Daisy Maria Martinez was born to mainland Puerto Rican parents in Brooklyn, NY, where she lived at her grandmother?s house until she was almost five years old. Her extended family includes relatives from Central America, Spain and other parts of the Spanish-speaking world. Before committing herself to the art of cooking, Martinez took pleasure in other arts, including acting and modeling. She began acting in American commercials that included Ford cars and Newport cigarettes. Her Spanish-language commercials included McDonald?s and AT&T. Martinez has also appeared in numerous movies including ?Carlito?s Way? and ?Scent of a Woman.? While attending Long Island University, she met and married her husband. In 1998 Martinez matriculated at the French Culinary Institute, where she won first prize for her final project. Shortly after graduation she began working with A La Carte Communications as a prep-kitchen chef on the Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen television series, and during the same period she worked for three years as a private chef in New York City. In addition, Martinez manages a small catering business. From her friends and family, she has learned to love and cook delicious food from across the broad spectrum of Latin cuisine. Martinez is working on a book that will be available in the fall of 2005.

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