Mexican Cookbook Author: Zarela Martinez

ZARELA MARTINEZ, one of this generation’s leading U. S. restaurateurs, was born and raised in Mexico but began cooking professionally during the late 1970’s in El Paso, Texas.

With the encouragement of Paul Prudhomme and Craig Claiborne, who had been impressed by her vivid Mexican food, she made some nationally noted guest-chef appearances and in 1983 moved her business to New York.

Here she quickly made her mark as menu-designer and later executive chef for Cafe Marimba, the city’s first serious attempt to recreate regional Mexican cuisine with local resources.

A loyal following of diners and food writers responded eagerly when in 1987 she decided to start her own restaurant, Zarela. Read more about Zarela Martinez...