PATI JINICH
COOKBOOK AUTHOR AND HOST OF PBS LA FONTERA AND PATI'S MEXICAN TABLE
September 2023
Meet Pati, celebrated culinary artist enchanting palates worldwide with her vibrant Mexican flavors. Her culinary journey is a symphony of taste, rooted in tradition yet inspired by innovation. Whether showcased through her captivating cookbooks or her engaging television series (with her 12th season out now!) this James Beard Award winning and Emmy-nominated culinary luminary is a true tastemaker, redefining the art of Mexican cooking. Let’s catch up with Pati, shall we?
Follow Pati @patijinich
Learn more about Pati on her website.
Who are you?
I’m Pati Jinich. I’m a Mexican living in the United States. I’m a chef, cookbook author and co-host of 2 media projects I'm obsessed with - Pati’s Mexican Table, which is an ongoing show going on its 12th season, and La Frontera, a more journalistic docu-series focusing on borderlands between US and Mexico.
What’s on your mind?
Right now? The next recipes I need to test! That’s what I'm working on now. Testing and editing new recipes for next season of Pati’s Mexican Table, and other projects.
Where are you right now?
I’m in my office at home, doing research. I split my time for work, 50% hibernating in my office doing research, testing recipes, writing stories and recipes, and 50% on the road, filming for my shows, doing events, meeting people, and also doing research. I have almost like a double life - at home I’m quiet and doing work, and when I’m out I’m very social and meeting lots of people.
Who are your heroes?
So many people! Joan Nathan and Patricia Quintiana come to mind. They are two women who devoted most of their professional life to researching and sharing information they found about food and stories about food, and enriching the world with knowledge. They both show an insatiable curiosity to learn more, a love for travel, meeting people, and putting what they learn on paper.
Why do you do what you do?
Because I love it so much! It’s very humbling to learn new things and realize how much there is to learn and explore and experience. It’s fulfilling for me personally, and I also love sharing my work and seeing it enriches the lives of others in a meaningful and delicious way.
What’s your favorite thing to bake?
Eggs! I love eggs in every possible way - soft boiled, hard boiled, scrambled, omelets, huevos rancheros, egg salad, frittata, egg enchiladas. I eat eggs every day!
What’s your favorite thing to eat?
Aside from eggs, tacos and pasta. Any overloaded taco and any over-sauced pasta.
Wise Words
Just gratitude for every second.