Best Zarela Martinez Podcasts (2024)

1
How Mexican Food Migrated to the Northeast 44:58

1+ y ago44:58

44:58

On this episode of Cooking In Mexican From A to Z, Aarón and Zarela sit down with Lori Flores. Lori is an associate professor of History at Stony Brook University, where she teaches classes in US Latino, labor, immigration, and food history. They discuss Lori's background growing up in rural Texas, her migration to the East Coast, and how Mexican f…

1
Sotol: This Chihuahua Spirit Is Getting Hot 42:04

1+ y ago42:04

42:04

On this episode, Sandro Canovas sits down with Aarón and Zarela to discuss Sotol, the state spirit of Chihuahua. They outline how it is made from plants of the dasylirion genus, close relatives of the onion, it's significance to the state of Chihuahua, and it's popularity in the United States. Sandro is a bi-national third-generation brick maker tu…

1
Whiskey in Mexico - In Years Past and Today 42:19

1+ y ago42:19

42:19

As a woman whose first sip of whisky created the female doppelganger of a Mr. Yuk sticker, Shelley Sackier’s view of the spirit changed on a trip to Scotland. After completing a short course in Scotland’s Bruichladdich Distillery, she began writing about — and working within — the world of whisky. For the past twenty-five years she has devoted her …

1
Like Water for Horchata 34:20

1+ y ago34:20

34:20

Bill Esparza is a James Beard award winning food writer, author of LA Mexicano, and on screen talent for food TV shows like Street Food: USA, Immigrant Kitchen, and Bizarre Foods. He talks with Zarela and Aaron about aquas frescas, his grandmother from Aguas Calientes, and his first taste of Mexico. Later, he discusses how he learned about regional…

1
Fish in Ensenada and Beyond 44:55

1+ y ago44:55

44:55

This week Aarón and Zarela are pleased to be joined by Benito Molina to talk about seafood in Ensenada and beyond. Chef Molina is the owner and chef of multiple restaurants in Ensenada, Baja California including Manzanilla, and he was thrilled to represent his people on MasterChef Latino. Working together with his wife Solange, their cuisine stands…

1
Eating Insects Can Save the World 32:17

1+ y ago32:17

32:17

On this episode Zarela and Aarón are back for a second round of bugs! This time they are chatting with Carlos Leal, the creator of several culinary companies in Mexico that include: Compañía de Sales, Mortar and Sons, Loyal & Febre Destilados de Agave and Dodo el Vino. His interest in culinary experimentation led him to enroll in Masterchef Mexico …

1
The Rich and Revered Mexican Ice Cream Tradition 39:44

1+ y ago39:44

39:44

For this episode Aarón and Zarela were thrilled to have Fany Gerson return to the show. Fany launched the acclaimed La Newyorkina, an artisanal Mexican frozen treats and sweets business, and is also the chef, founder and co-owner of Fan-Fan Doughnuts. There could not be a more knowledgable guest for an episode all about Mexican sweets! Together the…

1
Cooking with Flowers 46:58

1+ y ago46:58

46:58

On this episode Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome Lesterloon Sánchez to dive deep into the topic of Edible Flowers. Hailing from the state of Veracruz, Lesterloon is on a personal quest to discover new edible flowers across his home state. As a chef and restaurant owner, Lesterloon uses these flowers in an eclectic variety of recipes across …

1
Mexican Charcuterie and Tocineria 44:17

2y ago44:17

44:17

On this episode Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome Mariana Barrera to dive deep into the topic of Mexican Charcuterie. Mariana and her family run Humo y Sal, a charcuterie in Monterrey, where they prepare a wide variety of meat products as well as mustard, honey, and more. She shares how she got into the business, how she gathers inspiration …

1
Contemporary Interpretations of Traditional Mexican Food 44:00

2y ago44:00

44:00

On today's episode, Zarela and Aarón are thrilled to welcome Chef Rodolfo Castallanos to talk about how traditional Mexican foodways are being reinterpreted in the contemporary Mexican culinary scene. Rodolfo starts by sharing his cooking philosophy - beginning with inspiration from the seasons and culminating in his return home to open Origen. He …

1
Afro-Mexican Food and Culture 39:27

2y ago39:27

39:27

On this week's show, Zarela & Aarón welcome Sagrario Cruz Carretero to explore the history and cultural legacy of Afro-Mexican cuisine. First, they set the stage with some context about the past and present demographics of African immigration to Mexico. Sagrario shares her personal story of how a trip to Cuba - and her own family history - ignited …

1
Conversations From The Kitchen Table 50:18

2y ago50:18

50:18

Conversations From The Kitchen Table The storytelling website Eat, Darling, Eat presents conversations with some of Heritage Radio Network's (the world's pioneer food radio station) favorite hosts, this time talking personally about their own mother/daughter relationships and the ways that food helps to explore and define the family dynamics, histo…

1
All About Tamales 42:17

2y ago42:17

42:17

For our Season 4 launch of Cooking in Mexican from A to Z, Zarela & Aaron sit down together to discuss the most-requested topic from their listeners: Tamales. Together they detail every part of the tamale-making process, including tips like: what lard does for tamales, why you shouldn't overfill your tamales, and how you could repurpose your smoker…

1
Kitchen Curandera 36:40

2+ y ago36:40

36:40

Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is known as a “kitchen curandera." Curanderas are traditional healers who have practiced throughout the Americas for more than 500 years. Following in the steps of her maternal great-grandmother, Ruiz brings to her practice a knowledge of indigenous foods and “earth medicines” (the title of her recent book). She lives with her…

1
Mexico’s First Celebrity Chef 40:02

2+ y ago40:02

40:02

For our final episode of 2021, Zarela & Aarón are thrilled to welcome Mauricio Velázquez de León to discuss his relative, Josefina Velázquez de León. Josefina was Mexico's first celebrity chef: she was on the radio, television, and published dozens of cookbooks popularizing traditional Mexican cuisine. Together they dive into Josefina's legacy: she…

1
Southwest and Tex-Mex cuisine 38:38

2+ y ago38:38

38:38

On this week's show Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome their longtime friend Stephan Pyles to discuss all things Tex-Mex and Southwestern Cuisine. Stephan is a 5th generation Texan and a founding father of Southwestern Cuisine, who created 23 restaurants in 6 cities over more than three decades of cooking. Stephan and Zarela have known each o…

1
Crema, Requeson, Panela, and Artisan Cheese 44:50

2+ y ago44:50

44:50

On today's episode Aarón and Zarela welcome Carlos Yescas to talk all about Mexican cheese. Carlos is the founder of Lactography and LACTEO Network, and an incredibly knowledgable global cheese advocate. He is also a fellow HRN Host, on the show Cutting the Curd (Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS). Carlos guides us all through the dairy mak…

1
Can Heirloom Corn be Saved? 37:46

2+ y ago37:46

37:46

On this week's episode Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome Rafael Mier, the Founder and Director of Fundación Tortilla, to guide us through a deep dive on Corn. Rafael's mission is to preserve and popularize the many, wonderful heirloom varietals of corn that can be found all over Mexico. Together they pick apart the differences between variou…

1
Sonoran Food on Both Sides of the Border 34:32

2+ y ago34:32

34:32

On this week's show, Aarón and Zarela discuss Sonoran cuisine with their friend Regina Schrambling. Regina grew up in Arizona, across the border from Zarela's native state of Sonora. Together they reminisce about the meals and treats of their respective childhoods. Along the way they try to spell out how Sonoran cuisine is distinct from Tex Mex, ho…

1
Foods and Celebrations of The Day of the Dead 43:04

2+ y ago43:04

43:04

On this week's show Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome Pati Jinich. Pati is a chef, author, and TV personality, and she joins Aarón and Zarela to discuss the traditions of The Day of the Dead. They start with the origins of Día de los Muertos as a 3 month long pre-hispanic celebration, and proceed to explore its significance in Mexican cultur…

1
Pasta, The Other Pilaf 40:07

2+ y ago40:07

40:07

On today's show Aarón and Zarela are joined by Cristina Potters to talk about pasta in Mexican cooking. Cristina has lived in Mexico for over 40 years, and shares her knowledge of Mexican home cooking through her work as an author and tour guide. Together they cover food history, Aaron and Cristina point out ties between Mexican dishes and their Eu…

1
CalMex or MexCal? 42:21

2+ y ago42:21

42:21

On today's show, Aarón and Zarela are joined by Neal Fraser, the chef and owner of Red Bird in Los Angeles. Neal is a lifelong Angeleno, and longtime friend of Aarón's, and together they explore the modern intersections of Californian and Mexican cuisine. They explore a number of unusual ingredients from insects to corn fungus, as they map out regi…

1
A History of Beef and Butchery 46:23

2+ y ago46:23

46:23

On today's episode, Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to speak with Mauricio Euresty, an expert on cattle and butchery. Together they tackle the subject from tip to tail, covering differences between the preferred Mexican cuts versus American cuts, the effect of terroir on beef, how ribeye is the key to cattle grading, and trendy cuts in high end Mexic…

1
Sopa, Caldo, and Crema 45:54

2+ y ago45:54

45:54

On today's show Zarela & Aarón are thrilled to welcome James Oseland. James recently released his book World Food: Mexico City: Heritage Recipes for Classic Home Cooking, which Zarela & Aarón absolutely love. While these three could talk about any aspect of Mexican cooking, for today's episode they've decided to focus on Soups. They set the stage b…

1
Tequila, the OG Mexican Spirit 44:11

2+ y ago44:11

44:11

On this week's show, Zarela & Aarón welcome Aarón's close compadre, Manny Hinojosa. Manny is a global ambassador for Tequila Cazadores, and he has a passion and deep knowledge of both tequila production and mixology. He kicks off the show by sharing his story of coming to the United States and finding his way into the bartending scene. Along the wa…

1
Building Blocks and Other Chef Secrets 37:59

2+ y ago37:59

37:59

On the season 3 premiere of Cooking In Mexican from A to Z, Zarela and Aarón go back to basics. They sit down together, mother & son, to discuss the foundational principles of the cooking. These are flavor principles they use every day in the kitchen, in a wide variety of dishes. They also sprinkle in a love letter to hatch chiles, memories of what…

1
Journey of A Thousand Steps 29:51

2+ y ago29:51

29:51

“Let Daddy move the chopsticks first” and “Do not leave one piece of rice on your plate." These maxims were part of the Chinese culture and tradition that Tina Yao imparted to her daughter, a first-generation Chinese-American. With a Yale degree (and wearing her mother’s suit), Nancy Yao Maasbach got a job at the Council on Foreign Relations, using…

1
Queen of Cakes 35:32

3y ago35:32

35:32

Internationally celebrated cake designer Sylvia Weinstock makes cakes that astonish the palate, dazzle the eye, and reward the spirit. She started baking at home while her husband and three daughters skied down Hunter Mountain. André Soltner, the renowned chef of Lutèce, recommended Sylvia as an apprentice to pastry chef George Kellner, who operate…

1
A Tour of the Valle de Guadalupe Food & Wine Scene 46:05

3y ago46:05

46:05

This week Zarela and Aarón go on a culinary tour of Baja California's Valle de Guadalupe with their guide, Colman Andrews. Colman has been writing about food and wine for decades and is currently a senior editor at 24/7 Wall St. He has traveled extensively throughout baja california, and his passion for the Valle de Guadalupe region fuels our tour!…

1
Recados and the Magic of Spice Blends 51:51

3y ago51:51

51:51

In this spirited episode, Zarela and Aarón are thrilled to welcome their close friend Maricel Presilla to talk about recados and spice blends. Maricel is a chef, restauranteur, and the author of Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America. Together the three dissect the essential Mexican spices, and how they are used. They explain the differences…

1
Crossing Culinary Borders 47:26

3y ago47:26

47:26

Today Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome Víctor Macías-González to talk about the culinary exchange on the border between Juarez and El Paso. Victor is a professor who focuses on Mexican and Latinx histories, as well as the history of gender and sexuality. All 3 share memories of their early lives in the region; including Aaron's Saturday sho…

1
Preserving Diversity Through Corn Whiskey 42:12

3y ago42:12

42:12

Today Zarela and Aarón are joined by their friend Yira Vallejo. Yira spent ten years as a brand incubator in the wine and spirits industry of New York City, before returning to Oaxaca in 2014. Now she works to preserve the cultural and biological diversity of Oaxaca through a number of projects, including a documentary film and the production of Me…

1
Fall in Love With Oaxaca 35:15

3y ago35:15

35:15

On this episode, Aarón and Zarela welcome Bricia Lopez for a love letter to the food and culture of Oaxaca. Bricia and her siblings run Guelaguetza, the restaurant her father started 27 years ago. Bricia believes that Oaxaca's most unique asset is its diversity of chiles, spices and herbs, so they've started an online marketplace to sell those prod…

1
Tracing The Development of Mexican Cuisine 41:35

3y ago41:35

41:35

On this episode, Aarón and Zarela are joined by their friend Jeffrey Pilcher to talk about the development of Mexican Cuisine; from indigenous, pre-hispanic cultures up to its spread in the United States. Jeffrey is a food historian who teaches at the University of Toronto and has written numerous books, including "Planet Taco: A Global History of …

1
Zarela Martinez: Mexican Geisha 31:26

3y ago31:26

31:26

Zarela Martinez is an acclaimed restaurateur and cookbook author in New York City. Her books include Food from My Heart, The Food and Life of Oaxaca, and Zarela’s Veracruz, the companion to her PBS series "Zarela!! La Cocina Veracruzana." Her personal papers are resident in The Schlesinger Library, one of the leading centers for scholarship on the …

1
A Mexican Cheese Board 49:18

3y ago49:18

49:18

This week Zarela and Aarón welcome their friend Paula Lambert, founder of The Mozzarella Company, to guide them through the world of Mexican cheese. Paula's shares how Mexican ingredients permeated the Texas food scene and sparked her interest in Mexican cheeses decades ago. Together they cover the creation and uses of a number of cheeses, includin…

1
Praise the Lard 50:38

3y ago50:38

50:38

On this episode, Zarela and Aarón welcome their first return guest to the show - Anne Mendelson. Anne is an unbelievable resource, a culinary historian and author who co-wrote three cookbooks with Zarela. This time, they're together to discuss the history and uses of lard. First, Anne guides us through the history of lard's introduction to Mexico, …

1
Birria from Jalisco to Chicago 47:11

3y ago47:11

47:11

On this episode Zarela and Aarón are thrilled to present another parent-child duo who dedicate their lives to preserving their culture through food. Juan and Jonathan Zaragoza’s family-run Chicago restaurant Birria Zaragoza is known as the best birria in Chicago and, according to Aarón, Chicago is the best Mexican food town in the country. Juan sta…

1
...Until it Sounds Like Sand: Rick Bayless on Rice 51:22

3y ago51:22

51:22

On this episode, Aarón and Zarela welcome their friend and colleague, Rick Bayless, a pioneer in traditional Mexican cuisine at the highest level, to discuss rice in Mexican cuisine. There isn’t much Chef Bayless hasn’t done or an award he hasn’t won. Owner of a restaurant empire in Chicago, most notably Frontera Grill and Topolobambo, he’s written…

1
Eat Your Bugs! 43:30

3y ago43:30

43:30

Today Zarela and Aarón take a deep dive into the delicious delicacy of edible bugs in Mexico with "Doctor Bugs" himself, Mark Moffett. Mark is a biologist, author, lecturer, and adventurer who knows his way around the insect table. Mark received his Ph.D. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University and is a Research Associate in …

1
Mole Through the Generations 54:12

3y ago54:12

54:12

In this Season 2 premiere of Cooking in Mexican from A to Z, Zarela & Aarón explore the layered flavors and history of mole. There is a different mole for every palate and protein, from negro to colaradito to rojo. Zarela and Aarón are thrilled to welcome another mother-son duo, Susana Trilling and Kaelin Ulrich, to help ensure they cover it all. S…

1
Not All Beans Were Created Equal 45:22

3+ y ago45:22

45:22

Today Zarela and Aarón are thrilled to welcome Steve Sando, the founder of Rancho Gordo. In this episode they delve into the wide world of beans; covering the differences between heirloom and commodity beans (and how each has a role in the market), assessing different methods of preparing beans, exploring the spices that might accompany beans in yo…

1
Following the Seasons with Melissa's Produce 44:03

3+ y ago44:03

44:03

On today's episode Zarela & Aarón welcome Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations for Melissa's Produce. Robert takes us on a world tour of fruits that are newer to the U.S. market, while Zarela & Aarón tell us how they're used in Mexican cooking. From Avocados to Quince, they cover storage, processing, recipes and family stories. Photo Cour…

1
A Smoked Chile Tutorial 45:51

3+ y ago45:51

45:51

Today Zarela & Aarón welcome Dona Abramson, long-time Operations Manager at Kalustyuns in Manhattan, to talk about Smoked Chiles. Dona brought along a grab bag of smoked chiles from around the world as inspiration, and Zarela and Aarón share how they each use smoked chiles in their own cooking. Plus they tackle a variety of related topics like mole…

1
The Complexity of Chocolate 38:12

3+ y ago38:12

38:12

Today Zarela and Aarón welcome Andy Coe, author and scholar of culinary history, to discuss cacao and chocolate. They start with the history; how it was first consumed as a drink, and then made its way around the world after the Columbian Exchange. They share stories of how cacao was used as currency and, possibly, an aphrodisiac, and Andy leads Za…

1
Plantains: The People's Ingredient 43:39

3+ y ago43:39

43:39

Today Zarela and Aarón welcome one of Aarón's early mentors, Jorge Adriazola, to tackle the many uses of plantains. They share recipes of the various ways in which plantains are prepared throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and South America. Jorge walks through how to prepare Tostones (pro tip from Aarón: the same technique works for homemade f…

1
You Say Tomato, I Say Tomatillo 43:46

3+ y ago43:46

43:46

On this episode, Zarela & Aarón contrast the tomato with its relative, the tomatillo. They invite their friend - and favorite tomato farmer - Tim Stark of Eckerton Hill Farm to join the conversation and explain how he grows his delicious produce. Tim weighs in on how the heirloom tomato landscape has evolved over the past two decades and the effect…

1
Crafting Layers of Flavor with Chile Colorado 29:17

3+ y ago29:17

29:17

On today's episode Zarela and Aarón have the studio all to themselves as they discuss Chile Colorado (the pepper, rather than the dish that shares its name). They walk home cooks through the process of buying, storing, preparing dried chilis and what tools work best. Zarela explains her mother’s traditional method for a Chile Colorado base, and Aar…

1
Mexican Herbs and Wild Greens 38:06

3+ y ago38:06

38:06

On today's episode, Aarón and Zarela are joined by their friend Chef John Mooney of Bell, Book & Candle (NYC) and Bidwell (Washinton, D.C.). John explains how he has incorporated vertical agriculture into his work as a restaurateur, and together they discuss a number of their favorite Mexican herbs and greens. They proceed ingredient by ingredient,…

1
The Triple Bounty of Squashes 43:51

3+ y ago43:51

43:51

Aarón and Zarela are joined by Anne Mendelson, Zarela’s co-author on numerous cookbooks and a long-time family friend. Together they talk about squash - including pumpkins and zucchini - and how to use these vegetables in their entirety. They share ideas for using squash seeds in sauce as well as recipes for Sikil P’ak and Calabasitas Con Queso. Pl…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Zarela Martinez Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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