Jacqueline was born in the Bronx and raised in Queens, New York. Her father and his family are from Ponce, Puerto Rico, and still live there today. Her mothers side of her family are from Jayuya.
Raised by her grandmother, she has been cooking traditional Puerto Rican food since she could barely reach the stove.
“I can remember every summer, my grandmother taking me back to Puerto Rico and working on the farm. As a kid, I had to help pick the coffee beans on the plantation and help cut the Guinneos. These are all of my mother’s and grandmother’s recipes. I am just glad that I have that to carry on to my kids and share with people here, who have never had it! Buen Provecho!” — Salute’ Jackie