Wouldn’t we all be so lucky to be invited to a party at Ingrid Hoffmann’s house? The chef and host of Cooking Channel’s Simply Delicioso always does Miami chic right, with the perfect mix of guests, style and, of course, food. On the menu? Caribbean Salmon with Mango Veggie Salsa & Guava BBQ Sauce (read on for the recipes!) paired with Gigante Kiwi Mojitos (we knew we liked her).
“It’s the perfect Miami night,” Ingrid tells us about her summertime soirees. She’s usually rocking her “uniform” — a leggings/print top combo that conceals any spills that end up on her outfit instead of her guests’ plates. I caught up with the Latina chef to chat Marni, Missoni and making life as delicious as possible.
Julie Bensman: How does living in Miami impact the way you cook — and dress?
Ingrid Hoffman: Dressing is more casual in Miami than in most cities: very colorful, lots of prints and sexy with a fun beach hippy-chic twist. My cooking definitely has a lot of tropical inspiration: bold, bursting with flavor and colorful from fruits like mango, tamarind, guava and coconut. And spiked with rum!
JB: How would you describe your sense of style?
IH: I’m very petite and curvy so once something looks and fits well, I buy it in various colors. It’s not easy dressing for my size. For work, I always do jeans and trademark printed Etro shirts. For fun, Prada, Missoni and Marni. I am addicted to The Row pants and for evening, dresses by Herve Leger work well for me. I also collect Hermes bags in funky colors.
JB: What’s the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?
IH: Sleep, hydrate and keep your face away from the sun!
JB: What items do you never leave home without?
IH: My cell phone, Chapstick, anti-bacterial wipes and an eyelash curler.
JB: What are you looking forward to before summer ends?
IH: August, September and October are all jam-packed with work travel! I’m still touring the book [Latin D’Lite: Delicious Latin Recipes with a Healthy Twist] and now am headed to the Caribbean and South America. I’m also launching my Simplemente Delicioso housewares line with Univision on HSN in August. I guess I am looking forward to some rest at the end of the year…hopefully!
(Read on for Ingrid’s Caribbean Salmon with Mango Veggie Salsa & Guava BBQ Sauce and Gigante Kiwi Mojitos…)
