Amanda Cargill

Latina Magazine
In November 2013, Time magazine published a special issue titled the “Gods of Food.” Three male chefs graced its cover. Inside the issue was a list of 13 “Gods.” None were women. Controversy ensued, and female representation in the restaurant industry became — and remained for several years — a hot topic. (The #MeToo movement would further stoke its flames.) With this in mind, I tapped Aaron Sanchez for the chef profile in Latina magazine’s annual food issue. While seemingly counterintuitive — i.e. Why not highlight a female chef? — it was a strategic decision. Not only was Sanchez immensely popular with Latina’s readers, he was also the son of Zarela Martinez, a chef well-known as one of just a few female restaurateurs in late 80’s New York. Relevant, too, is the fact that while Latino society is patriarchal, Latino families are decidedly matriarchal. (According to Hallmark, Mother’s Day is the largest card-sending holiday for the Hispanic community.) Using this qualitative and quantitative data as my guide, and knowing Sanchez would have a unique perspective on the issue — I'd interviewed him often over the years — I was confident he was the right choice. The story, when published on Latina.com, exceeded the traffic benchmark for content in the food vertical.