I’m Carmen! Welcome to The Black Contessa!
I’m a self-taught home cook based in Dallas, TX. I started this blog in 2018 as a creative outlet, and it has grown so into much more.
Here, I share my life on a plate. Whether its a recipe from my childhood such as collard greens or a global tabbouleh salad, I cook dishes that are approachable and impressive. I’m a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. We were surrounded by a bounty of local, organic produce and an array of ethnic foods from Filipino and Mexican, to Ethiopian. This developed my palate for fresh, elegant dishes with umami and spicy flavors.
In graduate school I moved to the East Coast, and discovered a whole new world of restaurants. From James Beard Award winning Zahav in Philadelphia to delicious Italian food in New York, I loved trying new foods and learned to embrace the unexpected.
My philosophy is that food is how you share your soul with those you care about. Here I share my California soul and reflect the eclectic flavors I have come to love.
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoy all the flavas that I bring!
- Carmen