At the Table with… Chef LaLa

Chef, certified
nutritionist, and motivational speaker Chef LaLa has a lot on her plate. She operates a first class catering company, designs Chef LaLa
housewares, and has authored three cookbooks – Best Loved Mexican Cooking,
Latin Lover Lite, and Yummy for Your Tummy – with a fourth on the way.

As
if that weren’t enough, she also produces a
line of homemade salsas and marinades titled “Chef LaLa Homemade” that is
available nationwide. (Flavors include Orange Chipotle and Tequila Lime and
seasonings are available for traditional Latin dishes like Carne Asada and
Fajitas.) Most important to her however, is her role as mother to 8-year-old
son Maddox.

In the May issue of Latina Magazine, Chef LaLa cooked up a
complete day’s menu of healthy meals for kids. Here, in TLK’s latest segment of
At the Kitchen with, Chef LaLa shares her thoughts on love, culinary curiosity,
and the best Thanksgiving ever.

Dish you crave from your abuela:

My abuelita made the best beans. They were
on the stove all day in a clay pot. I always say my last meal would be fresh
baked pan birote, pinto beans, queso fresco, avocado and jalapeños curtidos. A
lot of that choice is because of abuelita’s
beans.

Secret ingredient to make a dish pop:

Love.

Favorite Latin restaurant in the
world:

I don’t have a favorite. Still searching for THE ONE.

Favorite city to eat in:

New York.

Secret to a perfect dinner party:

Great
company and wine.

Biggest food indulgence:

Ice Cream.

Favorite vegetable:

Are corn
tortillas a vegetable? Seriously, white sweet potatoes.

Best food memory:

Thanksgiving.
Picture this: 150 of my closest relatives in a hall celebrating our delicious
Latin Food in our America.

Ideal breakfast, lunch and dinner:

Favorite Latin cocktail:

Not too
sweet mojito with LOTS of lime.

Favorite kitchen gadget:

My mandoline.

Perfect song to cook to:

Love Me Like a River Does by Melody Gardot.

Most adventurous food you eat:

Huevos de Hormiga (ant’s eggs).

Favorite fusion:

Chino Latino.

Tip for at-home cooks:

Try something new!