The pink kitchen, interview with Martha Ortiz Chapa

Among all the Mexican chefs, there is one in particular who proclaims herself as the leader of the women's movement in the kitchen. Chef Martha Ortiz Chapa from the restaurant Dulce Patria promotes the culture of Mexican women as an unmovable pillar of national gastronomy.   What is the relationship between women and gastronomy? It is total; Mexican gastronomy is feminine. There has always been a matter of passion in food. I am sure that even the nuns who prepared dinner in the convents had to express their passions somehow, and they did so through food.   What is your favorite dish among all that you prepare? I love them all; the pink mole with chicken is delicious and spicy, but probably, due to its name, I have a weakness for ¡Ya Basta!… Concepción. It is a concha with pink glaze accompanied by cream and a walnut and vanilla atole that I prepare every October as support for the fight against breast cancer.   You place great importance on the aesthetics of your dishes. Why? I think that when you eat beauty, you nourish the soul. It's almost like feeding on art, and by physically accepting something that is beautiful to the eyes, it should nourish much more than the body. The spirit also needs to eat.   Give us a tip for eating healthier. You should eat seasonally and locally. If you feed on ingredients that grow in this land, then they will have more nutrients, and if you manage to get them at their best time of the year, both the flavor and their nutritional contribution will be at its maximum expression.   What message do you have for women who want to be healthy and take control of their kitchen? To be part of this beautiful tradition that Mexico has. Through food, we nourish our families and show our affection. As if that weren't enough, we not only nourish the body and stay strong but also the imagination and the soul.   Dulce Patria Anatole France 100 Polanco, 3300 3999   Discover kiwilimón and find delicious recipes to cook from your home here.