Chef Mariana Velásquez, author of Revel and Colombiana, shares how to pull together a last-minute soiree that feels thoughtful13 Mexican cooking staples in the drop-dead gorgeous kitchen of ‘Salsa Daddy’ Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things Mariana Velasquez has learned that the secret to hosting – and perhaps even life itself – is learning to pivot. “I used to be the host who wanted everything to be perfect,” said the Colombia-born, New York-based chef and food stylist. That all changed one night on a Brooklyn rooftop. She set a table for 12 people with linens, florals, “the whole thing. It was a beautiful summer night, and just as we were about to sit down it started downpouring.”