Use code TRIPLE10 to save $10 on your first three grocery orders.

Meet Belqui of Belqui's Twist

Empowering cooks everywhere to always cook from the heart.
Meet Belqui of Belqui's Twist
Meet Belqui of Belqui's Twist
SideChef
Welcome to SideChef's original recipes. Created from scratch in the SideChef Kitchen, where recipe inspiration and ingredient experimentation is a way of life.
GO TO BLOG
Love This Recipe?
SideChef
Welcome to SideChef's original recipes. Created from scratch in the SideChef Kitchen, where recipe inspiration and ingredient experimentation is a way of life.
GO TO BLOG

We are excited to have Belqui to share with us how pivotal moments in her life along with her passion for food fuels her desire to create such delicious recipes.

What’s your favorite word related to cooking and why?

“Crusty” and why? Because I have had people question the word when I use it in my recipe videos. Like, “serve with crusty bread”... I think it makes perfect sense so now I use it even more! ha!

What’s your earliest positive food memory?

My grandmother made an amazing yellow plantain dish that I loved as a child. I remember visiting on the weekends and she always had it almost ready for me when I arrived at her home. She showed love via cooking and I felt that love every time she made that effort for me. When it comes to cooking my mom and I take after her.

What’s your favorite cooking tool and why (hint: panasonicMWO)?

Ever since receiving and using my Panasonic microwaves, I love to air fry! Prior to that I hated air fryers because I found the baskets to be so small, they didn’t hold enough to serve my family of 4 in a single use. The Panasonic 4 in 1’s basket is huge! And air fries more than I even need. So yes, I have leftovers!

What do you crave when you have a cold?

I crave chicken noodle soup and I always make sure I have servings on hand by making big batches of soup and freezing in individual servings. I call that culinary self care! ;)

What do you cook when you’re happy?

I usually cook a traditional Dominican dish because it gives me the feeling of home and my upbringing. Not to mention, I feel it's the best tasting food on the planet!

Your ultimate guilty pleasure food:

Anything fried but if I had to choose the top one it would be fried chicken.

What’s your favorite kitchen sound?

When I add seasoned meats into hot oil and that perfect initial sear is just starting. It’s the perfect sound.

What’s your favorite cooking smell?

The smell of a simmering Dominican Oxtail Stew. I don’t think there is anything that makes me hungrier than that smell.

Who’s your favorite person(s) to cook for?

My kids. I love when their faces light up and how excited they get when I tell them what I am making for dinner. Sometimes I keep it a secret until serving just to see the excitement when it’s one of their favorite meals. Nothing more satisfying than that for a mom.

You get invited to a dinner prepared by any food icon dead or alive, who is it?

This is a tough one because I have a long list of my favorite icons but I think I would have to go with The Barefoot Contessa’s Ina Garten. I love everything about her.

What do they say to you on your arrival?

When arriving at her dinner party I would love for her to say to me: “I’ve got your favorite bottle of Pinot Grigio” as she gives me a warm embrace. That question means she knows me very well. That would be a dream come true for me.

What are your 5 top cooking tips or tricks?


  • Prep ahead. If you are a busy mom like me, prepping is a lifesaver. I tend to do so while the kids are at school. I prepare as much as I can so that all I have to do when I am ready to cook is place on the stove or pop in the oven.

  • Buy prepped. I love to buy things like minced garlic, chopped onions, chopped carrots. It's a huge time saver for me, especially because I cook almost every single day. I am obsessed with semi-dried herbs that last up to 6 weeks that I find in the organic section at my supermarket because they are already chopped and fresh. Can’t ever go wrong with that.

  • Batch cook. Earlier in this interview I mentioned how I make big batches of chicken noodle soup and freeze them in individual servings. Well, I also do that with foods like beans, different types of them and also other soups. Meats like ribs. Seasoned, portioned and vacuum sealed. All I have to do is defrost when I need them.

  • Recipes are just for guidance. When following a recipe, if an ingredient amount, for example, doesn't sound right to you or you prefer less, more, just listen to your gut. Also add ingredients you like that you believe will go well with that recipe. In other words, experiment. This will build up your confidence in the kitchen.

  • Clean as you go. Trust me, you will be so happy you did once you are done eating that wonderful meal you just prepared. If you are anything like me, when I am full I get lazy and seeing a sink full of dirty pots and pans is the worst feeling ever! And frankly, why a lot of people I know don’t like to cook. Cleaning up while you go will free up alot of time later.

If you could sum up your cooking style into one sentence, what would that sentence be?

My cooking style is simple, relaxed and homey.

Love this interview? Try these amazing recipe and cook with Belqui Ortiz-Millili.

Get weekly recipes, grocery shopping, meal planning, and home-cooking inspiration sent straight in your inbox
Will be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY.
LEARN COOK EAT
How to Make Crispy Baked Chicken Wings: the Ultimate Guide
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tacos Are Trending on Tinder and Other 22 Taco Facts You Didn’t Know
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The Tremendous Tale of Taco Tuesday: Trademarks, Trends, and Tribulations
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We Matched 16 Great Cocktails to Every Personality Type
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
10 Realistic Ideas to Help You Become a Better Cook
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving 2022?
TRIED & TESTED
Lo Mein vs Chow Mein: What's the Difference and How to Cook It
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
What to Do With Leftover Easter Eggs
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Easy Guide to Creating Custom Recipes With Grocery Shopping Lists
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Irish Food: The Hug You Didn’t Know You Needed
WHAT'S IN SEASON
Sliders Are Better Than Burgers: 8 Sliders Recipes to Prove It
TRIED & TESTED
We Tried 50 Times and Here's How to Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs
LEARN COOK EAT
How to Make Crispy Baked Chicken Wings: the Ultimate Guide
Whether it’s for a game night party or just your late-night cravings. Forget deep frying and make crispy baked chicken wings in the oven!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tacos Are Trending on Tinder and Other 22 Taco Facts You Didn’t Know
We all know that tacos are delicious. We all know you can have tacos for breakfast, tacos for lunch, tacos for dinner, for munchies, for a game night, for after-hours… you should know that you can have a taco bar for your wedding (number one on my #WeddingGoals pinboard). But I bet you didn’t know most of these taco facts.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The Tremendous Tale of Taco Tuesday: Trademarks, Trends, and Tribulations
Have you ever wondered why we all know to look for the best Taco Tuesday deals? Or why it’s a thing to make tacos for Tuesday dinner? Why is it Taco Tuesday and not Thursday? What does Lebron James have to do with tacos? And who invented the Taco Tuesday tradition we all enjoy? Get ready for a crazy story.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We Matched 16 Great Cocktails to Every Personality Type
In the name of mixology and psychology, we have found a great cocktail that perfectly matches your MBTI personality type. Should you be making a White Russian or an Espresso Martini? Only one way to find out - take a look at this fun list to find which cocktail recipe mixes well with your personality.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
10 Realistic Ideas to Help You Become a Better Cook
Congratulations! You have found the one article you need to help you become a better cook, level up your kitchen game, upgrade from an average home cooking enthusiast to a master chef. No hacks, no tricks, no magic. Just facts.
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving 2022?
When you are planning Thanksgiving dinner, grocery shopping is one of the essential tasks. What to do if there is this one last-minute item you forgot to get? Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving Day for a quick grocery run?
TRIED & TESTED
Lo Mein vs Chow Mein: What's the Difference and How to Cook It
Learn about the difference between lo mein and chow mein, how to make each dish, and discover some of our favorite recipes for both.
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
What to Do With Leftover Easter Eggs
After Easter festivities are said and done, you're probably hunting for ways to use up all those leftover eggs. Lucky for you, eggs are one of the most versatile ingredients; here are just a few ways to get creative with 'em!
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Easy Guide to Creating Custom Recipes With Grocery Shopping Lists
SideChef lets you create custom recipes and turn them into grocery shopping lists. Save all your favorite recipes in one place and shop the ingredients in one click!
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Irish Food: The Hug You Didn’t Know You Needed
Setting the record straight: Ireland has a lot more to offer than majestic rolling hills and cozy pubs.
WHAT'S IN SEASON
Sliders Are Better Than Burgers: 8 Sliders Recipes to Prove It
Sliders are not just mini burgers. Forget the classic burger and check out these addictive sliders recipes instead - from everyone’s favorite buffalo chicken sliders to sinfully delicious Kentucky hot brown sandwiches.
TRIED & TESTED
We Tried 50 Times and Here's How to Make Perfect Scrambled Eggs
Everyone wants soft and creamy scrambled eggs and has their secret cooking hack to achieve it. We tried it all, scrambled 50 eggs in 50 slightly different ways, and here’s what we have learned.