When people ask me what kind of food I make, I often say plant-based Latinx/e-inspired cuisine. While that's true, it doesn't tell the whole story.
The heart of Good Mexican Girl is what I call Cocina Viva.
For me, Cocina Viva is more than a style of cooking. It is a way of relating to food, to culture, and to one another. It is the belief that every meal carries a story, every ingredient has a history, and every table has the power to bring people into deeper relationship.
Growing up, the kitchen was never just a place to prepare food. It was where stories were shared, traditions were passed down, and love was expressed without needing many words. My mom is the chef in our family and my abuelita was the pastry master. Watching them taught me that recipes are more than measurements. They are memories preserved through flavor, texture, and care.
Over the years, my understanding of Mexican food has continued to evolve. Books like Decolonize Your Diet, Todo Verde, Comida Casera, Casa Marcela, and Frida's Fiestas reminded me that our culinary traditions are living traditions. They invite us to honor the abundance of corn, beans, squash, chiles, herbs, fruits, and seasonal vegetables while remembering the recipes are kept alive through our memories.
That is the spirit of Cocina Viva. It is about preparing meals with intention, honoring the land that nourishes us, and celebrating the cultural wisdom that has always lived in our kitchens.
As a Reiki practitioner, I naturally bring that same intention into my cooking. Every bake and every confection is prepared with care and infused with Reiki as a quiet expression of gratitude and presence. It is an extension of the love and mindfulness that generations before us brought to preparing meals for their families and communities.
Food has always been one of humanity's oldest forms of showing love.
When we invite someone to our table, we are saying, "You belong here."
That simple act of sharing a meal can nourish us in ways that extend far beyond the food itself.
As Good Mexican Girl continues to grow, so does my vision for Cocina Viva. I imagine pop-up dinners where strangers become friends over a shared meal. Cooking workshops that teach not only recipes but also the stories behind them. Seasonal gatherings that celebrate the rhythms of the earth, even monthly subscription boxes where you get my sweet treats at home. Tables where culture, creativity, and community are equally welcome.
Because that is what Cocina Viva means to me.
A living kitchen.
A living tradition.
A living relationship with food.
Thank you for pulling up a chair. I hope you'll gather with me around the table soon.