Jocelyn Chacón was born and raised in Torreón, Coahuila, in northern Mexico, where food was the center of family life. Growing up, she was surrounded by strong and influential women whose love was expressed through cooking. From an early age, Jocelyn would watch her grandmothers, aunts, and mother prepare meals that brought multiple generations together at the family table. Kitchens were places of community, where storytelling and laughter paved the way for traditions to take root. Recipes were passed down not through written instruction, but through observation, patience, and practice.
Jocelyn’s fondest childhood memories come from summers spent in Parras de la Fuente, a historic valley known for its vineyards, orchards, and agricultural heritage. While there, she spent time with her Great-Aunt Manena, whose home always had something simmering on the stove or baking in the oven. Jocelyn was fascinated by the rhythm and pace of rural life. From gathering fresh ingredients to watching meals come together from scratch, Jocelyn grew to understand how food connected family, the community, and the land itself.
Both sides of Jocelyn’s family maintained strong ties to the ranching and homesteading traditions, where cooking was deeply rooted in seasonality, resourcefulness, and hospitality. Family gatherings were large and lively affairs, filled with recipes passed down for generations, homemade tortillas, slow-cooked meats, and fresh vegetables. Whether it was helping in the kitchen or fastidiously observing, Jocelyn absorbed lessons from every woman around her. Their influence shaped her understanding that food is far more than nourishment-—it’s identity and an expression of love.
Jocelyn’s passion for cooking continued to grow. What began as a childhood curiosity evolved into a career dedicated to hospitality and culinary excellence. Jocelyn now lives in Oregon, where, when she’s not being a mother to her two dogs and one cat, she wields the legacy of her foremothers as the Chef De Cuisine at Bellpine at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Portland. She brings together the same flavors and traditions of her Mexican upbringing with techniques and inspirations gathered throughout her culinary journey.
Although Jocelyn’s career has taken her across the United States and into some of the nation’s most respected kitchens, the foundation of her cooking remains the same. She still carries with her the lessons learned from her mother, grandmothers, aunts, and Great Aunt Manena: cook generously, honor tradition by bringing people together through food. Every meal she creates is, in some way, a tribute to the women who inspired her and the family table where her love of cooking first began.
ABOUT M.O.M. 
