Food from my Heart: Cuisines of Mexico Remembered and Reimagined
Born in the Sonoran border town of Agua Prieta, Zarela Martinez is a renowned cultural interpreter between Mexico and the United States through the medium of food. Since 1987 her eponymous "Zarela" set standards of authenticity among New York Mexican restaurants. A sought-after speaker and consultant for major corporations, she also wrote the pioneering cookbooks Food from My Heart, The Food and Life of Oaxaca, and Zarela's Veracruz, the last published in conjunction with her public television series ¡Zarela! La Cocina Veracruzana.   . Zarela's personal, professional and research papers and material have been acquired by Harvard/Radcliffe for the Schlesinger Library where they will reside next to those of Helen Keller, Julia Child, Amelia Earhart, Susan B. Anthony and MFK Fisher to name just a few Zarela is an active member of the Mexican Cultural Institute in New York.  She founded food is Arte for the Institute to promote Mexican culture. She has recently been inducted into the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who  Her website www.zarela.com is an invaluable resource for lovers of Mexican food and culture and her how-to videos on basic Mexican cooking techniques and flavor principles.