“People ask me all the time, 'What do you do for Cinco de Mayo?' And my honest answer is always, 'When I was growing up in Mexico, nothing. Really, nothing. It was a school day. It was totally normal.' But when I grew up and started going to San Diego and started drinking margaritas, that's when Cinco de Mayo celebrations started for me.”

American chef and author

Marcela Luz Valladolid is an American chef and author. She became known as the host of the Food Network television series Mexican Made Easy and as a judge on Best Baker in America. Her work has centered on food and cooking on television, especially Mexican cuisine. Through her books and broadcast appearances, she has built a profile around approachable cooking and the flavors of Mexican home-style dishes.