About me
Dr. Maricel E. Presilla is a James Beard award-winning author, culinary historian, and
cultural anthropologist specializing in Latin American cuisine, cacao, and chocolate.
With a Ph.D. in history from New York University, she bridges academic rigor with
culinary creativity, designing educational programs and sensory experiences that
explore the rich cultural and scientific dimensions of cacao and chocolate.
As co-founder and Americas Director of the International Chocolate Awards and the
International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting, Dr. Presilla has gained a unique
perspective on the global craft chocolate industry, judging thousands of entries annually
and working closely with cacao farmers, small chocolate makers, and industry
professionals worldwide.
She is also the founder of Gran Cacao Americas (www.grancacao-americas.com), a
platform dedicated to promoting fine cacao and chocolate from Latin America through
education, sensory analysis, and research in ethnobotany and gastrobotany.
Dr. Presilla is the author of several award-winning books, including "Gran Cocina
Latina"; (James Beard Cookbook of the Year), "The New Taste of Chocolate" (revised
and expanded edition, 2009), and "Peppers of the Americas" (IACP Reference and
Technical Award).
She is a board member of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, a member of the
Smithsonian Museum of American History's Kitchen Cabinet, the Culinary Institute of
America's African Cuisines Advisory Council, and contributor to the New York Botanical
Garden's African American Garden project, among other initiatives.
