Chef Ana Martinez

Licenciatura en Diseño Industrial, 1975
Universidad Iberoamericana A.C.
México D.F.

Diploma de Chef, 1993
Universidad Iberoamericana A.C.
México D.F.

Ana Martinez has been surrounded by food and design all of her life. Her father, Arq. Manuel Martinez Paez, was a prominent member of the national Colegio de los Arquitectos Mexicanos, and her family includes architects and  designers in México City, Cuernavaca, Toronto and Milan. At the same time, she grew up in a kitchen filled with the rich flavors, aromas and companionship among women that characterize the traditional Mexican home. She often accompanied her mother to the many shops and markets of their Coyoacán neighborhood, and to the specialty shops and vast markets in the historic city center. There she came into contact with the great range of chiles and spices from other parts of México and from the world. As an adult she has explored most or the regions of México and always enjoys discovering the culinary secrets that are buried just below the surface of her beloved and magical country.  Her travels in México include Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatán, Veracruz, Puebla, Jalapa, Tabasco, the Huasteca, Michoacán, Cuernavaca, Taxco, Acapulco, Guadalajara, San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Chihuahua, Nayarit, Monterrey, and many pueblos in between. She has explored culinary treasures in Italy, Spain and France, and in the United States she has enjoyed the cuisines of New York, San Francisco and New Orleans.

Sra. Martinez studied industrial design and graphic design at México City's elite Universidad Iberoamericana and began her professional career with the prestigious ZIMAT Design Center in México City, where she became Director of Photography.  However, after working on many projects for food companies, Ana returned to the university to study gastronomy and became a certified chef.

Since arriving in San Antonio she has been called on repeatedly for her expertise in both the traditional and contemporary cuisines of México, and has developed recipes for two of the city's most respected restaurants. She is a Certified Food Manager authorized to direct commercial kitchens in Texas. In Egan / Martinez design she provides food styling services and collaborates with her husband, architect Christopher Egan, in the design of restaurants and commercial kitchens.

Among other activities, current and recent projects include:

La Merienda catering

Opened in 2003

Ana's experience and skill as a Chef has inevitably led to requests to cater events. She began working with an associate in 2002 and in 2003 she opened La Merienda Catering to handle private dinners, art openings, and other events.
 

French-Mexican Fusion

March 24 & 25, 2004

Restaurant L'Etoile
Alamo Heights, Texas

This is the second in a series of special gourmet dinners that explore the possibilities of blending the fine cuisines of France and Mexico. L'Etoile, led by Chef Thierry Burkle of Paris, has long been one of San Antonio's best French restaurants, with a reputation for "Progressive French Cuisine."

Consulting Chef and Chef de Cuisine for new restaurant, "Acenar"

Opened March 2004

Hotel Valencia
San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio, Texas

Based on her work with contemporary Mexican cuisine and with the fusion of contemporary French and Mexican cuisines, Chef Ana Martinez developed the recipes for a major new restaurant. The owners, Chef Bruce Auden and restaurateur Lisa Wong, are both prominent leaders in the local restaurant industry. After opening, she served as Chef de Cuisine for  the first six months of operation.

Festival of Salsa Mole

May 3 to 7, 2004
 

Instituto de México
San Antonio, Texas

This event follows on the success of the Festival of the Chile Relleno (see below). Many participants of the first festival  asked for a similar event that would explore the many variations of the famous and complex salsas called "moles" that bring a sophistication to many dishes of Mexico. There will be a choice of morning or evening classes, followed by tasting lunch/dinner in nearby Aldaco's Restaurant. On the final day the participants will present their own recipes for judging.

First Annual Festival of Chiles Rellenos
 

October, 2003

Instituto de México
San Antonio, Texas

The Instituto de Mexico is the home for cultural activities of Mexico's Secretariate of Foreign Relations, and it includes a theatre, art galleries and spaces for special events. This event, conceived and organized by Ana Martinez, was the first  in an annual series that will present different foods from different regions of Mexico. The event included five days of cooking classes, in which Ana presented five different variations on this national dish, followed by tasting dinners in a nearby restaurant on the San Antonio Riverwalk. On the final day the participants presented their own recipes for judging.

 

"Mexique" the French-Mexican Connection

Restaurant L'Etoile
Alamo Heights, Texas

This was a special gourmet dinner that combined the fine cuisines of France and Mexico in one of San Antonio's best French restaurants August 28, 2003. Guests included several of the leading chefs in the city. 

New World Wine and Food Festival, 2003

Charles Court
San Antonio, Texas

This is a large annual event in which food and wines from all of the Americas are presented in a week-long series of dinners, seminars and wine tastings. In 2000 Ana was one of the guest chefs, and this year she was asked to present her work in developing contemporary French-Mexican dishes with Parisian chef Thierry Burkle.

2003 New World Wine & Food Festival
San Antonio, Texas
Guest Chef

Restaurant L'Etoile
San Antonio, Texas
Consulting Chef

Restaurant Acenar, on the San Antonio River Walk
San Antonio, Texas
Consulting Chef, Chef de Cuisine

2000 San Antonio Food & Wine Festival
San Antonio, Texas
Guest Chef

Hotel Presidente Intercontinental
Colonia Polanco, México City
Assistant to the Chef

Restaurante El Lago
Parque Chapultepec, México City
First Cook

Adjunct Professor of International Cuisine
University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
Spring 2004 and beyond

Adjunct Professor of Gastronomy and Food Styling
Universidad Iberoamericana, México City
1994-present

Profesor Emerito Universitario (University Professor Emeritus)
Universidad Iberoamericana, México City
October 2001

Les Dames d’Escoffier San Antonio Chapter
Member since 2001, Second Vice President, 2004

Mayor's representative, City of San Antonio Cultural Arts Board
2004-2006

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Copyright (c) 2003 Egan/Martinez Design ___________________________________________________________________________________________