Spain's Answer to Rachael, Giada is From St-Léo

The Roca brothers, the Adrià brothers, Juan Mari Arzak, Andoni Luis Aduriz ... and Carla Jones. She's unlike Spain's most famous culinary ambassadors in name and style but the Montreal native hosts one of the most popular food shows in the country.

The format of Fresco y Fácil is familiar to even casual Food Network fans. The Sara Moulton-like program showcases "fresh and easy" recipes for home cooks. No Xanthan gum. No texturas.

What is different, however, is the host. Carla Jones was born in Saint-Léonard to Portuguese parents and "always dreamed of being a Celebrity TV Chef, way before it was cool to be one". Other résumé morsels from her blog:

I graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2011 as a Grand Chef (Cuisine and Patisserie). I'm also a trained Sommelier, and a certified Bartender? But the professional side of this business is all new to me? I worked in many restaurants and hotels in Canada, Australia and NZ as a student and backpacker, but spent my 10-year career in Marketing before deciding to give it all up for Chef School.

Carla Jones Makes Shrimp Crostini in Spanish

· Fresco y Fácil [Official Site]
· Chef Carla [Official Blog]
· A Taste of Montreal in Spain [Gazette]