So many people have crossed our paths over the years in the Riviera Maya and Yucatan. We never say goodbye, it is always see you later.
This past month we learned about the passing of a good friend, local business professional and a great advocate for Mexico. We sadly have to say goodbye, but remained touched in our hearts and stomachs for knowing Chef David Sterling.
If you have been following our journey through the Yucatan Peninsula you would have come across Chef David Sterling. We met Chef David and his partner Keith in the mid 2000’s. We were drawn to Chef David’s passion for Mexican food, his undying love for the Yucatan, his sense of adventure both in and outside the kitchen, and his advocacy for a country that was thought to be a third wheel in North America. He is known for his spotlight with Martha Stewart in Merida where the Queen of Cooking toured the local market and cooked together. He toured through Merida with Rick Bayless to help promote the local culinary traditions of the Yucatan.
I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Chef David Sterling in April of this year and published our conversation on our podcast channel. We laughed, reminisced about our stories, how our paths crossed and the Mexican adventures that have shaped us.
As public as Chef David was, he quietly continued to develop his love for art and cooking. David started the only cooking school in Mexico called Los-Dos in November 2003. He is the author of the cookbook Yucatan: Recipes from a Culinary Expedition. In 2015, David won international awards for his word: James Beard Foundation for The Best Cookbook of the Year, James Beard Foundation for Best International Cookbook and The Art of Eating Prize for Best Food Book of the Year.
David touched the heart and stomach of thousands of locals and visitors during his life in Mexico. I was one of those who he touched deeply and I am sad to say good bye. What I do know is that his culinary talents, sense of humor, passion for Mexico and his love of everything art and culinary remains with me as I continue this journey through Mexico.
His accomplishments reach far beyond the kitchen that includes philanthropy, languages, arts, literature, and design. But the David Sterling that I know and love is the man who took me into the kitchen and had me mesmerized by wealth of Mexican flavors.
Chef David you will be missed, but your legacy, your friendship and your talent will remain forever with me and I am proud to call you my friend.