Spanglish: Recipes & Stories

ISBN: 1668022184

Author: Carlo, Monti

Condition: New

A delicious tribute to Puerto Rican cuisine and culture, with more than sixty-five soulful recipes.Growing up, Monti Carlo felt like she was perpetually bridging the gap between worlds-one foot on her home island of Puerto Rico, and the other in the heart of Houston, Texas. In the space between, as a self-taught chef and eventual TV host and James Beard Foundation advisor, shes carved out a cuisine all her own, one thats a testament to a life spent bridging two cultures. Its a mosaic of borrowed words and flavors, a reflection of the bittersweet beauty of connecting two very different ways of life. Its pure Spanglish.Within these pages, Monti shares the dishes embodying that journey: continental American classics created with the bold flavors of Puerto Rico, a taste of two worlds merging on the same plate. Theres comfort food like her elementary schools soupy chili with her Abuela Doras sweet and savory picadillo, golden bacalaíto-battered onion rings, and tangy tamarind roast chicken. There are nostalgia-laced Puerto Rican breakfasts like hearty sorullo waffles with pique honey and pastries like cinnamon rolls constructed with pillowy mallorca dough. There are not-so-traditional sides like floral hibiscus baked beans and crispy coconut rice. And theres delectable, subtly sweet desserts like morir soando no-bake cheesecake and passion fruit-curd stuffed mini cakes. Theres also a glossary of traditional Puerto Rican ingredients and where to source them, as well as recipes for traditional Puerto Rican bases like sofrito, sazón, and recaito.With flavor and heart, this cookbook is more than just recipes. Its a beautifully written reflection on Boricua identity and a testament to the healing power of food.