Food and I have had a long, incredibly complicated love story.
For years, I chased the elusive “how to get skinny” dream, getting completely lost in punishing crash diets that left me exhausted and uninspired. I viewed the kitchen as a place of restriction rather than a place of joy.
Today, Cafe Delites represents my personal liberation from that mindset. Here, we celebrate the absolute joy of eating.
The Story Behind the Screen
Cafe Delites didn’t begin in a boardroom or with a polished plan. It started on my kitchen floor, in the middle of a kind of physical and emotional pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
For years, movement was my oxygen. I was a dance and Zumba instructor who loved what I did with everything in me, until life shifted in the hardest way. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after two long years of searching for answers. Zumba became more than a career then. It was my lifeline, the thing that reminded me I was still here, still fighting. But just as I began finding my way back, endometriosis arrived and forced me to give up dancing completely. Losing that part of myself, especially alongside a history of trauma, felt like everything was slowly being stripped away.
I turned to cooking and food photography as a way to cope, something to hold onto when everything else felt quiet and heavy. As a mother, a wife, and someone trying to keep going, I built Cafe Delites from the ground up, working up to 22 hours a day, 7 days a week, for years. I was relentless. There were days I filmed recipes for millions, then collapsed on the floor in pain between takes. As the site grew, so did the disconnect. To the world, I was creating beautiful, full flavoured recipes. Behind the scenes, I was disappearing.
I was trying to be everything for everyone else, while quietly losing myself. My weight reached 125 kilograms, and I got to a point where I avoided mirrors because I didn’t recognise the person looking back. I had built something incredible, but I had lost who I was in the process.
Now, this journey is about more than recipes or milestones. It’s about finding my way back, piece by piece, and learning that I can’t keep feeding the world if I’m still starving myself.
Experience and Recognition
I am incredibly humbled to see my creations traveling so far. From being featured on platforms like Country Living, Delish, Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, Huffpost, BRIT + CO, Australia Best Recipes, Food Network and Epicurious to chatting about my passion for Zumba on Channel 7’s Today Tonight. It’s been such a whirlwind!
One of my absolute favorite moments was winning the Best Recipes Home Cook Hero Competition. My Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup holds such a special place in my heart.
Beyond the kitchen, I’ve had the joy of partnering with brands like Natvia and supporting causes like the Lymphoma Coalition.
The Comeback
Life is Too Short Not to Enjoy Good Food
Realizing I was fading away, I made the terrifying decision to step back from the cameras. Over a three year hiatus, I went to war for my own physical and mental health. I lost 55 kilograms, but more importantly, I found the woman I had abandoned. I learned to love myself again.
Surviving stage four cancer and overcoming immense trauma lit a permanent fire inside of me. It taught me one undeniable truth. Life is entirely too short not to enjoy good food.
I am so incredibly grateful you are here. Whether you are here for the famous Deviled Potatoes, the Tomato Soup Mac and Cheese, or just a safe space to connect over our shared journeys, you are welcome at my table.
Also a cancer survivor with many challenges. Related to your story. I made your salmon piccata last night over angel hair pasta and roasted cauliflower. Doubled the amount of sauce. It was absolutely delicious. Family loved it. Looking forward to preparing more of your recipes. By the way you look beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing a piece of your story with me. It means more than you know, and I’m sending you so much strength and love. ❤️
I’m so incredibly happy that you and your family enjoyed the salmon piccata! And you can never go wrong with extra sauce! Thank you for your beautiful words; they truly touched my heart. Wishing you all the very best.Xx
Hello Karina, its an absolute pleasure to meet you (virtually!!). You have an amazing story and such a wonderful website. For this you would continue to receive loads of blessings from the heavens as well as from your fellow food lovers and enthusiasts. I have tried a few of your recipes and they all reflect love and excellence!
I’m from Trinidad and Tobago and we do have quite a vibrant culinary culture of infused food that has been derived from and inspired by our First Peoples, centuries of colonization & slavery, indentured slavery, merchants and migrants. I am sure that you may be familiar with some of our dishes. It will be great to share some of our unique foods and techniques with you.
Just a quick note, I do have a Culinary school, as well as I work with two international internship companies (AIW and RMC Asia) whereby we offer graduates and young professionals opportunities for internships and management training across France, Spain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Thailand….im quite invested in culinary and hospitality development. There are many students that come to your site to access recipes that they have never tried. Your story and website actually inspire more youths than you think!!!
Keep up your excellent work Karina!…Lets chat soon!!
Regards,
Colin
Hi Colin,
Thank you for reaching out with such a generous and thoughtful message. I’m so grateful for your kind words about my story and my work.
The culinary heritage of Trinidad and Tobago that you described sounds absolutely fascinating. The fusion of so many cultures into a nation’s food is something I find incredibly inspiring. It’s an honour to be connecting with a fellow professional who is so invested in culinary and hospitality development. The work you are doing is fantastic.
I was so moved to hear that my website is a resource for your students and that my story resonates with them. That is more meaningful than you can imagine.
Thank you for your kind offer to share your cuisine you can send an email to [email protected]. Xx
I am glad you are back. You seemed to have disappeared for awhile, no new posts for a long time and I asked under a facebook post how you were and no one answered me Glad you are back.
Hi Barbara! Thank you so much for your sweet words—they mean the world to me. I’m so excited to be back and can’t wait to share more recipes with you. I hope they bring joy to your kitchen and become favorites for you!
I first came across your site a few years ago when I was looking for a fudgy brownie recipe that didn’t need melted chocolate when I had a fairly empty pantry but some serious chocolate cravings. Those brownies have now been made well into the 100s of times and are a firm family favourite. The thing that keeps me coming back to CafeDelites is that I know that when I use one of your recipes that 1. It will work, and 2. it will taste amazing. Nothing further to add, just wanted to voice my appreciation!
Thank you so much Kate for your kind words, you seriously made my day! Happy cooking!
Hey Karina,
Just wanted to say a couple kind words. I’ve been a follower for a couple years your recipes are top notch awesome. The way you cook and post the pictures your food is as gorgeous as you are. All these critics on FB talking about well you know what I’m referring to really don’t know what they’re talking about. Your recipes majority of them are in my made up recipe book I created with recipes from FB and Google. Just keep these coming and you keep doing your thing and you’ll prosper to great things.
Sincerely,
Ryan
Hi Karina, I just came across your page and am excited to try your recipes. They look amazing. I love pastas and chicken dishes. I also would love to see and subscribe to your upcoming videos. Take care and God bless. Congrats on your recovery.
Hi Helen, so happy to have you in our food loving family
Hi Karina
Hope you are doing well with your health.
I am from Sweden and I have been following your recipes for a while now and my favourite is your butter chicken and the bread which I have made so many times, easy and delicious. Thank you for the inspiration. Have you considered making some videos to go along with your recipes, as you may know some of us who love to cook are more visual people and we learn just by looking. (just a tip). I really hope to see your videos in the near future.
You just made my day! 🌟 Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m currently working hard on improving the experience for all my wonderful readers, and some major improvements are coming soon. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for exciting updates!
This is my favorite recipe page. The food tastes so incredibly delicious. My family loves when I open this page to find a recipe. Thank you for doing this and keeping this page alive and well.
Hi Miguel! I’m so happy to hear that both you and your family love my blog. Thank you for your kind words, they mean the world to me.
Hi Karina,
Your father’s recipe for chimichurri is my go-to every time I make the sauce (frequently! It’s so good on so much). When my son got back from a long stay in Argentina, he said it’s exactly the way he remembers, so I gave him your recipe. I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your beloved dad and happy that his legacy is being passed on through his chimichurri.
Thank you so much Virginia for you kind words. I’m so happy you enjoy this recipe. Happy cooking!
My first try on your site. Just cooked the baked carrots in honey, butter and garlic – delicious! Many thanks.
Hi Alan, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
I’m very happy that you enjoyed it Alan!
Hello Karina. I just came across your page in FB and it brought me here. Your dishes look delicious and I look forward to trying them. Thank you for sharing your passion with us!
Thank you, Christopher! Please do keep me updated on how your cooking turns out—I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Good Evening
I’m from the uk and after trying your butter chicken recipe a while ago I’ve started this new year with plans to cook more for the family. We’ve made over 10 of your recipes and they are all amazing. I’ve not had this for years, other recipes are bland and leave me feeling disappointed. Do you have a book at all? and also what is your Instagram so I can follow.
Thanks
Hi Louise, you just made my day! Stay tuned with our Instagram for all our upcoming news. Exciting things are coming in the next few months 😉