The International Association of Culinary Professionals chose Gran Cocina Latina as the best general book on 9 April 2013.
She also "holds a doctorate in medieval Spanish history from New York University and has received formal training in cultural anthropology.
She is a member of the advisory board of the Latin American food studies program of the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio.
In 2012, she was appointed the chairman of the newly created Felipe Rojas-Lombardi Memorial Scholarship Fund of the James Beard Foundation, and is a board member of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association.
She is also a Grand Jury member and one of the founders of the newly created International Chocolate Awards based in London.