Eating Puerto Rico

Available for the first time in English, Cruz Miguel Ortiz Cuadra's magisterial history of the foods and eating habits of Puerto Rico unfolds into an examination of Puerto Rican society from the Spanish conquest to the present. Each chapter is centered on an iconic Puerto Rican foodstuff, from rice and cornmeal to beans, roots, herbs, fish, and meat. Ortiz shows how their production and consumption connects with race, ethnicity, gender, social class, and cultural appropriation in Puerto Rico. Using a multidisciplinary approach and a sweeping array of sources, Ortiz asks whether Puerto Ricans really still are what they ate. Whether judging by a host of social and economic factors--or by the foods once eaten that have now disappeared--Ortiz concludes that the nature of daily life in Puerto Rico has experienced a sea change.

"Originally published in Spanish with the title Puerto Rico en la olla."

FOREWORD BY LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA AND LUIS A. MIRANDA, JR. The true story of how José Andrés and World Central Kitchen’s chefs fed hundreds of thousands of hungry Americans after Hurricane Maria and touched the hearts of many more Chef José Andrés arrived in Puerto Rico four days after Hurricane Maria ripped through the island. The economy was destroyed and for most people there was no clean water, no food, no power, no gas, and no way to communicate with the outside world. Andrés addressed the humanitarian crisis the only way he knew how: by feeding people, one hot meal at a time. From serving sancocho with his friend José Enrique at Enrique’s ravaged restaurant in San Juan to eventually cooking 100,000 meals a day at more than a dozen kitchens across the island, Andrés and his team fed hundreds of thousands of people, including with massive paellas made to serve thousands of people alone. At the same time, they also confronted a crisis with deep roots, as well as the broken and wasteful system that helps keep some of the biggest charities and NGOs in business. Based on Andrés’s insider’s take as well as on meetings, messages, and conversations he had while in Puerto Rico, We Fed an Island movingly describes how a network of community kitchens activated real change and tells an extraordinary story of hope in the face of disasters both natural and man-made, offering suggestions for how to address a crisis like this in the future. Beyond that, a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the Chef Relief Network of World Central Kitchen for efforts in Puerto Rico and beyond.

Foodies and lovers of Carribbean cooking will be inspired by the authentic Puerto Rican recipes in Yvonne's Ortiz's essential cookbook, A Taste of Puerto Rico. Yellow rice, papayas, guavas, pina coladas, adobo, cilantro, and recaito—color, spirit, and sun-splashed flavor identify the national cuisine of Puerto Rico. A Taste of Puerto Rico is the first major cookbook in years to celebrate the vibrant foods of Puerto Rico, from hearty classics to today's new, light creations. Culinary professional Yvonne Ortiz captures the very best of island cooking in 200 recipes for every course. Adapted for the modern kitchen but completely authentic, these wonderful dishes, bursting with tropical tastes, bring a rich and diverse culinary heritage to your table.

One of "The Best Memoirs of a Generation" (Oprah's Book Club): a young woman's journey from the mango groves and barrios of Puerto Rico to Brooklyn, and eventually on to Harvard In a childhood full of tropical beauty and domestic strife, poverty and tenderness, Esmeralda Santiago learned the proper way to eat a guava, the sound of tree frogs, the taste of morcilla, and the formula for ushering a dead baby's soul to heaven. But when her mother, Mami, a force of nature, takes off to New York with her seven, soon to be eleven children, Esmeralda, the oldest, must learn new rules, a new language, and eventually a new identity. In the first of her three acclaimed memoirs, Esmeralda brilliantly recreates her tremendous journey from the idyllic landscape and tumultuous family life of her earliest years, to translating for her mother at the welfare office, and to high honors at Harvard.

A collection of recipes for Puerto Rican dishes, covering all courses from soups to desserts, with a chapter on rum drinks. Includes a glossary and English and Spanish indexes.

Master the melting pot of Puerto Rican cooking with 100 classic recipes Puerto Rican cooking is rich with diverse flavors and textures that come together to create a unique culinary experience you could only find on the Island of Enchantment—until now. The Easy Puerto Rican Cookbook is packed with 100 classic recipes made simple, so you can create mouthwatering meals in your own kitchen with ease. Discover dozens of weeknight-friendly recipes, including a number of dishes that take 30 minutes or less to prepare and serve. Simplify your routine with recipes containing five ingredients or fewer, one-pot meals, slow-cooker dinners, and more. The authentic recipes in this Puerto Rican cookbook focus on whole foods, so you get all of the incredible flavors of traditional cuisine without the salt, fat, and processed ingredients. The Easy Puerto Rican Cookbook includes: 100 delectable recipes—Get a true taste of the island with delicious recipes for every meal, from cocktails and small plates to entrees, desserts, and beyond. Staples from scratch—Try 16 staple recipes like Chicharrón de Cerdo (Fried Pork Belly), Mojo Criollo (Garlic Marinade), and Pique (Puerto Rican Hot Sauce). Your Puerto Rican pantry—This beautifully designed Puerto Rican cookbook offers a guide to stocking your kitchen with essentials like annatto seeds, guava paste, and more. If you've been searching for a Puerto Rican cookbook that simplifies traditional recipes without sacrificing flavor, look no further—The Easy Puerto Rican Cookbook has everything you need.

"When Christopher Columbus stumbled upon America in 1492, the Italians had no pasta with tomato sauce, the Chinese had no spicy Szechuan cuisine, and the Aztecs in Mexico were eating tacos filled with live insects instead of beef. In this lively, always surprising history of the world through a gourmet's eyes, Raymond Sokolov explains how all of us -- Europeans, Americans, Africans, and Asians -- came to eat what we eat today. He journeys with the reader to far-flung ports of the former Spanish empire in search of the points where the menus of two hemispheres merged. In the process he shows that our idea of "traditional" cuisine in contrast to today's inventive new dishes ignores the food revolution that has been going on for the last 500 years. Why We Eat What We Eat is an exploration of the astonishing changes in the world's tastes that let us partake in a delightful, and edifying, feast for the mind."--Publisher's description.

Puerto Rican cuisine holds a unique place in the culinary world with its blend of Spanish, African, and Native Caribbean influences. In Puerto Rican Cuisine in America, Oswald Rivera shares over 250 family-favorite recipes that explore this one-of-a-kind style of Caribbean cooking. There is everything from hearty soup like Sancocho to savory delicacies such as Cabro Borracho (drunken goat) and Camarones Guisados (stewed shrimp) to rich desserts like Flan de Calabaza (pumpkin flan). Plus, with a suggested wine pairing for every dish and 90 delicious drink recipes, readers can enjoy the perfect Puerto Rican meal. Throughout the book, Oswald explores Puerto Rico's unique history, its people's migration to New York City, and his youth growing up in Harlem, as well as the growth of the Nuyorican culture in the United States. Refreshed with new illustrations throughout, this edition features a new preface by the author.

History of food in the United States.