About Daisy

Hello and welcome to Boriqua Blog. As you may or may not know, I am technically challenged, so this is going to be quite an adventure for me as well as anyone! The site (and by extension, this Blog) will be a work in progress, and we hope that we can take it in a direction that you will determine with your input.

For people who know me from Daisy Cooks!, you know that my approach is pretty much to invite you into my kitchen…I’m widening the parameters now, and invite you into my life. I will take you on vacations with my family, holiday celebrations, traditions in my home, street festivals, birthday parties…in short, all things Daisy…and by all means, if there is something on your calender that I should be aware of (concerts, events, international festivals) please let me know here on Boriqua Blog. Thanks and welcome to my world!

Hola y bienvenidos a Boriqua Blog. La verdad es que no soy experta en computadoras, así que esto va a ser una aventura tanto para mi, como para todos ustedes.! Mi página de internet, y por supuesto mi blog, son un trabajo en progreso, y esperamos que sus opiniones y comentarios nos ayuden a mejorar.

Las personas que me conocen a través de Daisy Cooks!, saben que mi mayor felicidad es recibirlos en mi cocina, pero he decidido extender los parámetros y hacerlos partícipe también en mi vida.. Me acompañaran, junto a mi familia, durante vacaciones, días de fiesta, a festivales, a cumpleaños, o sea, serán parte de todo lo relacionado conmigo.

Al mismo tiempo, si se enteran de un evento, fiesta, festival, o concierto del cual debo saber, por favor tengan la confianza de compartirlo conmigo.

Gracias y bienvenidos a mi mundo!

About Daisy Martinez

 

A Brooklyn, New York native born to mainland Puerto Rican parents, Daisy Maria Martinez lived at her grandmother’s house until she was almost five years old.   Between her grandmother, Valentina, and her mother, Conchita, Daisy learned that the kitchen is the happiest room in the household, filled with love, family, and delicious food. With an extended family of relatives from Central America, Spain, and other parts of the Spanish-speaking world, Daisy grew up appreciating the diversity of Latin cuisine.

While attending Long Island University, she met her husband, Dr. Jerry Lombardo.   After marrying, Daisy dedicated herself to raising her family, for whom she often hosted festive and gatherings featuring delicious food – a tradition that she happily continues to this day.

As a surprise birthday gift, Daisy’s husband sent her to cooking school – a dream that Daisy had always wanted to pursue.  In 1998 she matriculated at the French Culinary Institute, where she won first prize for her final project, The Passionate Palate.   Shortly after graduation, Daisy worked as a prep-kitchen chef on the set of PBS’ Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen, a private chef in New York City, and as the owner of a small catering business, also called The Passionate Palate .

In 2005 Daisy launched her new career with Daisy Cooks! on PBS, and her cookbook, Daisy Cooks! Latin Flavors that Will Rock Your World, which was an IACP nominee, and American Category Finalist, as well as winner of the Best Latino Cuisine Cookbook in the World by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

As Daisy’s star ascended she met the iconic Rachael Ray at an event.  This chance meeting lead to Ray’s production company, Watch Entertainment, producing Viva Daisy!, which debuted on the Food Network in January 2009.  Daisy’s newest show continues her focus on celebrating life and family through food, while demonstrating her knowledge of the broad spectrum of Latin cuisine.  In addition to her new TV show, Daisy is also a regular columnist for Every Day with Rachael Ray and Selecciones magazines.

Intensely proud of her Puerto Rican heritage, Daisy is very active in the Latino community and with many philanthropic endeavors.   To date, just a few of her honors and activities include: Latinas Unidas in Rochester, NY, and The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families; and mistress of ceremonies for The American Cancer Society Gala/Brooklyn Chapter; in addition to working with the New York Fire Department Museum Cook-Off, March of Dimes/ Chicago Chapter, Easter Seals Miami/Dade County Chapter; appearing at numerous career days at schools all over New York City, and most recently was named by the Brooklyn Kings County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as the 2009 Latina Chef of the Year.

With great excitement, Daisy begins this 2010 by taking part in the Food Network’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBE) in Miami. In addition, toured the main cities of the United States and Puerto Rico to promote her new cookbook Daisy: Morning, Noon, and Night, which was in English and Spanish last March.

To close this year Daisy is coming up with another fantastic new book Daisy’s Holiday Cooking,  that will release in November. The book is Daisy’s most recent addition to her successful and promising career as author and chef.

A dedicated mother of four fantastic children, Daisy and her family reside in Brooklyn, NY.