food for thought: latino food culture & identity - world...

Food for Thought:

Latino Food Culture & Identity

Carina Cordero Brossy, World View

Overview

Food as History

Food as Culture

Food as Identity

By Tomascastelazo (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Domestication of maize Nixtamalization of maize between 1200-1500 B.C.

Native to Mesoamerica • corn • beans • chiles • vanilla • chocolate • tomatoes • avocados • squash • numerous fruits

MESOAMERICA 2600 B.C. to A.D. 1521

http://the-kundalini.com/yum-kaax-mayan-corn-god/

Criollos =Spanish Born in New Spain

Mestizos =Mixed Spanish and Amerindians

Imported techniques • Cheese-making • Meat-curing • Use of lard

SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD 1521-1821

Spanish Imports • livestock • lentils • chickpeas • citrus fruits • onions • garlic • rice • sugar • bananas • eggplants

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-Less populated land -Presidios and misiones -Base of Mexican and Mexican American cuisines in the U.S. Southwest

NEW SPAIN’S NORTHERN FRONTIER

Common dishes

• Beef dishes

• Dried beef

• Barbacoa

• Roasted goat

• Wheat tortillas

• Chimichangas

• Pozole

• Buñuelos

1819

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki File:Viceroyalty_of_New_Spain_Location_1819_(without_Philippines).png

1821 = Mexican Independence from Spain

1846-48 = Mexican American War

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ADIOS : Half of Mexico’s national territory HOLA : US states of California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah

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Spanish Caribbean

-Arawak (Taíno) Indians throughout the islands -Combined agriculture with hunting, fishing, and gathering -Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic

Taíno Diets • Yuca • Sweet potatoes • Fish • Shellfish • Beans • Papaya • Mamey • Passion fruit • Caimito • Cherimoya

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Caribbean_spanish_names.PNG

Spanish Caribbean

-Extinction Taínos = Slavery, war, and new European diseases -Plantation agriculture -Bacalao (salted codfish), cilantro, garlic, olives

Africa/Asia Imports

• sugar cane • coffee • coconut • bananas • mango • tamarind

Mesoamerica Imports

• tomatoes • potatoes • cacao • annatto • vanilla

CUBA • Heavy migration in

1960’s after Cuban Revolution

• First wave of refugees were landowners, managers, doctors

• Had resources to recreate whole range of dishes

• Mainly settled in Miami

Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic

PUERTO RICO • Puerto Ricans as US

Citizens - 1917 • Heavy migration in 1950’s • First wave were rural

unskilled migrants • Bodegas & Goya Foods • Mainly settled in NYC

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniemicah/8499014072/

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

• Independence from Haiti in 1844

• Heavy migration in 1960’s after US-backed military coup

• Mainly settled in NYC, NJ, and Florida

FOOD AS CULTURE

México

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TAMALES

COMAL

MOLCAJETE

Movie Perfect México

CUARESMA

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MOLE POBLANO Ingredients:

2 Dried Pasilla Chilis 15 Dried Mulato Chilis 8 Dried Ancho Chilis 1 Turkey, cut into parts; heart, gizzard and neck saved to made a stock 2 Sprigs Parsley 3 Cloves Garlic, peeled 1 Large Onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 Cups) 3/4 Cup Blanched Almonds 1/2 Cup Seedless Raisings 4 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Seeds 1/2 Bolillo (French bread or Baguette), lightly toasted 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1/2 Teaspoon Anise Seeds 1/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1 Corn Tortilla, fried crispy and broken in small pieces 1 Chipotle Chilli 3 Large Tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 Teaspoon Sugar or to taste 1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste 1 1/2 Squares Unsweetened Chocolate 1 Cup Lard

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CASCARONES

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS Altar Offerings

Sugar Skulls Pan de Muerto Candied Pumpkin Chocolate Coffins and Skulls Atole Wash bowl Basin Razors Soap Papel picado Wreaths Crosses Flowers Candles Personal belongings from deceased

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Movie Perfect Spanish Caribbean PASTELES

(Puerto Rican Version)

Movie Perfect Spanish Caribbean

SOFRITO What is it?

Spanish Caribbean

FOOD AS IDENTITY

“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.”

-Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Movie Perfect Culinary Patrimony

Movie Perfect Immigrant Identity

Movie Perfect Globalization & New Markets

Movie Perfect Beyond “International Food Day”

• Engage students in issue-based discussions on global food

security, food politics, health, migration, identity, historical food

ways, marketing, etc

• Compare and contrast national and international cookbooks

• Invite local chefs and/or grocery store owners to present

• Visit/purchase items from a Latin supermarket

• Create hands-on learning experiences using fruits/veggies, labels

• Learn Spanish terms for certain food items and dishes (handout)

• Online Resource:

www.carnegielibrary.org/subject/food/latin.html

Food for Thought:

Latino Food Culture & Identity

Carina Cordero Brossy cordero124@yahoo.com