Today we’d like to introduce you to Silvia Salas-Sanchez.
Hi Silvia , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Silvia Salas-Sanchez. I am a wife, a mother, a granddaughter and a storyteller. I have always been drawn to storytelling and the power of media to connect people. In my 20’s, I earned my BA in Mass Media, and that background has played a huge role in how I approach the work I do today. Abuela’s Kitchen, a YouTube channel I created in 2012, became a way for me to combine my love of storytelling and media. It was a way to focus in on something special to me – my family, my culture, and the traditions my Abuela passed down to me.
It all started with a simple desire to film a video of my Abuela as a way to preserve her recipes. I was at her house one day, and she was making “tortillas de harina.” Watching her hands work the dough like a seasoned cook, I knew in that moment that I needed to document as many of her recipes as possible so that I could be able to cook these delicious meals with my kids. I did not want them to be lost. She was 75 years old, and I felt like I was running out of time.
I asked her if I could record her making the tortillas. But like any traditional Mexican abuela, she firmly said, “NO!” I literally begged her until she finally agreed.
We started by creating one cooking video featuring traditional Mexican food from Michoacán every three months. Then it became one video a week. We started gaining popularity without really doing anything other than showing up and sharing what we loved. This was when YouTube was still just getting started. Before we knew it, we were working with all kinds of brands, from grocery stores to food products and everything in between.
We were doing really well until my Abuela suddenly passed away in 2021. I took some time off to mourn the loss of one of the most important people in my life—the person who helped me start it all.
After she passed, I felt like I had lost my way. I didn’t know how to create anymore without her. I slowly began again with something I called “Nieta Diaries,” where I shared the process of recreating myself independently. Through that, I began to find my footing again and reestablish myself on my own.
I had to work extra hard to gain ground again. It felt like I was starting over. But as the months went on, and as I continued doing what I loved, my subscribers, followers and brand grew. Little by little, I gained momentum and built a new following on top of the one I already had. I’m so grateful that my community came behind me and supported me.
Life has taken a turn in recent weeks. I’m devastated to share that my husband passed away about a month ago. It has taken a toll on my creativity, and while it’s hard to see what the future looks like right now, I’m trusting that someday soon, I’ll find my way back to creating like I once did.
A creator will always be a creator. We naturally draw from our own experiences, and somehow, those experiences will always resonate with the right audience, no matter the circumstances.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. There have been so many unexpected turns, both personally and professionally, that I’ve felt like I was constantly starting over.
Losing my Abuela was one of the hardest moments. She wasn’t just my grandmother, she was the heart of Abuela’s Kitchen and the person who gave me the story I was sharing with the world. After she passed, I struggled to figure out who I was as a creator without her. I had to step away, grieve, and eventually found a way to create again on my own.
Then came the challenge of rebuilding. I had to learn how to show up as myself, outside of the identity I had created with my Abuela. There were moments when it felt like I had to prove myself all over again, even though I had been creating for years. There were times where I wanted to quit all together.
Just when I started to feel like I was finding my footing again, our family was blindsided by the sudden loss of my husband. It has been incredibly difficult, and naturally, creating has not felt the same.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work has always been rooted in storytelling. I am a content creator, storyteller and digital creator who specializes in sharing food, culture, family, lifestyle and the experiences that shape who we are.
I became known through Abuela’s Kitchen, but over the years, I’ve expanded beyond food and have used my platforms to share more of my own story.
What it means to rebuild, reinvent yourself, navigate loss, and start again. I’ve learned that people don’t necessarily connect with perfection, they connect with honesty and experiences they can see themselves in.
I’m most proud of the community I’ve built. The fact that people have stayed with me through so many different chapters of my life means more to me than any number of views or brand partnerships ever could. I’m proud that I was able to preserve pieces of my Abuela’s life and our family’s traditions in a way that will live on far beyond the videos themselves.
What sets me apart is that I don’t feel like I’m creating content simply to create content. There is always a story, a memory, or a personal experience behind what I share. I think maybe, people can feel that. I’ve never had to manufacture a connection with my audience because I’ve always just tried to show up as myself.
At the heart of everything I do, I’m a creator who tells stories through real life. And I think that’s why, even after all the changes and challenges I’ve experienced, my community continues to come along with me.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
After my abuela passed away, I felt the need to write a children’s book that would immortalize her and all the things that made our connection special. Writing *Pasale! A Day with Abuela* became a way to preserve the meaningful pieces of our connection. It was important to me to capture the moments, traditions, and details I never wanted to forget. More than anything, it was my way of keeping her spirit and essence alive.
*Pasale! A Day with Abuela* is a story for anyone who has shared a special connection with my abuela, were reminded of their own abuela through our videos, or remembered a piece of their roots & culture through the story.
My hope in publishing this book is to create a bridge between generations. In my author’s note, I encourage parents and children to spend time with the elders in their lives. To listen to their stories, learn from their wisdom, and create memories together.
Because we never know when a day with those we love might be the last.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abueaskitchenofficial.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/abuelaskitchen
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/abuelaskitchen
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/abuelaskitchen
- Other: _masmasa
