Catriona Brown was born in Sydney, Australia to an artistically inclined, bohemian family. Although she spent her time organising the neighbour's children into theatre productions and street olympics, she wanted to be study medicine. Theatre won in the end, enticing her to leave home to study Drama at University in Adelaide and then to a life in theatre and television. In Sydney, she moved into the production of film and television and major live events. Sprinkled throughout her entertainment career were many opportunities to travel the world. 43 countries and 143 cities later, Cat is still going strong. She counts among her highest pleasures - the sampling of food fare from street stalls in Vietnam to five star restaurants in New York. All with equal enthusiasm.
In 2002, Cat discovered a little bit of heaven -- Puerto Morelos, in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. And, she made it her home. She launched a successful dive shop and built 4 houses. Bringing The Little Mexican Cooking School to life is her latest major project and is an exciting way for her to help bring Puerto Morelos to the world stage. Catriona owns and manages The Little Mexican Cooking School and Casa Caribe Bed and Breakfast. She also is the administrator for the town charity, El Mundo para Puerto Morelos and in her spare time plays polo with her horses Mandarina and Popeye. " I call myself a food diplomat" she says "changing thousands of people's perception of Mexican food and its wonderful people" . Catriona Brown is also a finalist as Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2012 for the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
Chef Pablo Lopez Espinosa de los Monteros joins the school after spending 7 years in Canada operating his own restaurant in Squamish British Columbia. Café Maya, specialized in healthy versions of authentic Mayan fare. Café Maya was awarded the CRITICS CHOICE AWARD in Squamish B.C. Canada in 2008.
Mexico beckoned. And Pablo brought his wife and daughter Maya back to Mexico in 2010 to reconnect with his roots, helming a restaurant in Nayarit. When the call came to lend his talents to the cooking school in Puerto Morelos, Pablo responded! Teaching the way of Mexican food and culture is really his passion. We are very pleased to have him as our main chef and be part of this exciting adventure. Pablo has delighted Puerto Morelos with his delicious appetizers for the 2012 series of Wine Tastings and has helped create a new town tradition, Sunday Brunch.
Patti Murphy began her culinary career baking bread and waiting on tables to pay for Theatre School. Several years later, in her next career path as TV Producer, she was able to fuse her passion for food with her job. The recent hit Food Network Canada show:Chuck's Day Off and the outrageous 52 episodes of an 'Iron Chef for kids' series for CBC called Surprise It's Edible Incredible are prime examples. In between shows, Patti consumes travel adventures by living and working with the locals in some remote part of the world, to learn their local cuisine. Patti was co-founder of The Little Mexican School and for the first 2 years worked tirelessly from Montreal to create many aspects of the school including the ever popular school cookbook - Authentic Mexican Regional Recipes.
Claudia García Ramos was the chef from our first season and brought a wealth of personal experience. Claudia now gives cooking classes in her home a good alternative when we are fully booked, which happens often, now.
Alexandre Rioux, a professional Sommelier-Caviste, currently helming the tasting rooms at the five-star Maroma Resort & Spa just south of the school, has made it his mission to investigate the wines and spirits of Mexico. Alex delivers special Wine and Tequila tasting seminars for us on selected occasions throughout the year. Normally a 3 hour session, that includes a sampling of 3 Mexican wines and 3 Tequilas, the intimate class also includes some delicious 'tapas.' It makes an ideal event for small groups like pre-wedding grooms or bridal parties.