Recipes

Meet The Team

👨‍🍳 Julian Rivera

The Heart of Yankee Yums

Hi, I’m Julian — the voice behind YankeeYums and the guy who believes that food should be bold, comforting, and joyfully easy to make. I grew up between Puerto Rican spice and Southern comfort, raised on slow-cooked meals and loud kitchen laughs.

After a few years in the corporate world as a data analyst (yep, spreadsheets were my thing), I traded the boardroom for the cutting board. Now, I create recipes inspired by my family, travels, and cravings — from cheesy street food to soulful classics with a twist.

When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m probably watching cooking shows with my son Riley or calling my grandma Maria for her secret marinara tips.

👵 Maria Esposito

The Soul of the Kitchen

I’m Maria — proud grandmother, passionate home cook, and unofficial keeper of the family cookbook. I grew up in Providence, Rhode Island in a tight-knit Italian-American household, where Sunday sauce was sacred and nothing went to waste.

My kitchen has always been my love language. I taught Julian how to cook when he was just tall enough to reach the countertop. Now, I share my favorite family recipes here — the kind that fill your home with the smell of garlic and your heart with nostalgia.

If it’s simple, homemade, and brings people together at the table — it’s probably from my kitchen.

👦 Riley Thompson

The Taste Tester & Kid Critic

Hi, I’m Riley — I’m 9, I love pancakes, and I tell it like it is. I’m Julian’s son and the official YankeeYums taste tester. If something’s too spicy, too weird, or just plain amazing… I’ll let you know. No filter. Ever.

My job is to make sure all the kid-friendly recipes pass the “Riley Test” — so if you see my stamp of approval, it means I’d eat it (even without being bribed). I also help my dad take funny behind-the-scenes videos… and sometimes I sneak chocolate chips into the batter when he’s not looking.