Almost 12 years ago I sent a tape of me cooking to the Food Network. They agreed to put me on the air, as a guest on a show titled “In Food Today” hosted by David Rosengarten, which was directed by Bob Tuschman, who is now the SVP of programing and production. I made a Mexican chocolate mousse with pomegranate. Needless to say, a lot has happened between then and now and even though I’ve beed disappointed once or twice when turned down by the network, these people rarely make mistakes; I wasn’t ready then, I’m ready now.
Words cannot even express how proud I am of Mexican Made Easy. If you know how this works, you know it’s out of my hands now and into yours in terms of the show getting picked up for a second season but, honestly, I’ll always have the satisfaction that i gave you and the show all I’ve got. I’m pretty sure you’re gonna like it though. The recipes are straight-forward, easy to follow and with ingredients that you can find pretty much anywhere. Sometimes I go a little global (like the Easy Chipotle Hollandaise for the Eggs Benedicto in episode 1) but mostly you’ll see me preparing the foods that showed up on my table growing up, like Roasted Tomatillo Chilaquiles and Spiced Mexican Coffee, also in episode 1.
Following is the Press Release for the show with episode summaries and schedule. Please let me know if there’s a recipe you’d like to see and, of course, I’d love your feedback after episode 1 airs the 23rd of this month. Really, you have no idea how excited I am. How happy my friends and family (especially my son) are with all that is happening. I’m on cloud 9. Enjoy my friends. Besos, ciao, Marcela
FOOD NETWORK MAKES MEXICAN ‘EASY’ WITH MARCELA VALLADOLID
‘Mexican Made Easy’ Premieres Saturday, January 23rd at 9:30am ET/PT
NEW YORK – January 11, 2010 – Marcela Valladolid is a mother and professional chef who has a fresh take on Mexican food and is dedicated to sharing simple and authentic recipes in her series, Mexican Made Easy premiering Saturday, January 23rd at 9:30am ET/PT. Marcela, inspired by her dual Mexican and Southern California upbringing, transforms conventional ideas of the cuisine into healthy and easy-to-prepare Mexican meals. Whether serving a home-cooked dinner to her son or entertaining friends and family, Marcela brings to the table fresh flavors that fit all tastes.
Premieres: Saturday, January 23rd at 9:30am ET/PT – SERIES PREMIERE!
“Weekend Brunch”
Join Marcela for a brunch worth getting out of bed for including mouth-watering Chilaquiles Casseroles, crispy tortilla chips bathed in a roasted tomatillo sauce, drizzled with sour cream and melted cheese. Then, Marcela delivers the brunch-must menu item, ‘No-Brainer’ Eggs Benedicto with a fast and easy-to-make chipotle hollandaise sauce. Adding a fresh pot of Café Mexicano lightly spiced with brown sugar, cinnamon and a twist of orange peel, Marcela creates a wickedly good weekend brunch.
Premiering Saturday, January 30th at 9:30am ET/PT
“Game Day Grabs”
Marcela has the perfect playbook for putting together Mexican-themed snacks for the big game. First up, Marcela’s classic Game-Winning Guacamole with Fresh-Baked Tortilla Chips. Her Smokin’ Shrimp Skewers marinated in smoky chipotle sauce and her honey glazed Sweet & Spicy Drumettes brushed with a chile ancho and pecan sauce, round out the line-up. Marcela then makes a batch of refreshing Micheladas, cold beer served in chilled mugs with a little salt and lime juice thrown in.
Premiering Saturday, February 6th at 9:30am ET/PT
“Cuddle Cuisine”
With Valentine’s Day approaching, Marcela designs a cozy, romantic, winter meal that is sure to warm up hearts and bellies. Marcela prepares a Butternut Squash Soup that has a kiss of chipotle flavor, followed by a tender Ancho-Crusted Rack of Lamb served with a mint jelly sauce. For dessert, Marcela puts a fresh Mexican spin on a classic strawberry pie with her Sweet Strawberry Tartlets.
Premiering Saturday, February 13th at 9:30am ET/PT
“Family Favorites”
Perfected over a lifetime, Marcela opens the family cookbook and shares some favorites including authentic Baja-Style Beer-Battered Fish Tacos served with a fiery, fresh tequila-infused Drunken Salsa and lemon cream sauce. For dessert, her family’s ultimate Choco-Flan, half chocolate cake and half flan drizzled with a creamy caramel-like topping.
ABOUT CHEF MARCELA VALLADOLID:
Growing up around expert cooks in Tijuana, Mexico, Marcela was raised to be passionate about food. After attending the Los Angeles Culinary Institute and the Ritz Escoffier Cooking School in Paris, Marcela parlayed her skills to become a food editor at Bon Appétit magazine, the host of her own cooking show Relatos con Sabor on Discovery en Español, and a contestant on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. In August 2009, Marcela released her first cookbook titled “FRESH MEXICO: 100 Simple Recipes for True Mexican Flavor” (August 2009, Clarkson Potter). Her Food Network show, Mexican Made Easy debuts in 2010 and films in San Diego where Marcela currently lives. In addition to being a host for Food Network, Marcela cares for her young son Fausto, runs a catering company, and teaches children in Tijuana the culinary arts.
Shooting the Show open in the produce section of the Hispanic Market
My son Fausto and I shooting bumpers in Coronado, CA.
Hi Marcela..thanks for sharing.. I understand the “not giving up part”..I tried out for NFNS season 3 and made it to the semi-finals.. excited I went to NYC to cook for Food Network..unexcited thought that I had the worst cold in my life.. cooking and talking on camera all stuffed up was no picnic.. but I was thrilled to be there… again, timing was not right… See More.. but I still hold on to my dream of having a show.. hopefully one day.. I can come on after your time slot.. I am sure you will do fine.. I wish you much sucess!!
Marcela,
Congrats! I am so excited about your new show. I have enjoyed Ingrid Hoffman and Daisy Martinez, and I am now eager to welcome you and your cooking into my home and my repertoire!! I have your cookbook…awesome! Best wishes on your new show, much success, I will continue to spread to the word to all my foodie friends about you and your show! Can’t wait to take this tasty journey with you! Love the updates on Facebook… keep us informed, we’re listening….
CAN’T WAIT!!!!
Marcela,
Congrats on your new cookbook and FN show!! I purchased your cookbook last week and having been cooking several dishes over the weekend. As a chef-in-training, you give me hope that I can also do great things in this career just as you have! Again, congrats and good luck to you!
Hola Marcela,
First off, many congratulations on your new and upcoming show!! I saw the promo for it about a week ago and I’ll be honest, I thought ‘hmm, a Mexican beat me to it already!’ :). In finding out that you were from Southern California, San Diego, and later found out Tijuana, well, that’s when I felt my heart drop. I too am a San Diego native, food-lover, born in Tijuana and, although I’ve never really wanted to have my own FN show, when I was little I would act as if I did have my own food show (on KPBS, just like Julia). So, to know that someone ‘like me’ has her own show is of great pride and admiration. I know you will do great. You have a fresh and humble approach to what you do which makes you completely genuine. I so look forward to your new show and to continue reading your blog. I know you’ll get busy, but please don’t stop posting. Best Wishes!!
Oh em gee! I just watched your segment on fox 5 here in SD and I love you already. I am so excited for you and your new show. I already love the food network and now I’m going to be loving it even more
Great work!
Hi Marcela,
Felicidades! I’m so excited to see your show on FN. I am very pleased to see a young latina have her dream come true.
Can’t wait to see premier this Saturday. I have an 8 year daughter who I think will adore you. Thinking of making the chilaquiles on Sunday for breakfast for the family. We like to have them with eggs. This will be my first time making them with salsa verde. I love to make traditional mexican dishes but being a fulltime mom and having a fulltime job can be demanding. So I’m hoping your recipes work for me. Thinking of asking the hubby for your cookbook for Valentine’s Day.
Good luck with the show! I hope you become a regular on FN.
God bless!
Way to go Marcela! I just watched your new show and you were fantastic! I LOVED it!! Definitely a hit!
Marcela.
I just finished watching your show. Very nice. Good job. You look comfortable, proficient, and you speak well. It does my heart good to see a Latina on television. I recently started watching The Food Network and I would find it very upsetting that on every show the chefs would utilize a plethora of Mexican/Latin ingredients but would never acknowledge that fact. Equally upsetting was never seeing a Latin face on the network even though everyone is making salsa, using peppers, and spicing things up a bit. Its nice that you and Aaron are becoming prominent faces on this network. I now also see Chef José Garces on Iron Chef. Excellent.
I do have one issue with your show. I loved the way you pronounce the words in Spanish correctly. Serrano, with the rolled ‘r.’ Keep it up. On your first show I noticed you started off with “Serrrrrano” but then switch to “Sair-rahn-no.” Please do not do this. Please stick to the correct pronunciation of the language. Perhaps you can help others on the network to not say things like, “Hah-bahn-neeyair-oh” or “Hah-lah-peen-yo.” I think as food experts the chefs should learn how to offer the correct pronunciation of the ingredients. “Habanero,” no ‘h’, no ‘y’ sound. Jalpeño.
Don’t dumb down the show. Pronounce the Spanish the way it should be.
Thank you. I’m proud of you and you make me proud too.
Buena suerte.
Eduardo.
[...] En Espanol. She’s already published a cookbook, and many of the recipes featured on her new show will come from that book. Some of them, like her hollandaise, are international hodgepodges of [...]
Aloha Marcela!
LOVED the show! I accidentally saw the trailer to your new show and realized it would be on in the next hour so I watched and Loved! Thank you and continued success!
Love
Siena
Hi Marcela,
Loved your show. I will admit that I stumbled on it by accident, but I will definitely be coming back to watch again. I’m not sure if we will make any of the items from the first episode–I’m a bit squimish when using raw eggs which makes me not sure about the eggs benedicto, though they looked fantastic. And the spiced Mexican coffee–I’m excited about trying that, but my wife doesn’t drink coffee, so I don’t know if I would go to that much work for just myself.
I can’t wait to see what sorts of things you make in your upcoming episodes, though.
Delicioso!!! I set my alarm for 6:30am just to watch the show in HD and I loved it. I so wanted to try the Eggs Benedicto that same morning, but with an unfortunate cold and stuffy nose I wasn’t able to taste anything. Congratulations again!! I certainly look forward to next weeks show.
If this show doesnt make it I don’t know what will. Talent and incredible beauty combined. She is easily one of the most beautiful women on tv to the point you can’t help but stay glued to the channel.
that and the cooking
Marcella - it’s so amazing to see a Latina from TJ/SD on Food Network!!! Congratulations, you’ve got a great show so far & I can’t wait to watch the rest of the season. I watched it this past week & was very pleased to learn that you’re thoroughly representing TJ, San Diego, Baja & delicious Mexican fare. Keep it up!!
Marcella,
It makes me so proud to see a talented, educated, beautiful, and fit Latina chef on the Food Network! I watched your show and added it to my DVR immediately afterwards. I am a regular viewer of the network and I am truly happy to have authentic Mexican dishes made by a Mexican-American Chef from the West Coast. It was an obvious missing element on the network.
Please- please keep yourself smart (English AND Spanish correctly spoken) and your dishes authentic and accessible as you did on your first show. I can’t wait to see more shows, cookbooks, a spice line, cookware/dishware and everything else from your perspective!
What took the Food Network so long to have a Mexican Chef? anyway congratulations and I look forward to seeing the show again this weekend (even my husband took the time to see your show)
Waiting to receive your book. I am a busy person and need some short cuts to mexican dishes that will stay true to taste.
Southern California is very proud of you.
Congrats!!! Marcela .I’ve seen your recipes in a magazine and loved it, then I saw the trailer on FN the only channel I watch and can’t wait to see all of your shows,specialy the choco flan, I’m a little afraid to make it.I want to see you first. Good luck!! I know i will be in front of my tv on saturdays at 9:30 am Orlando fl.
Congrats on the show Marcela!
I am a foodnetwork fanatic and saw your trailer on Mexican Made Easy…I was super stoked and excited for (drum roll please…) Mexican food! I wouldn’t be home that day to watch it, but thanks to DVR, I had it recorded.
I thought the show was absoletely fantastic. The food looked great and I actually made the first dish, the chips with tomatillo and it was super divine! I used whole wheat tortillas for a “healthier” twist but it was amazing. I can’t wait to try everything else.
The kitchen, your outfits, your accessories totally rock. You look great on television! It is definitely an eye opener to watch you….meaning you keep our attention span and have us interested in what you are preparing.
One suggestion: When using oil, maybe say what kind of oil it is? It was too light to be Olive oil..I mean I could easily look it up but I figure it can help those who can memorize every ingredient in their mind when they are at the grocery store
Thank you so much and I can’t wait to watch the rest of your show!
I like your writing style thanks for the info -cheers-
Finally a MEXICAN cooking Mexican food. Don’t get me wrong, I like all the others; but a local bi-national girl, cooking all the traditional meals plus more! FAB-U-LOUS!!!!!!!
I’m honestly getting tired of Rachel, Giada, Paula et al, so it’s referesing to see some new faces on Food Network.
I’m honestly getting tired of Rachel, Giada, Paula et al, so it’s refreshing to see some new faces on Food Network.
HOLA MARCELA!
HOY VI TU PROGRAMA EN FOOD NETWORK POR PRIMERA VEZ Y ME GUSTO TANTO QUE ME METI A INTERNET PARA SABER MAS DE TI. FUE GRANDE MI SORPRESA AL ENTERARME QUE VIVES EN SAN DIEGO PUES YO VIVO AHI TAMBIEN Y TENGO UN HIJO DE LA MISMA EDAD DE FAUSTO MAS O MENOS, QUE POR CIERTO, POR LO QUE PUDE VER EN LAS FOTOS ESTA HERMOSO! HAY ALGUNA MANERA DE CONTACTARTE DIRECTAMENTE? ME INTERESARIA SABER MAS SOBRE CLASES QUE IMPARTES Y SERVICIOS DE BANQUETES.
GRACIAS Y MUCHA SUERTE!
Marcela,
I love your show and just bought your “Fresh Mexico” cookbook. I am Mexican born in the US and love your show and recipes even though my mama’s recipes are to die for. She makes a mean enchilada and flauta. Your show is fabulous because it shows people that Mexican food is not “taco bell” drowned in cheese and sour cream but healthy and fresh. When my husband and I vacation in Mexico, we actually lose weight because of the fresh fruits and dishes prepared by locals. Also, I love the history that you give on the recipes and frankly you and your show break sterotypes of Mexicans. We are educated, social and loving people who don’t ride donkeys to get around. Que Viva Mexico!!!!!!!!!
I love your show but I noticed that the last show is Feb 27th, 2010. Please tell me that it has not been canceled!
ME ENCANTA TU SHOW!!!!! Tengo cuatro hijas y estoy feliz de que haya un show de comida Mexicana en foodnetwork. A mis hijas les encanta verte y hacer las receta. Hoy vamos a hacer la de las rajas con elote. Muchas gracias por el show!!!!!!!!!
Maria Garcia
Marcela:
Que paso con el show Mexican Made easy….era my favorito y tus recetas son lo mejor.
Cuando vuelves?
Suerte
did you startyour own culinary art school? its for a project on you(:
Hi Marcela!
I just love your show and it has inspired me to do more yummy Mexican cooking. I am of Mexican descent! Anyways I saw about 3 of your shows when *boop* I no longer saw you on the food network listing and the weeks went on and I was like what happened?! So I am so excited to be reading the news that you will be back on. I am so happy for you and very eager to see your show again. I love it and the dishes are simply ravishing!
Hello Marcela:
I love your show. I have seen a few episodes and I love them. I made the chillaquiles and they were great. I don’t get to see much of the shows because I work nights but I will definitely be recording them from now on. Good luck and hope to see more and more eipisodes.
Marcela,
I’ve just got to say that I religiously watch your show. There are three latina cooking shows but your show is definately #1. I would like to see more shows that incorporate ground beef, chicken, and steak (carne asada) meats. I guess you can say I am tired of cooking carne con papas, enchiladas, and carne con chile. I look forward to many more years of your Mexican Made Easy show! Thanks for your down to earth food ideas and personality.