Thanksgiving, otherwise known as "El Dia de las Gracias" or "Feliz Dia de Accion de Gracias" in Spanish, is not only a time to show off your culinary skills and be surrounded by with the ones you love, but for many Latinos in the U.S., it's a time to be thankful for many of life's blessings.
Beginners and veterans, alike, should have a fundamental understanding of Latin cooking basics. Keen awareness of techniques, flavors and tools makes all the difference; and is what helps to make an exceptional and sensational Latin cooking experience, as opposed to a mediocre, Taco Bell-caliber one. The right ingredients and techniques will liven up and give an ethnic-twist to routine American dishes, and it will introduce the Latin palate to anyone open to a zesty and mouthwatering experience.
Puerto Rican dishes are gathered, like the family seated around them. There's quick chatter and side conversation. The food smells delicious, and it tastes better. Some say that it's all about the adobo, but a number of the other Puerto Rican home-style cooks say that it's about the sofrito, sometimes called sazon. Eventually, someone exclaims, "And, any Puerto Rican will tell you when it comes to good adobe or sofrito, it CANNOT be store-bought."
New York City is alive with conversation, bright lights and people bumbling about with curiosity. Within the doors of one of its many restaurants, two individuals are undoubtedly sitting together for the first time, on a blind date, attempting to connect and find out if the person positioned across from him/her can better his/her life, or better yet, his/her evening. "First Date," the new Broadway play starring Zachary Levi ("Chuck") and Euro-Latina actress Krysta Rodriguez ("Smash"), captures that experience in a 90-minute performance that is over-run with wit and charisma.
