Chef Marcela Valladolid Makes Mexican Easy

Good news for home cooks everywhere: Now you can have a celebrity chef in your kitchen every night with chef, author, and tv personality Marcela Valladolid’s delicious new line of products, Marcela Valladolid for Safeway!

“I grew up in Mexico,” Valladolid said. “I know what Mexican food is and I know what it isn’t. Marcela Valladolid for Safeway helps home cooks get a real taste of Mexico.”

At a recent dinner hosted by Valladolid in NYC to celebrate the launch, guests sipped honeydew and mint aqua fresca while putting the products to the test; sampling ceviche, tacos, and grilled pollo asado all made using her items from the line. “I use these products in my every day life,” Valladolid said. Their authentic flavor and versatility, she explained, is what makes the line so special. 

The line is made up of six marinated and ready-to-cook meats, three flavored tortilla chips, and two types of tortillas. With the options, you can mix and match and make an authentic Mexican meal for dinner any night of the week. 

Born in San Diego and raised in Mexico, Valladolid is an accomplished chef, cookbook author, and television host. She stars alongside Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Katie Lee Joel on Food Network’s The Kitchen where she shares tips, tricks and recipes for getting home cooked meals on the table.  

But her most important job, she says, is being a mom to her son Fausto, who was her biggest inspiration for the line. “He inspires me to keep tradition alive,” Valladolid said. “These are the flavors I grew up with and I want him to be able to experience them.”

It’s clear that Valladolid is dedicated to keeping Mexican culinary tradition alive. She’s busy building an organic garden in her backyard and plans to learn how to grow and preserve her own food. “It’s all about balance,” she said. “I’d love to be able to cook the meals I had growing up every day. But, I’m a busy mom. I grew up with the tastes and smells of Mexico in my house. There was charred poblanos, mole, cilantro. I loved that! This line lets me share my favorite Mexican foods and flavors, still rooted in tradition, but made easier for our busy lives.”

Here’s how you can recreate one of Valladolid’s meals at home! 

Arrachera Steak Tacos 

• 1 package (16 ounces) Marcela Valladolid Beef Flank Steak for Arrachera
• 10 Marcela Valladolid Corn Tortillas
• 1/4 cup pickled jalapeño or red onion, slivered
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, washed and roughly chopped
• 1 lime, cut into 6 wedges
• 1/2 cup fresh guacamole

Get the full recipe.