Jackie Alpers: Documenting the Evolving Story of Sonoran Cuisine
I’m Jackie Alpers, and I’ve spent over two decades documenting the distinctive Sonoran-style regional cuisine of the Arizona-Mexico borderlands.
I create traditional and modern Sonoran recipes inspired by desert ingredients and borderlands culture. I experiment with regional culinary influences while documenting food history, symbolism, and the deep cultural connections people have with food & drink.
My Work
I’m the author of four cookbooks, including the award-winning Taste of Tucson: Sonoran-Style Recipes Inspired by the Rich Culture of Southern Arizona, which is an official selection of UNESCO’s Tucson City of Gastronomy and won awards from RUSA and Reading the West.
Inducted into the Taste Awards Hall of Fame and cited as one of the world’s most famous food photographers, I create imagery that tells the story of food – its culture, history, and the people behind it.
Why Sonoran Cuisine Matters
The Sonoran Desert spans southern Arizona, a sliver of California, the Sea of Cortez, and the Mexican state of Sonora. It’s the most biologically diverse desert in North America, and that biodiversity shows up on the plate.
Sonoran food reflects a unique interplay of indigenous ingredients like corn, chiles, and beans and European imports like wheat, beef, and citrus that thrive in this specific climate. The result is light, bright, vegetable-forward cuisine that’s distinctly different from Tex-Mex, New Mexican, Baja or other Southwestern regional cooking. This is summer food, year-round. It’s health-conscious without being trendy. And it’s deeply rooted in place.
My Mission
Through my recipes, photography, and storytelling, I’m documenting how food connects us to place, history, and innovation. I’m as interested in what makes a traditional chiltepin salsa authentic as I am in how Sonoran flavors can inspire something entirely new.
My work has appeared in publications including The FoodNetwork.com and Refinery29, National Geographic, Real Simple, Taste Cooking, The Kitchn, TodayFood and Edible Baja Arizona Magazine, among others. I have been featured in Reader’s Digest, CNN, Good Morning America, The New York Times & NPR.
I teach creativity in the kitchen from my home studio in Tucson, Arizona in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
Work With Me
I create custom food photography, develop original recipes, and provide expert commentary on Sonoran and Southwestern cuisine for:
Publications & Media: Available for interviews, features, and editorial photography. I’ve worked with Food Network, National Geographic, Food & Wine, The New York Times, CNN, and NPR.
Brands & Food Companies: Recipe development, food photography, and creative direction.
Teaching & Workshops: I teach food photography and Sonoran cooking techniques from my Tucson studio.
Booking & Inquiries
To contact me for commercial assignment bookings, please email: hello@jackiealpers.com or call 520-465-5214.
