Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Rodriguez.
Emily, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in Miami, a city whose culture revolves around the combination of food and family, my youth was slightly different. We didn’t have elaborate 4-hour dinners on Friday night, with all of our extended family anxiously awaiting the unboxing of the cajachina, while bowls of fragrant rice, plantains, fried tostones, and an unending line of sides flanked the folding tables set up for dinner. My family cooked, ate, and that was it.
I met my now husband seven years ago; he had grown up with the idea that dinner was a celebration and an event, rather than just a chance to refuel and recharge. I remember thinking that it would be nice to cook for him; Chris had attended culinary school, although now he worked in commerce, and I wanted to give him a taste (no pun intended) of his youth. So, apprehensively but determinedly, I set forth to cook a nice dinner for my boyfriend. I had no idea it would change my life.
Having all the ingredients, from the fresh herbs to the course cracked pepper, from the crisp bok choy to the fragrant lemon rind, sitting in front of me, awaiting transformation created a shift in my universe. I wasn’t cooking, I was creating something, something totally unique and using touch, taste, sight, smell, and even sound to coax flavors and textures into creation. I fell in love with cooking that day; it transformed me as I transformed my culinary delights. The process and techniques were oddly soothing; using a sharp knife to create the perfect chiffonade of basil that fluttered like Christmas tinsel onto the plate was exhilarating. I loved the strength I showed when deboning chicken, and the surgeon-like precision I used when filleting fresh fish. As I was discovering new recipes, new cuisines, new flavor profiles, I was also discovering a part of myself that I didn’t know was there.
Today, I travel to new farmer’s markets, hole in the wall Asian supermarkets, and even stop to pick local mangoes from different areas of Miami. Most recently, on my honeymoon, I explored Morocco and had to be dragged away from the spice markets before I filled my suitcases with curry, gran masala, turmeric, cumin, to name a few. Creating dishes is what makes me feel alive, fulfilled and gives me a sense of home.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Once I discovered my love of cooking, and the joy it brought me to craft dishes that my loved ones would find pleasure in, I realized that this was something that I could share with others. More importantly, I wanted to share this with other people. Most people come home from work after a long day and think “ugh, now, I have to cook dinner.” I would come home and cooking dinner would be what I looked forward to the most, not a glass of wine at sunset or a favorite TV show. I wanted to share this with other people; cooking isn’t a chore that you have to do after a long day at the office but rather a reward, a relaxing, fulfilling experience that is a reward to look forward to at the end of your day. But how could I share my vision? I was lucky to have help from my sister who helped create my online blog and website. My friends and family were so encouraging, so enthusiastic to help me reach out to online strangers. My husband became the prototype for every discerning husband out there-Chris’s Corner of the blog gives his authentic reactions to the idea of the dish and then the meal itself, and his opinion if other husbands would like it. Ultimately, although my background isn’t culinary, web design, or even English Lit for blogging, I found my tribe to be the perfect combination of ingredients that help my dreams sing.
See Emily Cook – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Everyone’s got a gimmick. The Barefoot Contessa is living her best life (and my personal dream) surrounded by the impeccable Hamptons, cooking out of a million dollar kitchen with even more expensive ‘really good olive oil and vanilla extract.’ Bobby Flay is killing the BBQ game, Giada’s got her Italian specialty on lock, and Rachael Ray mastered the ’30 minute meals’ decades ago. Even Guy Fieri is killing it WHILE rocking his sunglasses behind his neck, scouring the country for the best diners, drive-ins, and drives. Everyone and I mean everyone, has a niche. That’s where I’m different. I DON’T have a niche; I’m not married to a specific cuisine, time limit, diet fad, cooking technique, or anything else you could imagine. I’m the opposite: I’ll try them ALL. A week of 20-minute dinners? I got you. Exotic spices and various levels of heat? I’ve tried it. Sou-vide? Flambe? Grill? Bake? Pan Fry? Deep Fry? I’m up for the challenge. My niche is not having a niche, and giving every chef, every aspiring cook, every novice, professional, or just struggling mom or dad trying to get their kids not to eat chicken nuggets for the 6th day in a row, a chance to try something different, and bring something new to the table (both literally and figuratively).
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is simple. It’s being happy, content and fulfilled by what you do, and more importantly, what you put out into the world. Waking up every morning and looking forward to cooking dinner gives me a sense of purpose, of excitement, and a goal to work towards during the day. The fact that I’m able to spend time researching and learning new techniques and recipes, discovering the minute details that define and heighten flavor profiles, and then sharing these discoveries with my followers brings me such pride and happiness. Even if I only touch 1 person, and change the way they look at cooking dinner, then as trite as it sounds, I’ll feel successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: Seeemilycook.com
- Email: emdanielle@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Seeemilycook
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
