CRISTINAARECHA'S MENTOR PROFILE
Hi, I'm cristinaarecha.
I'm a mentor in Caribbean
I'm from Los Angeles, Ca
My Caribbean Corner
Why I want to be mentor in this category:
I was surprised that there was not a sub category for Cuban cuisine. As soon as I saw that, I knew I had something important to contribute.
What inspires me in this category:
Cuban cooking is food for the soul. Fo me, it brings back wonderful memories of days spent with my two 'Abuelas' in their respective kitchens. I see many 'new' Cuban recipes published, but rarely see the true tradition Cuban home cooking that made the cuisine so popular.
Experience:
I started cooking Cuban food when I was a little girl in my grandmothers kitchens. They were both accomplished cooks and taught me everything about traditional Cuban cooking.
Biggest Lesson Learned:
Patience and perseverance are the two most important qualities to possess. This is true in and out of the kitchen.
Books, classes, teachers that have helped me:
My Abuela's and my mother were my best teachers. The cookbooks I have are their hand written recipes, some of which date back over 100 years!
Education, Awards, Pro Experience:
I owned my own Catering company for many years. I sold the business and now enjoy cooking for pleasure rather than for income.
My Tips:
- A good 'mojo' recipe is worth it's weight in gold in Cuban cooking.