About
The story behind The Meals That Made Us
My name is Alyssa and I am the writer and recipe developer behind this little project. I am so excited to share my passion for food and food-fueled nostalgia with you. I am more than a little obsessed with food and recipes — I love the way they bind individuals, generations, and diverse cultures together. People who tell you that food is “just fuel” are sad, mistaken individuals who are missing out on a huge part of what it means to be human.
Growing up in rural central California I was taught early on to value the skill of cooking. My large extended family is full of gardeners and cooks; our get-togethers were always potluck style so everyone could show off their skills and serve the family. Comfort food was the priority and pies were comically plentiful. When I grew up and moved to Utah for college I found myself craving those family recipes and close relationships often, especially when hard times came. Making and sharing my family’s recipes with my new growing family helped scratch that itch, while developing my own recipes became a much needed creative outlet for me.
While I do believe that the nutritional quality of food is important, food is more than “just” fuel for our bodies. It can (and should!) be fuel for our souls as well. Here you will find a healthy mix of family recipes and memories; recipes from cultures that are close to my heart, as well as new recipes that my family loves. You will also find beautiful pictures taken by my husband Navarre, because all of the food pics I take look like they were taken by somebody’s sugar-high toddler. Hopefully our work here will help inspire you to make and remake some really good food memories with your loved ones.
“Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy… It’s about identity.”
The People Behind the Project
Alyssa Valdivieso
Chef, Writer, The Talent
Hi! I’m Alyssa, the food and family obsessed mama behind The Meals That Made Us. I like to cook. A lot. When I’m not cooking you can find me wearing mismatched pajamas in the school drop-off lane, drinking too much Diet Dr. Pepper, browsing the aisles at Trader Joe’s, and reading mystery novels. I love making new friends and look forward to connecting with you all!
Navarre Valdivieso
Photographer, Editor, Talent Manager
My husband Navarre has loved photography for many years, but I don’t think he paid much attention to food photography before marrying me! I’m so thankful to have him as my partner on this little endeavor. He’s organized and driven and makes my food look really special. His support means the world to me.
Don’t be a stranger
We’d love to hear your comments, memories, connections, and requests.