Hola, and welcome to
Muy Bueno!

I’m Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, the founder and owner of Muy Bueno. I started Muy Bueno in 2010 as an online journal to document my family’s recipes and preserve my Mexican culture and celebrate my heritage.

My goal is to be a resource for those eager to explore Mexican cuisine and culture through homestyle Mexican recipes and comfort foods. Welcome to my virtual cocina where I share vibrant flavors of Mexico and heartwarming family stories. Bienvenidos.

About Yvette

I’m an on-camera host, a home chef, an Emmy-winning producer and writer, award-winning food blogger, and author of Muy Bueno co-written with my mother Vangie and sister Veronica, published in 2012, Latin Twist co-written with Vianney from Sweet Life, published in 2015, and my latest cookbook Muy Bueno Fiestas.

I’m a second-generation Mexican-American, born and raised in El Paso, Texas. I currently live in the beautiful state of Colorado with my husband and two children. I keep my heart in two places, because I’m completely in love with our home in Colorado and also a proud Tejana!

Mexican food and culture have always been a big part of my life. As a young girl, I remember learning to cook with my mom, Vangie, and my grandma, Jesusita. But it wasn’t until my grandmother passed away in 2004, at the age of 98, that I realized just how passionate I really was about keeping my culture alive in my own family.

It was then that I realized, if I didn’t cook, our family recipes would disappear. Instead, I decided to celebrate traditional Mexican foods and holidays with my children so they could appreciate the rich and unique heritage of Mexico.

Now, my children help me in the kitchen when I cook, and they love hearing stories of my childhood. One day as we were eating dinner, my daughter, Maya asked me if I plan to have all our recipes written down for her so that she can make them after she leaves for college. She was just 8 years old at the time, but it really made me think about how we could preserve these recipes for my children’s future. I turned to my mother and said, “Mom, let’s write a cookbook!” and that’s how it all started.

AS SEEN IN

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Blog Story

Here on Muy Bueno, I share a collection of traditional Mexican recipes served with a heaping spoonful of heartwarming family stories. For me, food has become a way to share my cultural heritage and childhood memories with my family.

These are my precious family’s recipes that have been passed down through generations. I also share modern Latin-fusion recipes that I have developed. Thanks to my grandma, who I know is watching over me, I feel that maybe, just maybe, she whispers a few words of encouragement into my ears to help me find my way around the kitchen and turn out a recipe worthy of her praise.

When people ask why I named the blog and cookbook Muy Bueno, my response is that my grandma would always invite family and friends to her table with the same words: “Siéntate a comer, esta muy bueno” (Sit down and eat, it’s very good). She lingered on the “muuuuy bueno” with a smile, raised eyebrows, and a twinkle in her eyes as if to let her guests know they were in for a treat. Those two words—and the memory of grandma and her legendary meals—never fail to bring a smile to my face.

I hope you’ll enjoy discovering my grandma’s secrets to great Mexican food and following my own journey as an evolving home chef who shares delicious recipes each week.

I created the Muy Bueno blog as an online journal to document the journey of writing a cookbook. Over time, it evolved into a place where I could celebrate my culture, my grandma, and my mother, by preserving the generations of traditions en la cocina.

What makes me an expert on authentic Mexican food?

Authentic Mexican food varies from person to person. As a proud Latina, Tejana, Mexicana, Chicana, Mexican-American, Mexican — I share recipes that hold authenticity in my family’s traditions.

Your grandma’s homemade flour tortillas, capirotada and enchiladas might be different from mine, and that’s what makes each family’s culinary journey unique. Keep in mind that Mexico is an expansive country with significant regional variations in how the same dish is prepared, influenced by the specific region someone is from.

The recipes I share are inspired by my late grandmother’s old-world recipes from northern Mexico, my mother’s home cooking during my childhood in El Paso, and my own travel adventures in Mexico, I’ve shared over 1,000 recipes across my food blog and three books.

As the founder of Muy Bueno, I bring a wealth of expertise to the table on all things tamales, tacos, empanadas, enchiladas, and margaritas. Consider me your go-to person for some seriously delicious and foolproof recipes in these categories. Let’s dive into the tasty world of Muy Bueno together!

Start Here

Along with all the recipes, I also use the blog to share bits and pieces of my life outside la cocina – from travel adventures to home improvements.

earthenware barre bowl of caldo de pollo soup on a matching plate with a homemade corn tortilla.

Recipes

Explore by holiday, course, type, or ingredient. Popular recipes include Mexican Pork Tamales Rojos, Birria de Res, and Red Chicken Pozole. In search of a particular recipe? Just type it into the “search” field to locate it.

Travel

From my hometown of El Paso, to the ultimate Western Caribbean cruise, to all the food in Mexico City! I love to travel and excited to visit new places. Check out my travel adventures here.

Tips

I love sharing kitchen tips that make my everyday life a bit easier. Looking for information about a specific ingredient used in Mexican cooking or special techniques? You’ll find kitchen tips here!

shot of redesigned kitchen from the dining table to reveal the large stainless fridge.

Mi Casa

From redecorating to gardening and simple crafts, all the way to a full-blown kitchen remodel. Take a peek at my home here.

Events

From book signings to cooking demonstrations, you can find a calendar of my in-person and virtual events here.

Videos

You will also find a video section, where you can preview all of my videos from the Muy Bueno YouTube channel.

Culinary Journey

Since launching the site in 2010, numerous opportunities have arisen, opening the door to many beautiful experiences.

Interviews

Online Publications

My Passion

Did you know millions of children in the U.S. struggle with hunger? As a mother, I’m especially concerned with making sure all children have access to healthy food and know where their food comes from. Did you know that 13 million kids in the U.S. struggle with hunger? In 2012, I was honored to participate in a live round-table discussion with First Lady Michelle Obama, to discuss some of the issues impacting Hispanic families across the nation, including the health and future of our children. You can see that video here.

I have also been an active supporter of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. You can find how to help on NoKidHungry.org. See some of my past campaigns like Friendsgiving and #BakeItForward.

Follow Muy Bueno 

Mi casa es su casa ~ Welcome to my online home. I hope you take pleasure in making my recipes as much as I delight in sharing them. As my grandma used to say, “Panza llena, corazón contento” (Full stomach, happy heart).

If you love Mexican food recipes, I’d love to stay connected and serve you more Mexican comfort foods as well as healthy Latin inspired dishes.

If you love my recipes and want to stay connected with me, you can subscribe to my newsletter to receive new recipes in your inbox.


Check out my books:

Stack of cookbooks, Muy Bueno

Fiestas Mexican Recipes for Celebrating

Stack of cookbooks, Muy Bueno

Muy Bueno Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor

Stack of Cookbooks, Latin Twist

Latin Twist Traditional & Modern Cocktails

Contact Muy Bueno

Got a favorite recipe you’d like to see? Or wanna tell me about a recipe you’ve tried? Visit my contact page.

Give me a shout and tell me! 

I love hearing from you!

Your comments, likes, and shares are the greatest compliments! Your engagement matters so much more than you may know.

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  • And if there’s something you’d like to see here, contact me.