Marisel Salazar '07
Young Alumni Achievement Award
Marisel Salazar is a Latina food writer, restaurant critic, cook, and recipe developer based in New York City. Her work has been featured in esteemed publications such as the Michelin Guide, Zagat, Food & Wine, the Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Forbes, and Bon Appetit. She is the creator of the Michelin Guide's popular column, Eating Off Duty, which explores what celebrated chefs enjoy outside their kitchens. With a wide range of expertise in the food industry-from original recipe development and in-depth reporting to on-camera work -Marisel approaches her craft with a comprehensive understanding of the culinary world. She believes that to be a great writer, journalist, and host, one must deeply know their subjects, which is why she immerses herself in the culinary arts.
Born in Panama City, Panama, Marisel's early years were marked by a diverse cultural upbringing. She lived in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Okinawa, Japan, before settling in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. This global experience shaped her palate and culinary perspective, blending Latin American, Japanese, Hawaiian, and other cultures' flavors and traditions. Her mother, a single parent, played a significant role in her culinary education, introducing her to the recipes and cuisines of Julia Childs, Jacques Pepin, and Martha Stewart despite the challenges of their transient lifestyle.
Marisel's journey into food writing began with a transformative experience in Madrid in 2010. A single bite of an anchovy-stuffed olive at the Mercado de San Miguel sparked her passion for food journalism, leading her to question the origins, processes, and histories behind the dishes she encountered. After completing her B.S. in Media Communications with a focus on Nutrition at Cornell University, Marisel pursued various roles in the food industry, from working as a chef's assistant to running her own granola business in New York City. A corporate layoff in 2014 propelled her to commit to her culinary career fully, leading to her eventual success as a food writer and on-camera host.
In August 2024, Marisel released her first cookbook, Latin-ish: More Than 100 Recipes Celebrating American Latino Cuisines, which showcases her passion for blending cultural influences in the kitchen. Latin-ish was selected as one of the Best Cookbooks by Amazon editors and received glowing reviews from the Washington Post, Forbes, Publisher's Weekly, the Literary Journal, BookRiot, Epicurious, and more.
Marisel has appeared on television on the TODAY Show, Pix11, NY1, KSAT12, and many more national channels.
She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Newswomen's Press Club of New York, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.