Hi, I’m Maxine Ciampa, the Mexican American recipe creator, food photographer, and home cook behind Cilantro Parsley. I’m currently based in Melbourne, Florida, where I create approachable Mexican, Latin, and Italian-inspired recipes for home cooks.
I grew up in a family of six, which meant meals were rarely small. I spent a lot of time helping my mom in the kitchen, learning about the ingredients, spices, and flavors used in Mexican cooking. Those are the foods I grew up eating, and they’ll always be my comfort food.
Living in Mexico, Spain, Texas, and New York City also shaped the way I cook. After eight years in New York, my husband, Tom, and I moved to Melbourne, Florida, in 2023. Each place I’ve called home has introduced me to new ingredients, traditions, and ways of bringing people together through food.
I started photographing and filming my meals during the pandemic, and Cilantro Parsley was born. Today, I share Mexican and Latin recipes inspired by my heritage, along with plenty of Italian dishes, grilling favorites, easy dinners, and creative fusion recipes.
Every recipe on Cilantro Parsley is developed and tested in my own kitchen. I do the cooking, and Tom happily helps with the taste-testing. My goal is to give you flavorful, approachable recipes you can confidently recreate at home.
My recipes and cooking have been featured on Good Morning America and Brit + Co.
Ready to start cooking? Explore my 10 favorite Mexican recipes for some of the dishes I love most.
How Would You Describe Your Cooking Style?
My cooking style is rooted in Mexican and Latin flavors, but I like to say I have a little bit of an Italian soul.
I’m not Italian by heritage, but I married into the last name Ciampa—and Italian food has always been one of my favorite cuisines to cook and eat. The name Cilantro Parsley represents both sides of my kitchen: cilantro for the Mexican and Latin dishes that feel like home, and parsley for my love of Italian cooking.
You’ll also find recipes inspired by other cuisines, often with my own personal twist. I love making food that feels special without being overly complicated.
What Do You Love Most About Cooking?
I’m far from a picky eater and will try almost anything. I love experimenting with unexpected combinations, discovering new flavors, and learning about other cultures through their food.
Fusion recipes are especially fun because they allow me to bring different parts of my cooking style together. My Spaghetti Verde is a perfect example: a creamy, cheesy pasta made with poblano peppers, cilantro, and lime juice. It combines the Mexican flavors I grew up loving with my passion for Italian food.
What’s on Your Cooking Playlist?
It depends on what I’m making! If I’m cooking a Latin-inspired meal and I’m in a good mood, you’ll probably hear Bad Bunny playing in the kitchen. If Italian food is on the menu, a little Frank Sinatra always feels right. My playlist is about as diverse as my recipe collection.
What Is Your Favorite Meal to Make?
I love grilling because it’s quick, simple, full of flavor, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Some of my favorites include grilled lamb lollipops, mojo-marinated skirt steak, and crispy chicken wings.
What Was Your Favorite Childhood Meal?
My favorite childhood meal is, hands down, Sopa Seca de Fideo. Made with fideos, tomato, corn, cilantro, and cheese, it’s nostalgic, comforting, and still one of my favorite Mexican dishes.