About Me

Hello, I'm Ana Cortés.

I'm Mexican, living in Sweden, raising two boys, and spending much of my life thinking about food.

I've worked in fashion, graphic design, pastry kitchens, and nutrition, but food has always been the thread running quietly through every chapter of my life. Not only the cooking of it, but the stories, memories, flavours, and rituals that gather around it.

I've also always written. As a child, I filled notebooks with observations and half-finished stories. Writing became a way of paying attention, of holding on to things that might otherwise disappear.

From that love of food and writing, I created Pomelo, an online magazine and Substack devoted to seasonal ingredients, creative cooking, flavour pairings, and the small pleasures of the kitchen.

Alongside Pomelo, I create Pairing Guides — illustrated explorations of flavour and ingredients. Part research and part inspiration, they explore why certain ingredients work together, uncover unexpected combinations, and help cooks feel more confident creating their own dishes.

I love publishing Pomelo, but over time I found myself longing for something more tangible. A world that could be held in your hands rather than read on a screen. Something slower, quieter, and a little more magical.

I missed the anticipation of receiving something in the post. The pleasure of unfolding a beautiful piece of paper. The feeling of keeping a recipe card tucked inside a favourite cookbook or pinning a small illustration to the kitchen wall.

From that longing, The Kitchen Letter was born.

Each month begins with a seasonal ingredient and unfolds into a small kitchen world of stories, recipes, pairing cards, and paper keepsakes. Something slower than a newsletter and quieter than the internet.

Thank you for being here.

I hope these letters bring inspiration to your kitchen, encourage you to cook with curiosity, and remind you to notice the beauty hidden in ordinary ingredients and everyday meals.

Most of all, I hope you feel welcome here, in this small world I've created with so much care.

-Ana.