Read It
One-Line Bio
I eat, cook and write in the Mission District.
Biography
Mary "Merv" Ladd is a San Francisco native who lives in the Mission with her Literati husband, Oscar Villalon, and young son.
She writes for SF Gate, SFist, and has various mentions from Eater.com, Epicurious, SF MenuPages, CHOW, Becks & Posh, Tea & Cookies & more. Ladd has worked for the San Francisco Chronicle, Hain Celestial, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, for restaurants, and in private residences.
Jalapeno Girl was raised in Benicia ("California's first state capitol", where her immediate family still lives), and has braved the world's hottest habanero burger enough times to be the only female in the Top 20 Wall of Flame.
Her brother Josh is an Executive Sous Chef at the Claremont Hotel & Resort. He tried talking her out of attending the California Culinary Academy, with the rationale that she's “too nice” to be in a kitchen. That's probably not true. Josh was relieved that she would have other chefs and food staff to bug for food tips.
Ever since attending the CCA, Jalapeno Girl’s obsession with food and restaurants has led to gigs that include: writing, cooking, food judging, home-cheffing, catering, serving, consulting, creating and testing recipes.
