Ambassador of Mexican Gastronomy in Norway · 2026
Our story
Marysol Sand — authentic Mexican food
For more than 15 years, Marysol Sand has worked closely with Mexican gastronomy abroad, sharing her culture, flavors and culinary traditions across countries such as the Netherlands, England and Norway. Born in Mexico and now based in Norway, her journey has been shaped by migration, resilience and a deep commitment to keeping Mexican cuisine alive beyond borders.
Through food she has built bridges between cultures, created spaces for community and supported Mexican identity far from home. After years of dedication and a solid culinary career, Marysol was selected to represent her home country as an ambassador of Mexican products in major grocery chains in Norway, such as Coop Extra.
Her work focuses on authenticity without complication: honoring traditional Mexican flavors while adapting them thoughtfully to everyday life abroad. Food, for Marysol, is not just nourishment — it is memory, identity and connection.
A kitchen full of memories
The heart of Marysol's cooking lives in her childhood — and begins with her grandmother. She grew up surrounded by strong women in the kitchen, where everything was made from scratch and the kitchen was the true center of family life. Her grandmother played a fundamental role in shaping her relationship with food, not only through recipes, but through presence, patience and the act of cooking together.
"Food was never just food," Marysol says. "It was where we met, where we talked, and where we were a family."
As a child, she spent hours playing la comidita with siblings and friends — a traditional Mexican game where imagination turns anything into an ingredient. That playful spirit never left her. It still reminds her that cooking is not only technique, but emotion, storytelling and community.
"When you share your kitchen with another culture, it becomes even more important to do it right," she explains. "You're not just cooking a meal — you're telling a story."
The La Mexicana concept
La Mexicana is a carefully developed concept focused on authentic Mexican cuisine. Its purpose is to educate and inspire the Norwegian audience to experience real Mexican food — similar to what you would find in Mexico itself: on urban streets, in local markets, through tacos made with corn tortillas and ingredients prepared with respect for tradition and technique.
Marysol aims to bring an experience as close to authentic Mexican food as possible to Norway, adapting to the local context without losing the essence, flavor or cultural identity of Mexican cuisine.
Her main goal is not only to cook, but to educate — to teach people what authentic Mexican food truly is, its processes, its ingredients and its cultural value. Her mission is to challenge simplified perceptions and present Mexican cuisine as what it truly represents: honest, rich, diverse and deeply rooted in identity and community.
From culture to everyday cooking
This same philosophy lies behind the dishes she developed for Middagsdisken at Coop Extra for Mexican Weeks: food that offers more than the familiar "Norwegian taco," while still fitting naturally into everyday home cooking.
Her recipes are designed to inspire confidence in the kitchen — inviting people to explore Mexican cuisine without fear, without shortcuts that compromise flavor and without unnecessary complexity. Mexican food, she believes, should feel approachable, warm and shared.
Marysol's best tips for success at home
- Lower your shoulders. Take your time, read the recipe before you start, and taste as you go.
- Don't overcomplicate it. Avoid replacing key ingredients or skipping small but important steps.
- Let fewer flavors shine. One or two main flavors are often enough.
- Have fun. Mexican food is about togetherness, not perfection.
Pantry essentials she always recommends
- Canned tomatoes
- Black beans
- Garlic and garlic powder
- Cumin
- Paprika powder
- Pepper
- Basmati rice