Sandra Correia | Rainha da Cozinha
Olá and welcome! I am Sandra Correia, the face behind Rainha da Cozinha, a Portuguese recipe blog dedicated to keeping our traditions alive one dish at a time.
I am a wife and proud mother of two beautiful children with full Portuguese heritage. During Covid, I left a very successful career after becoming pregnant with my son. What felt like a major life shift became the greatest blessing. Since then, we welcomed another baby and built a life centred around family, food, and the traditions that shaped who I am.
Growing up in a Portuguese home, food was never just food. It was Sunday family lunches, fresh pão on the table, the smell of garlic and olive oil in the air, festas, laughter, and stories passed down through generations. As I began raising my own children, I realized how important it was to hold onto those traditions and make sure they do not get lost as I slowly started to notice them disappear.
Rainha da Cozinha was born from that desire. In our home, the cozinha is the heart. It is where culture lives, memories are made, and love is shared through cooking.
Here, I share traditional Portuguese recipes I grew up with, along with non traditional Portuguese inspired dishes that I develop in my own kitchen. I love recreating the classics, but I also love putting my own twist on flavours and creating new recipes inspired by our heritage. And sometimes, I am simply sharing whatever I am cooking for my family that week because if my family loves it, I know someone else’s will too.
This is my culinary journey to preserve Portuguese cuisine while allowing it to grow with us. I want to connect with other Portuguese Canadian, Portuguese American, and worldwide Portuguese families who feel that same pull to keep our food, culture, and traditions alive for the next generation.
I may have once thrived in the corporate world, but today I thrive in my little world at home. If one day my children grow up and say, “My momma is the best cook ever,” then I will know this journey was all worth it.
Thank you for being here and for being part of this beautiful Portuguese cooking journey with me. I encourage you to be the Rainha or the Rei of your own cozinha, cook with heart, and proudly pass it all down.