About Victoria

It all started when my husband and I moved from a tiny apartment in Manhattan to a cottage in Florida where there was... a real kitchen. As a Spaniard, I believe it is in my DNA to be hospitable and welcoming and so I rediscovered my passion for cooking and entertaining. Sharing recipes, ideas, what-to-do, how-to do-it and when-to-do-it became my most favorite subject of conversation.

My siblings and I grew up between Madrid (where we went to school) and our farm in Sevilla (where we spent all holidays). My sisters and I spent our teenage years at boarding school in England. In my early 20’s, I moved from Madrid to NYC and fell in love... Now I live in Greenwich, CT with my husband and our three boys. 

I learned the art of gracious entertaining from my parents, the count and countess de la Maza, who always included us in the preparation and planning of all their events. Whether in town or in the country, our house was always full of family and friends and every meal was a memorable occasion.

I have always loved inviting friends to my house, wherever that may be: from a tiny apartment in the city, to weekend rentals and now at home. Cooking for my family and friends is my refuge and haven, it is how I give back, it is my source of comfort and inspiration. It is a ritual that I embrace wholeheartedly and yes, it does take time but the time spent giving back, sharing, caring and loving those around me is a good time.

When my children were born I wanted to work from home. Writing was just a thought when in 2003 , a new magazine, and Palm Beach Daily News, our local paper published my first article on entertaining at home... and then bi-weekly for three years. Since then, I have written for Veranda, Town & Country Travel, , The Miami Herald, Palm Beach Illustrated and The Huffington Post, among many other publications.

I am a regular contributor to Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, My Food My Health, Azure Azure, The Daily Basics, Indagare and Muses & Visionaries Magazine. My houses, table-settings, recipes and ideas have been published in House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Telva, Southern Accents, Ocean Drive, Florida Travel & Life, Florida Table and HC&G. 

"Delicious!" is the first book I published as fund raiser for the school my children attended in West Palm Beach, FL. It nearly sold out in 8 months and we raised enough money to put on a new roof! My second book, "Delicious Flavors", received the silver medal from the Independent Publisher’s Award for cookbook of the year and was named "one of the best" cookbooks for summer 2009 by Town & Country. My third book, "Palm Beach Entertaining" (Rizzoli 2012), was written in collaboration with a group of amazingly talented ladies and is already in its second printing; we are now working on the next one!

I have done a bit of television both for local and national shows and produced a short-lived show for PBS called "Delicious Entertaining". In 2012 I taped 44 episodes for Spain’s CanalDecasa TV and created two separate TV shows: "Las Mansiones de los Hamptons" and “Celebraciones con Victoria Amory”, which are still on the air 4 times a day.

Victoria Amory & Co. started after a school fundraising effort where we sold over 200 jars of savory sauces in 10 minutes. In 2012 I developed a line of cooking sauces, foods and condiments which are sold nationally through HSN and through my website. I am so excited to share my lifestyle, which is why I call my line of foods (and soon accesories) Effortless. Everyday. Entertaining. 

But what I really want to share with you is that cooking and entertaining is not to be pretentious or stressful, it is to be a pleasure for all: easy, effortless, entertaining. Throwing a good dinner or lunch is about creating a comfortable environment where you and your guests have a good time and effortlesly, which after all, is the reason for a party. 

Everyday cooking is just as important and now more than ever. When budgets are tight and emotions at the edge, cooking is comforting and nourishing, it is a way for caring for those we love. At the end of a long day, a soup bubbling on the stove is more comforting and has more nutrients than those accumulated by a sum of its parts. Effortless meals are those that gather our family and friends around us and make it more about our friendships than about how many potatoes go in the soup. 

My favorite recipes are simple, easy and full of flavor. Experience comes from doing things over and over again, it comes from making mistakes and learning from them, it comes from having organized, hosted and cooked for tons of friends through the years, it comes from family members (the worst critics of all!) requesting recipes, copying ideas and coming back for more. 

I like to share my experiences, disasters, achievements and just everyday knowledge with all my friends, as I think that this is what makes us real and true. I hope you love my books, blog and foods as much as I do.