Muy Bueno

Whenever Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack’s grandma would call the family to the table for dinner, she’d always say the same thing: “Siéntate a comer, esta muy bueno.” The message was clear: Sit down and eat, it’s very good.

That’s just one of the many memories Yvette treasures from her family’s rich history. When she wasn’t sitting in the kitchen with her grandma, she was curled up on the couch with her head resting on her lap, listening to stories passed down through generations.

“I've always said that I'm addicted to my family history,” says Yvette. “I love knowing where in Mexico I'm from, where in Spain I'm from.”

Yvette has always been particularly drawn to her family’s culinary history. For years, she’s cooked the recipes that were passed down to her from her mother. After enjoying enough of these meals, Yvette’s daughter’s had a good question: Are we writing these recipes down? When Yvette said no, they came up with the idea to write a family cookbook.

Using the skills she developed as a graphic designer, Yvette began putting together a collection of family recipes. When she began cooking more of these recipes and posting the finished products to Facebook, a friend suggested she start a blog. So in 2010, Yvette honored her grandma’s classic phrase with the launch of her blog, Muy Bueno.

"My goal is just to keep these recipes going,” says Yvette. “What's really sweet is when people tell me, 'I was looking for capirotada, and I found your recipe. My mom passed away, nobody ever had these recipes written down, but when I made it, I felt like I was back in my grandma's kitchen.' Those sorts of comments mean so much."

Since gaining a steady income from AdSense and Mediavine, Yvette has been able to expand her team. She now has about ten independent contractors who help with writing, photography, videography, and social media.

In the process, the blog has brought Yvette to some special places. In 2012, she was honored to join other Latina women at a roundtable discussion with First Lady Michelle Obama. There they discussed issues that were relevant to the Hispanic community, as well as strategies for protecting the health and wellbeing of their children.

“It was a live recorded session, and I literally was sitting right next to Michelle Obama,” says Yvette. “She was the very first person that I gave my first cookbook to because it literally had just been published."

Another proud moment came when Yvette’s video about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) won an Emmy. Narrated by her son, the video sheds light on a day where Mexican families share photos of loved ones who’ve passed, tell stories about them, and cook some of their favorite foods.

Her latest cookbook, Muy Bueno: FIESTAS, has been another highlight along the journey. In it, she highlights some of the food she makes on special occasions, like tamales at Christmas or chile-braised pork ribs for Día de los Muertos.

“I wanted a cookbook that reflected how I entertain and how I cook and what I make for my family,” says Yvette. “So that was a huge goal for me.”

As Yvette looks ahead, she wants to expand her brand. Alongside her cookbooks and YouTube videos, she’d love to create serveware and cookware and launch a product line of salsas and sauces. No matter what the future holds, hearing from satisfied readers will never get old.

"Those are the comments that I love,” says Yvette. “When people tell me that my recipes helped bring them back to their childhood."