Carmen Mattos
Garden-to-Table • Cultural Bridge • Community Mentor
Welcome to My Kitchen
From the highlands of Guatemala to the vibrant streets of Jamaica, Queens, I've carried my grandmother's recipes and stories with me. Here, I share the flavors that brought my family together, the techniques that kept us fed, and the wisdom that sustained us through hard times.
New: Masa Hydration Calculator
Translate your grandmother's sensory language into precise metrics. Input your corn weight, kitchen humidity, and desired texture—receive exact water volume, lime concentration, and timing. Grounded in nixtamalization science (Q3052219).
Launch the Calculator →From My Garden to Your Table
Every morning, I walk through Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, gathering inspiration for what will grow in my backyard garden. Tomatoes, herbs, peppers — everything that reminds me of home.
Current Work
The Measurement Project
I am translating my grandmother's sensory language into precise metrics. "Until it smells right" becomes 180°C. "A handful" becomes 25g. This is not abandoning tradition—it is honoring it enough to preserve it.
View the conversion tables →Simple Pepián for Two
Stretches chicken bones and yesterday's tortillas. Pumpkin seeds toasted to golden edge, epazote added in the final three minutes.
Community Corner
Every Saturday, I host a cooking class for seniors in our community center. We measure, we taste, we argue about whether the oil has truly risen yet. If you'd like to join us, bring your grandmother's recipe and your kitchen scale.