan communities, a feature they share with port cities...
of Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta
Agua Prieta is a pueblo and municipality in the northeastern corner of the Mexican state of Sonora . It stands on the U.S.–Mexico border, adjacent to the town of Douglas, Arizona, USA. The municipality covers an area of 3,631.65 km²...
(Sonora State), who learned cooking from her mother, Aida Gabilondo, also a cookbook author. She began cooking professionally out of necessity.
While taking a cooking class in New Orleans, Martinez captured the attention of Paul Prudhomme
Paul Prudhomme
Paul Prudhomme is an American celebrity chef whose specialty is Cajun cuisine. He is also the owner of one of the top restaurants in New Orleans, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.-Early life:...
, who serves as her mentor. Other opportunities soon opened after New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
food editor Craig Claiborne
Craig Claiborne
Craig Claiborne was an American restaurant critic, food writer and former food editor of the New York Times. He was the author of numerous cookbooks and an autobiography...
published several of her recipes under the heading “Memorable Dishes from a Mexican Master Chef." In 1983, she was asked to design a menu to be served at Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
’s ranch in California for Queen Elizabeth II.
That same year, Martinez moved with her twin sons to New York, where she first designed the menu of the new Cafe Marimba before opening her own restaurant, Zarela, in 1997.
Her first cookbook, Food from My Heart (Macmillan, 1992) was nominated for best international book of the year by The James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
. Two more books followed, The Food and Life of Oaxaca [Macmillan, 1997], and Zarela’s Veracruz [Houghton Mifflin, 2001], which was also the companion book to the 13-part PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
series Zarela! La Cocina Veracruzana (WMHT Educational Television
Educational television
Educational television is the use of television programs in the field of distance education. It may be in the form of individual television programs or dedicated specialty channels that is often associated with cable television in the United States as Public, educational, and government access ...
2001).
Martinez’s work has received awards from the New York State
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Restaurant Association, the Women's Venture Fund, the Women's Leadership Exchange, and the Orgullo Award from the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services. In July 2004, she was singled out in the “Americans at the Table” issue of the U.S. State Department’s online publication E-Journal USA: U.S. Society & Values as one of seven crucial “taste setters” who have redefined the American culinary landscape since the last half of the twentieth century.
One of Martinez's sons, Aarón Sanchez
Aarón Sanchez
Aarón Sanchez is an American chef, the executive chef and part-owner of the restaurant Centrico. He has appeared on Iron Chef America, and is one of the few chefs whose battles have ended in a draw, tying with Masaharu Morimoto in "Battle Black Bass" in Season 2...
, is a chef.
External links
- http://www.greatchefs.com/zarela-martinez/
- http://www.fineliving.com/fine/martha_stewart_show/episode/0,,FINE_30416_53357,00.html
- http://www.pbs.org/juliachild/meet/martinez.html
- http://www.zarela.com