Lourdes Castro Speaker & Booking Information

Professor and cookbook author Lourdes Castro is as passionate about teaching as she is about cooking, and feels as comfortable in the classroom as she does in the kitchen. She was her own first student, teaching herself how to cook while in college where her initial experiments in the kitchen led to her profound understanding of food and flavor; at the same time her university studies in nutrition and food science inspired her healthful approach. Lourdes’ self-taught background helps her relate to her students, contributing to her dynamic and accessible teaching and writing style. Lourdes entered the culinary world as a college student at New York University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food. She then attended Columbia University, earning a Master’s degree in Nutritional Science. Concurrent with her Master’s degree, Lourdes was licensed as a Registered Dietitian. Shortly after graduation, Lourdes served as an associate at the James Beard Foundation. But it was Lourdes’ love of teaching that inspired her to return to her alma mater, NYU, where she is an Adjunct Professor in the department of Nutrition and Food Studies, teaching thirteen courses per year. A natural at explaining culinary concepts, Lourdes founded the Ars Magirica Cooking School in Miami, Florida in 2001. She created an acclaimed private catering service for high-profile clients seeking nutritious and flavorful meals. In 2006, she sold the cooking school to pursue other opportunities. In 2008, Lourdes was approached by the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida to launch its first on-premise recreational cooking school, the Biltmore Culinary Academy. Serving as director until 2013, Lourdes oversaw classes, workshops, and team building events for adults and children, and influenced and inspired hundreds of home cooks through her classes. BUILDING BRANDS TO THEIR BOILING POINT Inspired to teach an even broader audience, Lourdes has written three cookbooks Simply Mexican (Ten Speed Press, 2009), Eat, Drink, Think in Spanish (Ten Speed Press, 2009), and Latin Grilling (Ten Speed Press, 2011). Her straightforward and user-friendly style contributed to Food & Wine magazine’s selection of Lourdes for a full length feature and Simply Mexican as one of the 25 best cookbooks of 2009. Lourdes has appeared as a recurring judge on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. She has also appeared as a food and nutrition expert on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’ Early Show, and The Talk (CBS), Better TV, and TLC’s Movie and a Makeover, as well as on the Spanish language Al Despertar (Telemundo), Un Nuevo Día (Univision), Acceso Total (Telemundo), CNN en Español, and NY1 Noticias, among others. Lourdes has served as an ambassador for brands such as Novo Nordisk, Chobani, Unilever, Electrolux, and the California Grape Commission as a way to highlight the brand’s commitment to multicultural, food, and/or nutrition initiatives. As brand ambassador Lourdes has developed recipes, performed cooking demonstrations, participated in in-studio media appearances, and conducted media interviews, all in both English and/or Spanish. Lourdes is an active member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and was selected by the organization to contribute a recipe to their cookbook, Cooking with Les Dames d’Escoffier (Sasquatch Books, 2009). She happily commits time to Manhattan Star Academy, a school that supports and empowers children with special needs. She currently lives in New York City.