Marco Santos

Gluten-Free Chef & Latin Cuisine Innovation Specialist My youngest son's celiac diagnosis at four changed everything. Suddenly, all those traditional Brazilian and Portuguese recipes from my avó needed to be completely reimagined without losing their soul. After graduating from Johnson & Wales and working Miami's Latin fusion scene, my son's diagnosis became my calling. How do you make gluten-free empanadas that taste like childhood? Over eight years, I've developed 320+ gluten-free recipes celebrating authentic Latin flavors using cassava flour and plantain alternatives. My gluten-free empanada recipe won "Best Appetizer" at the 2023 Miami Gluten-Free Food Festival. I ran "Sabores Sin Gluten," a catering business serving Miami's Latino community—quinceañeras, family gatherings, all the celebrations that matter. Food is culture, and everyone deserves to experience the joy of sharing traditional family meals, regardless of dietary restrictions.