HispanicVista Columnists

Culture with Rhythm and Good Food

 By Domingo Ivan  Casañas/HispanicVista.com

    August 8, 2005

 

  

 

I have been a proud United States Citizen for over 30 years now.  I still remember when I arrived from Cuba with my family.  To this date people will ask me how I got my blue eyes, and fair skin.  This people are Hispanics as well as Anglos.  I am also given hot sauce to put on my food, because  some people think that Hispanics means Mexican.  I bring this up because our History classes are not doing a good enough job on the difference of cultures when it comes to Latin America.   However, we will tackle that topic in the future.   Today I want to focus on the Latin Rhythm and good food that we bring to America.

 

There are many facets to our Latino culture and is not limited to Latino food, salsa dancing and entertainment.  Our music and dancing of merengue, bachata, cumbia, samba and salsa are what make us move, but we also need to express our Hispanic culture through art, writing, education, health, Latino food, close knit families, just to name a few. 

 

The Latin way of life has an awful lot to offer.   Our music and food are either hot or spicy.  The way we can dance brings out the African roots in our music and movements.  We need to be proud for our culture, customs, music and food.  Yes, they are rich in color, life, sounds and taste.  Many have a mixture of three races: Spanish, Indian and African, whose blood flow through our veins, giving us life, culture and identity. 

 

Hispanic foods share one common bond….Spices!  Order any dish in a Mexican, Cuban or Caribbean restaurant and chances are you will need a constant supply of water, wine or soda to keep up with the meal.  Latin America countries use spices, such as oregano, garlic, onions, bay leaves,

Cumin, chile, pepper and salt to flavor the fine dish that is being cooked.

In any Hispanic household, dinner is definitely a family affair, filled with good food, drink, and family conversation.  So check out a local Latin restaurant when you have a chance.

 

Being born in Cuba I am not used to hot spicy foods.  One my favorite Cuban dish is rice with black beans, with a juicy steak, chicken, or pork for the meat entrée.  We also eat plantains (the big bananas that you see in the stores).  The green plantains are fried and the ripe plantains are also fried but have a sweet taste to them.   Puerto Ricans also eat white rice with red beans and roast pork that is one of my favorite dishes also when I visit Puerto Rico.  My friends from Argentina make a great fruit salad with frozen yogurt.  The people from Chile are known to make an excellent Seafood stew.  The Colombians can make a great mango delight gelatin.  The people of Costa Rica make a delicious hearts of palm salad.  The Dominican Republic is known for their turkey stew.  Ecuador families make a mixed salad in vinaigrette that is tasty, as well as a red pepper and garbanzo bean salad.  When visiting a restaurant from El Salvador you need to order Pupusas.  In Guatemala you can taste a delicious cucumber soup.  In Mexico you can enjoy Mexican rice with a well-seasoned fish or many of the entries that we already enjoy at the so many Mexican restaurants in the area.  The Nicaraguan people are known for their chicken tamales.  And in Paraguay you can enjoy their winter squash soup.  In Peru potatoes a la  Huancaina melt in your mouth.  The Arepas in Venezuela are on the made from flour, salt and white cheese. 

 

Each Spanish-speaking country has its own culture, our dancing, our food, even the way we say certain words in Spanish, but what does not change is that our culture is rich in language, customs, foods, architecture, music and the visual arts.  So don’t be shy about getting to know us, getting to know our cultures and our way of life.  We are human beings proud of our culture.

 

For those of you that are Latinos be proud, know that we have a special flair about us, and learn more about your culture.  Of course, remembering also, that we are in the United States of America and that it is our duty to learn the English language while not forgetting our own roots.  Hasta Pronto

 

Domingo Ivan Casañas is a Contributing Columnist for HispanicVista.Com (http://www.hispanicvista.com/).  Domingo was born in Cuba and is a Proud United States of America Citizen.  Domingo is the Author of: CUBA THE TARNISHED PEARL, you may read excerpts of his book at: http://www.cubanbook.com/ You may email Domingo at: LatinoAchievers@aol.com Domingo also writes Faith Page articles and is available for speaking engagements

 

                    CUBA: The Tarnished Pearl

                                  By Domingo Ivan Casañas

                    

Bookman Publishing & Marketing is proud to introduce, Cuba: The Tarnished Pearl, written by Domingo Ivan Casañas.

 Experience firsthand the story of a family’s struggle to escape the rule of Fidel Castro in Cuba.  Not only is Cuba: The Tarnished Pearl a tale of a flight to freedom, but also a historical account of Cuba before and during Castro’s reign, The Bay of Pigs and much more.  This book highlights the true story and real facts about how Communism has failed in Cuba.

 Cuba: The Tarnished Pearl also includes the memoirs of the author’s father that were kept in a journal beginning in 1917 and ending in 1976.  This provides eye-opening insight into the personal thoughts and feelings of a man who endured so much pain and hardship.  Cuba: The Tarnished Pearl is a must-read for those seeking truth through history.

 Domingo Ivan Casañas is currently a column writer for HispanicVista.com and several local newspapers in his hometown Antioch, California.  He is an American citizen and a proud single father of three.  Cuba: The Tarnished Pearl is his first published book but definitely not his last.

For more information on purchasing this title and excerpts please click on: WWW.CUBANBOOK.COM  or Write to: ASM P O BOX 8427 PITTSBURG, CA 94565

DOMINGO IS AVAILABLE FOR: INTERVIEWS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND BOOK SIGNINGS….

Domingo offers his readers a special discount with a signed copy of his book. Contact Domingo directly for this opportunity.