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Food People, Parent Picks: we ask our favorite chefs, food writers, and industry insiders who we interview in our Order Up! Series to share the products, books, and bites they can’t live without.
Small Bites:
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We’re still celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and this week we’ve been so lucky to do it with Denise Favela. On Tuesday, we shared her Order Up! interview — a conversation about family, memory, and the food traditions she’s working hard to preserve, from digitizing vintage Mexican cookbooks to traveling with her daughter to learn from cocineras tradicionales. If you missed it, it’s well worth a read.
Today, Denise is back with her Parent Picks — the little staples and tools she leans on in her own kitchen. Think: the tortilla press she can’t live without, the pantry staple her daughter loves in everything, and the local brand that’s inspired her to cook with more beans. Simple, thoughtful, and full of heart — just like Denise herself.
Is there a modern Mexican cookbook you turn to for inspiration?
When I first got married, I cooked a lot from Mexico: The Cookbook by Margarita Carrillo [Bookshop, Amazon]. I tried about a dozen dishes from it, all from different regions, and I loved how versatile and approachable it was.
What’s one ingredient you always keep stocked in your kitchen?
Pasilla chiles. I always have them on hand.
What’s a pantry staple you recommend every parent keep around for quick, flavorful meals?
Canned garbanzos.
Do you have a favorite tortilla press?
Yes! I’ve collected about six different presses over the years, but my favorite by far is the heavy steel one from Victoria. It’s sturdy, efficient, and presses tortillas beautifully every time.
What’s a go-to snack or dish your daughter always asks for?
Hummus! She loves it. I think it’s because garbanzos are already a big part of our kitchen—we use them in soups and stews, just like my mom always did. So when we introduced hummus, it was an instant hit.
What’s a kitchen tool you think every home cook should have?
A good comal. I use mine for everything—tortillas, dry roasting, you name it. It’s essential.
Is there a dish from your own childhood that you love sharing with your daughter?
My mom’s pollo con garbanzo. It’s a simple, brothy guiso with chicken and garbanzos. It brings back so many memories, and now I get to make it for her.
Are there any artisan food brands you love supporting right now?
Rancho Gordo beans. Their varieties are amazing—you don’t even have to pre-soak them! Their products have pushed me to experiment more with beans in my cooking, swapping them in for meats and trying new varieties I’d never been exposed to before. Check out their cookbook [Bookshop, Amazon]
