Familia Kitchen Is on a Mission to Build the Largest Online Treasury of Authentic Latino Homecooking—One Family Recipe at a Time

Q: Tell us about Familia Kitchen: What is it? When was it born? 

A: Familia Kitchen was launched on October 6, 2020 so it’s just about our 1 Year Anniversary! Many of our viewers are first-generation Americans who are passionate about their Latinx heritage; keeping it alive, meaningful, and passing it along to their kids and families. As you know so well, food and familia are the heart and soul of Latino culture. Making and eating family-favorite dishes together how we stay connected to our Latinx traditions alive in this digital age. Last October, Familia Kitchen set out to become the most authentic, trusted and complete place to preserve traditional family recipes for generations to come when we are far from our Spanish-speaking homelands—as so many of us are.

Q: What is the mission behind Familia Kitchen?

A: Familia Kitchen is on a mission to seek out, curate and celebrate the largest collection of traditional Latinx culinary heritage at its most authentic and delicious. Many abuelas don't write down our recipes so we're building a treasury to keep these recetas alive along, with their family-food stories. Our tagline Cooking Our Way Home Together really does sum it up.

Q: What is it that makes Familia Kitchen unique and different from any other recipe site/platform?

A: Familia Kitchen’s audience loves authentic recipes with a lived-Latinx backstory, and we are so happy that our audience is eating up these stories. Data shows that our Familia Kitchen audience is equally distributed across Gen Z, Millennials, moms, and abuelas! We are finding that food truly connects and crosses generation; abuelas and grandchildren are bonding while cooking Familia Kitchen recipes together.

Q: What does it mean to be a Latina creator(s)?

A: We feel so lucky to be able to connect and support Latinas and Latinxers of all ages. This is our time to support each other, give back to the abuelas and moms who raised us to do great things and extend a hand to the next generation. We heard a phrase we love the other day: Be a “go-giver.”

Q: Who are your Latina inspirations?

A:”El Libro” Cocina Criolla by the Puerto Rican homecook Carmen Aboy Valldejuli—now in it’s 68th printing. We also really admire the food and stories from L.A.'s Bricia Lopez about the culture and history of Mexican food at her family restaurant Guelaguetza. Most of all, we are inspired by the abuela cocineras like Kim’s Chicago Puerto Rican-born neighbor Doña Felipa, Cuban Doña Ana and Mexican-experta-cook Anjie Villalobos, who make food for their families and friends day after day, connecting us with their love and comida; keeping our traditional recipes alive.

Q: What do you want other Latina creators to know?

A: When you find that thing, that BIG IDEA, that electrifies you and makes you feel alive with passion and purpose, don’t let it go. If it has a community connection, that much the better. No matter how tired you may feel on an off-day, keep at it, build and connect. It will give you life, hope and a reason for walking this earth leaving it a little better. 

Oh, and find a great partner who believes in it as fiercely as you do. We are both so lucky to have been introduced to each other by mutual friends. We recognized our connection and we dug in deep together, working side by side  to launch Familia Kitchen. We compliment each other, push each other, and together we are fuego, we like to think! Our two heads are better than one and we work together to make things really happen for our community and audience.

Q: What can we look forward to from Familia Kitchen for the rest of 2021 and going into 2022?

A:  We are planning on lots of holiday recipes and meal inspiration from many countries for this upcoming season. Plus, Day of the Dead!

And as far as our big news: Familia Kitchen is in the process of publishing our first cookbook to launch just in time for Mother’s Day 2022! We hope it is the gift all mothers give their daughters, mothers, and abuelas. 

 Q: How can people support/follow you?

 A:  Please visit us at  https://familiakitchen.com/ and  sign up for our biweekly newsletter. We also invite you to share your favorite family recipe and/or enter our monthly contest for a chance to visit your homeland. We want to shine a spotlight on family-famous recipes on all the Spanish-speaking places we come from! And of course on Instagram: Familia Kitchen