Portfolio — JANINE BIVONA NYQUIST

MIKA LEON’S
CUBAN SOUL

100 vibrant recipes from mi cocina.

RECIPE DEVELOPMENT | BOOK TOUR

The recipes I grew up eating, the ones passed around at family parties, and the dishes I still make today. From croquetas and cafecito to my abuelo's famous lechón asado and crispy chicharrones, these are the recipes tied to my family, my culture, and the flavors that shaped me.

Food + Prop Styling

A wooden platter with sliced cured meats, green olives, a bowl of chopped tomatoes, a bowl of pickled vegetables, and a rolled cured sausage.

Person grating nutmeg over poached pears in a black pot, with cinnamon sticks on a wooden surface.

A black plate with cooked chicken drumsticks garnished with chopped parsley, set on a beige cloth with a textured white surface in the background.

Skewers of grilled chicken, beef, and vegetables served on a black tray garnished with parsley, with lemon wedges and cherry tomatoes on a table with a yellow and white striped tablecloth.

Fruit salad with raspberries, grapes, sliced avocado, orange slices, mint leaves, chopped nuts, and a creamy dressing in a white bowl on a wooden surface.

A platter of grilled steak and roasted mussel shells with a side of fresh herbs, salt, and a glass of red wine on a wooden table.

Slices of toasted baguette with creamy cheese, topped with cherry or berry compote, fresh mint leaves, and drizzled with balsamic glaze, served on a wooden board.

A plate of grapefruit salad with onions, herbs, and nuts on a wooden table.

A woman in black fabric mask is slicing medium-rare steak on a white platter. In the background, there is a large bouquet of orange lilies and yellow sunflowers in a grey vase. Another person's hand is holding a small container of sauce, and wooden s

A charcuterie board with smoked salmon, cucumber slices, red onion, lemon wedges, crackers, green pickles, black pepper, and various dips and spreads on a marble surface.

Lemon halves, dough with lemon zest, and a grater on a marble surface with parchment paper and flour scattered around.

Cucumber slices topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and fresh dill on a wooden cutting board, with bowls of salad and corn in the background.

A table set with pink and white flowers, a glass pitcher, clear drinking glasses, bowls of berries, and a plate of French toast topped with blueberries, all on a white tablecloth.

A partially eaten almond cake with powdered sugar on top, placed on a white decorative plate on a marble surface, with blue and gold patterned china and a silver cake server nearby.

A white plate of mixed green and purple leafy salad with grated cheese, placed on a white tablecloth with a silver serving spoon, with a rustic wooden backdrop and green plant trailing in the background.

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Culinary Events + Recipe Development

Hands pouring honey into a glass mixing bowl containing minced garlic, lemon zest, and black pepper, on a white marble surface.

Three plates with pear desserts topped with whipped cream and almonds, one with a pear partially eaten, on a beige tablecloth.

Several pieces of raw red meat seasoned with black pepper on white parchment paper.

A white plate with chopped mixed greens, radish slices, and drizzled dressing on a wooden table. Whole radish and turnip vegetables are scattered outside the plate.

A white plate with sliced blood oranges arranged on top, placed on a wooden surface.

Close-up of a white bowl of mixed green and purple olives, some with stems, on a textured light blue surface.

Hasselback potatoes garnished with herbs, positioned on parchment paper. In the background, a bowl of chopped tomato and cucumber salad, and in the foreground, a bunch of cherry tomatoes.

Fried egg dish garnished with chopped fresh herbs, served on a white plate with a silver serving utensil.

Close-up of a cupcake topped with white frosting, cherries, cherry syrup, and chocolate shavings in a glass bowl with silver spoons.

A marble countertop displaying various bowls of fresh ingredients including cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, chopped red peppers, chopped cooked cauliflower, fresh herbs, lemon, and spices, with some extra ingredients like lemon, basil, and a s

Vegetarian flatbread pizza topped with cherry tomatoes, green pesto, and dollops of ricotta cheese on a wooden board.

Close-up of a cheese pizza with tomato sauce on a wooden surface.

Cinnamon rolls topped with icing on parchment paper, with a metal spatula on the wooden surface.

A white oval plate holds a shrimp and couscous salad topped with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. The salad contains cooked shrimp, diced yellow mango, chopped zucchini, and is garnished with fresh herbs. A person's hand with painted pink nails hold