Hello! I am so glad that you are here! Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
Here is Daniela mom and cooking enthusiast behind The Mama Gourmet.
I was born and raised in Brazil. I spent most of my childhood and adolescence in Sao Paulo which is much like New York City in the sense of being a huge melting pot of cultures. When I was 14 years old we moved back to the south of Brazil where my family is originally from. My great grand parents came to Brazil from Italy and even though that was 2 generations before my time the Italian culture, food and lifestyle are still very ingrained in our family. I feel very fortunate that I had the chance to grow up in such a vibrant environment and that I was exposed to so many different cultures and culinary experiences. My mom, a great cook herself, is also my biggest teacher and inspiration for many recipes on this blog.
Here I intend to share all of my favorite Brazilian recipes, as well as, all the other recipes that I developed and learned along the way.
Besides from blogging and cooking, I have a full time job in supply chain in the food service industry. I love that my job allows me to be in touch with food and teaches me all it takes to bring food from farm to table. I am also a proud wife and mama of 2 (Elena and Leo) and I have an amazing bonus teenager son called Adrian. As you can tell we have a pretty busy and exciting household (oh did I mention the 10 year old boxer rescue? Yes, we have that too).
I hope you enjoy your stay and that you keep in touch by messaging me, commenting on the recipes or staying connected with Instagram (@themamagourmet).
Why did you start blogging?
Two reasons: 1. I wanted a way to record and share my recipes with friends and family. I am the type of cook that can make dinner with whatever I can find in the fridge. The issue is that I would never measure anything or take notes, so I could never replicate my own recipes or make them again. Having a blog requires me to take notes while cooking something special, that way I can make the same delicious recipe again and again. 2. Many families have that good old handwritten cookbook (Hello Mom!). For me this blog is just that: leaving my notes and recipes for people to enjoy for years to come, only that this one is in digital format.
How would you describe your cooking style?
I am a VERY practical person. My style is easy, simple, good food that you can feed a family. I like to develop and try recipes that are simple and easy to put together but made from scratch and with wholesome ingredients. I cook a balanced menu and mostly healthy but with some indulgencies here and there (make the kids happy and live a little!).
How did you end up in the US?
I have a degree in Food Science in Brazil and had always dreamed about coming to the US for graduate school. In 2008 a wonderful professor at Kansas State University took pity on me and accepted me for a Masters in Science in Grain Science and Industry. That was such an amazing program and experience, it was also the time and place where I met who is now my husband. After finishing graduate school I lived in Miami, Kansas City and now Phoenix, always working in the food industry, from R&D to quality assurance and now supply chain and procurement.
Current mood: trying to feed a toddler can be challenging, I am always looking for ideas to incorporate more fruit, veggies and protein into the kids meals.
Current quote: “If cauliflower can somehow become pizza, you my friend, can do anything!” The Internet
