Bio
Hi, I’m Maira an award-winning chef, cookbook author, and culinary innovator with over 25 years of experience in the food service and hospitality industry. I was honored to be named one of Fast Casual Magazine’s Movers & Shakers in 2018, and I’ve spent my career blending creativity with strategy to develop craveable, scalable food experiences for global brands.
My journey has taken me from the kitchen to the corporate boardroom. For over a decade, I was the chef for a number of television shows across major networks including Telemundo International, Univisión Puerto Rico, Fox Utilísima (Argentina), and WIPR (Puerto Rico’s PBS affiliate). I also served as the Puerto Rico hostess for the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods. I founded CMI Culinary Group, LLC, where I’ve offered consulting, product development, brand ambassadorship, food and prop styling among other services. I was also, Partner and Executive Chef at Guava Restaurant in paradisiac Culebra, Puerto Rico, crafting globally inspired dishes with local ingredients.
I’ve held senior roles including Corporate Executive Chef and VP of Research & Development for brands like Schlotzsky’s, Subway, Wild Wing Café, Backyard Burgers, and TravelCenters of America—leading culinary innovation, national menu rollouts, and operational strategy. These roles have allowed me to shape food strategy at the enterprise level, streamline operations, and develop products that resonate with guests and drive growth.
Currently, I serve as Associate Principal Research Chef at PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay, contributing to long-term innovation and product development across a portfolio of beloved snack brands. PepsiCo’s food division alone generates over $24 billion in annual sales, making it one of the largest players in the global snack and meals category.
I’m the author of the best-selling cookbook Gourmet Para Todos Los Días and the children’s book How Angels Become Babies, inspired by my personal journey with adoption. I also founded Let’s Cook PR, a cooking school where I taught everyone from beginners to culinary pros.
Born in Puerto Rico to a culturally rich family with roots in Cuba, Venezuela, and Spain, I’m fluent in English and Spanish, and I’m always learning new languages. I have a deep addiction to culinary travel and love discovering cultures through their food—whether it’s cooking in a tucked-away kitchen in Morocco or tasting street food in Colombia. I believe food is one of the most powerful ways to connect, understand, and celebrate the world around us.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking, wine, photography, leather crafting—and I collect restaurant menus from around the world, with over 1200 in my archive dating back to the 1800s.