Authentic Meals With Real, Natural Cheese
Latin Dishes
Meet Our Culinary Artists
Real moments, real conversations, and real, natural cheese. Our Culinary artists believe those are the key ingredients to making mealtime memorable. They craft flavorful Colombian and Mexican dishes while combining their heritage and traditions. They use real ingredients they can trust, and invite you to experience authentic dishes that are at the heart of Latin cuisine.
Chef Mauricio Cruz
Mauricio has a passion for culinary innovation, traditional cooking techniques, and crafting Mexican food founded on childhood memories of cooking with his family. Mauricio is a true expert in the kitchen.
A certified executive chef with an extensive background crafting Mexican food, Mauricio brings over 18 years of culinary expertise to the table. Having studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu, advanced culinary techniques and molecular gastronomy, his skillset is second to none.
Mauricio showcases his impressive talents, attention to detail, and mastery in each Sargento® cheese recipe he creates.
Mariana Velasquez, Food Stylist
An award-winning food stylist and one of Sargento’s very own recipe creators, Colombian-born Mariana knows how to make any dish look just as good as it tastes.
Her artistic abilities have been showcased for more than a decade as she’s styled for New York’s most celebrated culinary circles as well as publications across the globe. But it's her Latin American roots and years spent in the kitchen with her mother and grandmothers that make her food even more spectacular.
A true tastemaker who loves to explore the pairings of food, fashion and art as she creates Colombian recipes for Sargento. Mariana invites you to indulge in every meal with all your senses.
Illyanna Maisonet
Illyanna Maisonet, a recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award, stands out as a self-taught culinary expert, known for her mastery of Puerto Rican cuisine. Rooted in generations of familial wisdom, many of her skills have been lovingly inherited from her mother and grandmother, exemplifying the way in which food intertwines with our sense of family and heritage. Her latest culinary triumphs include the release of "Diasporican: A Puerto Rican Cookbook" and the introduction of her own line of spices in collaboration with Burlap and Barrel. These remarkable achievements serve as a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for the culinary arts.
Get Inspired
Pairing the love of family traditions and delicious food, our creators’ authentic recipes build a real meal that’s inviting, comforting, and simply delicious.
Let's celebrate the cultures and contributions of Hispanic/Latino heritage with these EASY, cheesy picadillo empanadas.
Watch NowIn my culture, on Día de Los Muertos, we recognize the relationship between life and death with physical items and food...
Watch NowThanksgiving is here and I want to share my family's favorite thing to eat when we all come together...
Watch NowMake Grilled Carne Asada Quesadillas this summer with Sargento® Sliced Pepper Jack Natural Cheese for an extra spicy kick.
Watch NowSummer grilling meets cheesy comfort food!
Watch nowOur Cheese
