Today’s guest is Claudette Zepeda, award-winning chef, mom, self-described border kid, poet, and author of the new cookbook “Cooking the Borderlands: Spice and Smoke Between Mexico and the States.” Claudette’s book is a deeply personal celebration of the food, family, and culture that shaped her, from Tijuana and San Diego to Jalisco and beyond.

Claudette joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about the long road to writing her first cookbook, why she was determined to create something that would stand the test of time, and how her identity as a border kid informs everything she cooks. She shares stories about her family, her kids, the recipes they inspired, and the women who taught her resilience, creativity, and the power of the village.

They also dive into recipes from “Cooking the Borderlands,” including her White Widow salsa, arroz poblano, birria, and the Chinese-Mexican dishes that reflect the food culture of Tijuana and Mexicali. Plus, Claudette talks about her San Diego airport restaurant project with Tony Hawk, her salsa macha collab with Señor Lechuga, and the life-changing experience of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Click here for Claudette’s Frijoles Rancheros (Cowboy Beans) recipe from “Cooking the Borderlands.”

Thank you to Nonino & Whole Foods Market for supporting our show. 

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More on Claudette: Instagram, Señor Lechuga Salsa Macha, “Cooking the Borderlands” cookbook