Hi, I’m Elena, a chef, culinary instructor, and recipe developer.
I grew up in Mexico City, learning to cook from my grandmother and my mom. Food is how I connect with people, the earth, and myself. I love making delicious meals and sharing them with others.
I studied culinary arts and specialized in breadmaking in Mexico and Spain, but most of my experience comes from working in restaurants, bakeries, and running my own business: Masa Madre, a virtual Mexican-Jewish artisanal bakery that delivered fresh bread in Chicago and across the U.S.
Through Masa Madre, I began teaching baking classes and discovered my passion for sharing recipes, techniques, and the joy of preparing food. My goal is to help people reconnect with cooking, making it feel simple, intuitive, and delicious.
Let’s make delicious food together!
Cooking Classes
I teach approachable, hands-on classes that are fun, informative, and entertaining. Book a private or group in person class with me through Cozymeal—available in Phoenix, AZ only.
Not in Phoenix? I also offer virtual classes you can join from anywhere. Just reach out!
Private chef
Homemade meals from scratch—perfect for the days you don’t feel like cooking or when you’re celebrating something special.
Book me as your private chef for a dinner, celebration, or get-together.
Check out my menus below!
Got a special request? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out!
Recipe development
I can help develop menus for events or restaurants using ingredients and flavors that work well together. I keep in mind kitchen production, seasonality, culture, and taste to create balanced, thoughtful menus that your guests will love.
Menu development
I create easy, delicious, and approachable recipes using fresh, local ingredients and produce beautiful, ready-to-share cooking videos. Whether you want me to develop the recipe and film everything or just handle filming and editing, I’m happy to work with you to find the best fit.