About La Chivaloca

Hola, I’m Maria-Elena — born and raised in Mexico, now living in Australia with my family, where I spend most days cooking, teaching and talking about food far more than is probably normal.

La Chivaloca began because I missed home.

When I first moved to Australia, I missed the everyday flavours I grew up with: fresh tortillas, smoky salsas, beans slowly cooking on the stove and the kind of meals that bring everyone into the kitchen, the heart of the home.

So I started recreating them myself.

What began as cooking for family and friends slowly turned into something much bigger — cooking classes, small gatherings around the table, salsa making, recipe sharing and conversations with people curious about what Mexican food is really like beyond tacos and burritos.

Because the truth is, everyday Mexican food is incredibly diverse, regional, comforting and deeply connected to family and tradition.

At La Chivaloca, my goal is simple:
to share the food I grew up with in a way that feels approachable, warm and real.

Here you’ll find recipes, stories, cooking classes and little bits of Mexican culture from my kitchen to yours. Some recipes come from family memories, some are dishes I’ve spent years perfecting, and others are the kinds of simple meals ordinary Mexican families make every single week.

Food has always been my way of connecting with people. Some of my happiest memories involve crowded kitchens, loud conversations, music playing in the background and someone insisting you eat another tortilla even when you’re already full.

That spirit is at the heart of La Chivaloca.

So whether you’re here to learn how to make proper tortillas, understand Mexican ingredients a little better or simply enjoy a good food story with a cup of tea, I’m very glad you found your way here.

Bienvenidos,
Maria-Elena

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