School
The University of Texas at Austin
Expertise
Dining & drinking, Cooking & recipe development, Mexican food
- Claudia is a published food, drink, and travel writer for Forbes, CNN, OpenTable, Munchies, Austin Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, and many more.
- She taught cooking and cocktail courses in person and online for a variety of audiences.
- Claudia developed a curriculum and recipes and co-presented two Mexican food history workshops at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Experience
Born in Mexico City, Claudia began writing professionally in 2001 after a decade working in the service industry in Austin, Texas, contributing restaurant reviews to the Austin Chronicle using her professional experience and lifelong love for cooking. She contributes to many prestigious publications, including a food travel guide to her hometown for Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" and a featured interview with traditional Yucatan cooks for the BBC's "Outlook" podcast. She has served on judging panels for various cooking and spirits competitions in Texas and travels to discover and write about culinary traditions worldwide.
Education
Claudia has a bachelor's degree in anthropology with a minor in Latin American studies from The University of Texas at Austin. Focusing her honors thesis on the history and cultural importance of tamales in Mexico, she decided that writing about food was the way forward as a professional career.
Tasting Table’s editorial coverage hails from a veteran group of writers and editors with expertise in their respective fields in the food and drink, hospitality, and agriculture industries. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information and original recipes.
We strive to publish knowledgeable, engaging articles to give readers the information they're looking for, whether that is the news of the day; cooking tips, tricks, and trends; or reviews and recommendations. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our team is constantly reviewing and updating articles as necessary. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
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Casual Dining
By Claudia Alarcón
To say that Houston is a culinary heaven is perhaps selling it short, and barely a month after opening, this eclectic food truck has become a viral sensation.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Food Facts
By Claudia Alarcón
It's always a great idea to donate nonperishable food, as long as you keep in mind these two important rules for which grocery items to give.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Baking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Used coffee grounds typically end up in the trash but there's a great, and delicious, way to reuse them that also makes your desserts look restaurant-worthy.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Italian cuisine is big on beans, but this comforting dish takes that sentiment further by substituting a can of them for the pasta completely
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
You can turn that can of chickpeas into a nourishing casserole using other ingredients you may already have on hand.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Tomato toast is an underrated breakfast choice, with endless opportunities to customize. This cheese is the perfect pairing, whether store-bought or homemade.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Restaurants
By Claudia Alarcón
There's nothing worse than dining out and having a lousy experience. Follow this tip to develop a rapport with the server, leading to a great meal.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Rotisserie cooking is not only fun, but can make your roast beef joint taste extra delicious. Here's what you need to know about how to spit-roast your beef.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Roasted carrots are a fantastic side dish that can be lightly tweaked to fit almost any meal. This very simple addition brings a depth of flavor.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cleaning Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
The prospect of cleaning hard-to-reach places under appliances is daunting. Fortunately, this flexible tool can be a real stress saver.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Casual Dining
By Claudia Alarcón
Just because a restaurant has a Michelin star doesn't mean it has to cost a fortune. We've rounded up four just such starry BBQ places that you should head to.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
If you're making a batch of tasty tamales at home this holiday season, there's one crucial tip that will ensure the wrapping process isn't too frustrating.
By Claudia Alarcón
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How-Tos
By Claudia Alarcón
Slicing a tomato seems like it wouldn't involve a lot of thought, but improving the quality of your cuts requires technique. This is what you need to do.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Kitchen
By Claudia Alarcón
If your kitchen feels more like a closet with an oven, you'll want to find efficient ways to use empty space. This IKEA product can help store various items.
By Claudia Alarcón
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When it comes to seasoning, salt is arguably the most essential. However, with so many different types of salt, it's important to keep track of the shelf life.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Gardening
By Claudia Alarcón
We always love a creative upcycling idea to help us limit waste. It is remarkably easy to grow your own delicious microgreens in your kitchen.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Design & Decor
By Claudia Alarcón
there is a simple solution that makes sense economically and environmentally. It will make your life easier, and perhaps spark a new crafty hobby.
By Claudia Alarcón
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We asked a bartending expert: When making a classic or specialty margarita at home, do you really need to add a dash of sweet triple sec to the glass?
By Claudia Alarcón
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Over the years, bartenders have stretched the possibility of what a martini can be, so we asked an expert about adding this fruit-forward spirit.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Finding the best storage solutions in the kitchen doesn't have to be difficult when you can simply increase the surface area you have to work with.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Coffee and Tea
By Claudia Alarcón
There seems to be confusion among consumers when it comes to identifying the correct hibiscus plant that is used to make the infusion.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Simply swapping some of the meat in your shepherd's pie recipe will yield a tastier dish all around.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Food History
By Claudia Alarcón
Kolaches are a Czech pastry that's typically enjoyed as a sweet way to start the day, but here's how they became a beloved, classic Texan dish.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Cooking Tips
By Claudia Alarcón
Without a little innovation, tomato salad can become one-note. But by adding a splash of one pantry staple, you can revive the dish and lift its umami flavor.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Gardening
By Claudia Alarcón
Baking soda has many uses beyond cakes. The clever non-toxic chemical powder can even be used with care in the garden, but you need to know a few things first.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Food Facts
By Claudia Alarcón
Ice cream, sorbet, and sherbet are sweet treats you might find at an ice cream shop, but each differs and offers distinct flavor and texture combinations.
By Claudia Alarcón
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Design & Decor
By Claudia Alarcón
Turns out the little rack you bought to store your cinnamon and cayenne can be a versatile tool to keep your whole kitchen looking neat and tidy.
By Claudia Alarcón
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