Mandoka is one of a kind. What began as a recipe blog during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has morphed into a platform that combines culinary passion with refined literary storytelling.
In her blog, María Paola Núñez blends two of her greatest passions: gastronomy and her literary skills, resulting in a vibe that has positioned her as one of the most beloved influencers. Her videos feature recipes inspired by fictional tales, all narrated with a soothing voice that invites you to scroll and listen as you work up your appetite and save a few recipes to try out later. It's a digital space that has created an unparalleled atmosphere for her followers.
Núñez started her recipe blog as a way to share her creativity during the pandemic, and progressively became the refuge of millions of people. While in New York, Mandoka began to imagine and share recipes, eventually turning her project into a solid brand with a touch of vintage and aesthetic flair that gives it a retro vibe.
Núñez, 28 years old and originally from Venezuela, has developed a solid social media presence: on Instagram alone, she has 1.1 million followers, on TikTok, 3.1 million, and on YouTube, just over 600,000. The content creator started on Instagram and quickly moved to TikTok, where the 'likes' quickly bloomed, resulting in millions of views.
"One of my first TikTok videos was a red wine poached pear dessert; it was the first I made with a background narrative, telling the story of the pear, and it went viral. That's how it started to grow, and that's how a lot of people discovered me."
The name of her project is a tribute to her roots, as mandocas are a beloved Venezuelan dish that she describes as "a little donut made with piloncillo, white cheese, and cornmeal," typical of Zulia. "I've always loved mandocas. Whenever my grandma or mom made them, it was a happy day. The only difference is that the name of the food is spelled with a 'C' and I used a 'K' for Mandoka. That was the inspiration—those childhood memories," she said to Vogue.
"What's behind Mandoka is just good intentions—wanting people to cook more, to relax, to find a space, a refuge in the kitchen," she said in an interview with ¡HOLA!.
Soon, her social media accounts evolved into a big dream: a book. In July 2024, she released her first publication, Cuentos de Cocina: Recetas para Conectar los Sentidos (Kitchen Tales: Recipes to Connect the Senses). As expected, the book succeeded, featuring everything from her most famous recipes to kitchen basics.
Along the way, Mandoka, who's now based in Miami, Florida, received the happy news of her first pregnancy. Things couldn't be going better. Amid these joyful developments, María Paola is clear that she will never give up on her project—the one that has transformed into a business and that has brought her so much joy and fulfillment.
"Personally, for my peace of mind and because it makes me happy, my plan is to be a very present mom, but I would never stop doing Mandoka. I would never leave my work because I'm truly passionate about it. So I can't stop doing something that makes me so happy."
Núñez welcomed her daughter Martina in the summer. While she knows that the future will bring many changes, including new routines that involve raising and caring for her newborn, she's sure she'll find new ways to facilitate her work. In the months ahead, she may have less time to dedicate to the process of creating and editing videos, but as she’s shown before, where there’s a will, there’s a way.