Puerto Rican's Food

Puerto Rican's Food

Puerto Rican cooking is somewhat similar to both Cuban and Mexican cuisine. It is a distinctive tasty blend of Spanish, African, Taíno, and American influences, using such native seasonings and ingredients

 

Appetizers

 

Empanadilla Pastry

Empanadilla pasrty is very much popular. It is easy to make and most likely found in bakery.

 

 

 

Alcapurrias

 Say the word "alcapurrias," and most Puerto Ricans think "beach food." These scrumptious fritters are usually made with a batter of taro  and green bananas, and are stuffed with either a meat filling or with crab, shrimp or lobster.

 

 

Soups

Some of the popular soups to eat are frijoles negroes (black bean soup),sopon de pollo con arroz (chicken soup with rice), and sopon de pescado (fish soup), and Sancocho.

 

Sancocho

 This stew goes back at least 400 hundred years to when the Spaniards brought African slaves over to the island.  The slaves would make a huge pot and let it stew all day and have a hearty meal ready after a long day of labor.  The tradition continued on to the poor farmers, which were call “Jibaros” and it is still here today. The name of this dish, Sancocho, literally means stew. In Puerto Rico when a person has spent all day under the hot sun, it is said that they are “sancochao”, which means stewing in the blistering heat. This is one of the most famous soup dishes in Puerto Rico culture.

 

Puerto Rican Chicken Soup

The national Puerto Rican soup is a mixture of chicken, rice, and seasonings that nourishes the body and soul. During the Christmas season, when groups of family and friends get together at the asaltos (singing Christmas carols from house to house), the best way to end the evening is with a big pot of steaming asopao (soup). Not only is it great party food, but it tastes better when reheated the next day.

 

Arroz Con Gandules

Arroz con gandules is a famous dish known to be cooked by Puerto Ricans. It is also a traditional rice dish. It is cooked on hoildays, birthdays, parties, and special events. It is guaranteed that you will see this where there is a Puerto Rican event going on.

 With sachicha added

 

Arroz con Gandules y Sachicha

 

 

Plain Arroz con Gandules 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puerto Rico Beverages

Puerto Rico Drinks

Usually when a Puerto Rican is done eating breakfast, lunch or dinner, they are not done until they have had their coffee. It has been produced in the island's high-altitude interior for more than 300 years. Originally imported from the nearby Dominican Republic, coffee is still among the island's exports and is a suitable ending for any well-presented meal.

 

 

Cafe Rico, Rico Coffee, Puerto Rican Coffee, Cafe de Puerto Rico

Coffee Rico from Puerto Rico was founded in the early 1900’s and although much time has passed the mission for Café Rico been the same. Cafe Rico is one of the Best Coffees of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico’s Alcoholic Beverage

Rum is the nationwide drink, and you can purchase it in almost any shade. Puerto Rico is the world's leading rum creator; 80% of the rum consumed in the United States hails from the island. Christopher Columbus brought sugarcane, from which rum is distilled, to the Caribbean on his second voyage to the New World, and in virtually no time it became the regional drink.

France has its wine. Germany has its beer. And Puerto Rico has its rum. Not lightly do they call this small island the rum capital of the world. Over 70 percent of the rum sold in the U.S. comes from Puerto Rico; it's the island's chief export.

Different Type of Rum

·         Light Rum (or Silver/White Rum) - A preferred rum for cocktails and mixed drinks, light and white rums have a more subtle flavor. The most ubiquitous example of light rum can be found in the supremely popular mojito, a Cuban drink which has become a local favorite in Puerto Rico.

·         Gold or Amber Rum - That familiar golden brown hue, rich taste and full body make this the natural choice for your standard rum and coke. Aged in wooden barrels, they have a stronger flavor than light rums.

·         Spiced Rum - Usually a gold variety, this grade of rum gets its name and flavor from the added spices and, occasionally, caramel.

·         Dark Rum - Aged longer in heavily charred barrels, dark rum has a much stronger flavor, hints of spices, and a strong molasses or caramel overtone.

 

Famous Rum

·         Bacardi, the world's most popular rum, has a massive distillery located across the bay from Old San Juan. It's a popular and free tourist attraction.

Barcardi

 

 

  ·         Don Q is favored by many locals as the best rum in Puerto Rico.

 

 

 ·         Palo Viejo is another variety hard to find outside the island and a favorite for classic drinks like coquito, the Puerto Rican egg nog.

    Coquito is a traditional punch served at Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. The drink is similar to eggnog with rum.

 

·         Ron Llave is a traditional, mellow rum available in light or dark grades.

·         And finally there’s ron caña, which isn’t actually rum, but a similar liquor made from sugarcane; it’s the local equivalent of moonshine.

 

The Puerto Rican Parade in New York

Puerto Rico Parade In N.Y

The Puerto Rican Day Parade takes place annually along Fifth Avenue in New York City. It’s held on the second Sunday in June. It is in honor of the nearly 4 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico and all people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage residing in the mainland U.S. The first Puerto Rican Day Parade was held on Sunday, April 13, 1958, in Manhattan. In 1995, the parade became incorporated as the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and expanded beyond the parade itself.

In recent years, the parade has honored several Puerto Rican celebrities by naming them "International Grand Marshal" of the parade including singer Marc Anthony, who participated in the parade along with his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez. Also Ricky Martin was in the parade in 2010. These celebrities are name with the title such as “King”, "National Ambassador of La Salsa", and "National Godmother.”
 

Ricky Martin in 2010

 

Entrance of Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez at the Puerto Rico Parade in  New York.

 

Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez in 2007 Puerto Rico.

 

So  many people come out to the Puerto Rico Parade. When these people come out to this event they expect to hear music and dance, see performance, see famous people, eat and have a good time. All type of Puerto Rico food is served. Famous pastry, appetizers, and dish are below.

 

Food Sold at the Puerto Rico Parade

 

Empanadas

 

 

                               
                                                             

Platanos

 

 

 

Puerto Rico's First Popular Music: Salsa

 

Salsa

 

 

Salsa, its name literally is interpreted as the "sauce" that makes parties happens. Salsa is the rhythm of the islands.  Salsa was developed within the Puerto Rican community of New York; it draws heavily from the musical origins of the Cuban and the African-Caribbean experience. Salsa rhythm is hot, urban, rhythmically sophisticated, and fascinating. The first great salsa musician was Tito Puente.

Tito Puente was born in New York City to Puerto Rican immigrant parents. He was known to be the “King of Latin jazz” or “El Rey”. He was a bandleader, percussionist, composer, and arranger. Puente studied at New York's Juilliard School of Music. Once he finished with school, he then went on to establish his own band. His band was named Puente's Latin Jazz Ensemble. His band has been heard by a lot of people from all around the world. His best-selling album was Dance Mania. Tito added some mixture of different rhythm including cha-cha, and merengue. Among his notable songs are “Babarabatiri,” “Ran Kan Kan,” and “Oye Como Va.”

Tito Puente "Ran Kan Kan"

Salsa has definitely made Puerto Rico famous in the world of international music. If you listen closely to the music, salsa consists of maracas, bongos, timbales, conga drums.

It is certain that if you go to a party that is held by Puerto Ricans, you will hear salsa most of the night. Willie Colón, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and Hector Lavoe are on everyone's list as the "Grand Masters of today's salsa beat."

 

Willie Colon "Idilio"

 

Hector Lavoe "Aguanile"

 

Gran Combo de Puerto Rico "Timbalero"

 

 

Today's Salsa Music:

 

Marc Anthony "Tu Amor Me Hace Bien"

 

The way you dance salsa.

 

 

 

 



Racial Advertisement

Racial Adevertisement

 

 

As you can see these are the eyes of three white males and one black male. I feel like this is a racial ad because if you look at the picture and study the image, you will see that all of the white male eyes are clear and looks like they are smiling with their eyes. However, for the black male his eyes are red and he has a very aggressive look. Some might say he looks mean, mad, or looks like a killer. Why didnt they have a white male eyes looking like that? Yet, because they feel like blacks are more likely to look like this or act such way than the white folks. This is not just about race, but they are stereotyping black people.

 

 

 

This image looks ridiculous. Why do they have six officers, (which five of them are wearing customs), pointing not just a gun, but more like riffles on just one black male? Just because he is black, I bet you. Once again they are stereotyping black people. They seem to think that they have to have more than two police officerw, more like a SWAT team on the scene when they have to deal with black people.

 

Questions on Film

1.    How different or similar do you think are the values and ideas of today’s immigrant from those of the past?

I believe that the values and ideas of today’s immigrants from those of the past are both similar and different. Some of the immigrants are all still trying to live a better life for themselves here in the U.S and also for their family back in their countries. However, I think the difference between some of the past and new immigrant is that they think they can get a free ride here in America. Also some come to America and commit a crime the sends them back to their country.

 

2.    How are the values and ideas of the immigrants portrayed in the film different or similar to traditional American values of discipline, hard work industriousness, and individual freedoms? 

           The values and ideas of the immigrants portrayed in the film are no different to tradition American values of discipline, hard work industriousness and individual freedoms. The reason why I say such thing is because I feel like they all want what we value and that is labor and freedom. They come here to find work and get some money to try and maintain their family back at home. It’s similar in the way of if they get caught they would be deported back to their countries empty handed.

My Opinion on Racial Category

Racism is not anything new. Racism has been continuously proceeding for years. Currently it is still going on, believe it or not. I truly believe every human being has the right to be entitled to their own opinions or beliefs. It shouldn’t matter about the color or race. Just because they may be more on the poor side doesn’t mean it’s right to exclude them out in anything.

Given the civic and sociological thinking at the turn of the century, it is not surprising that race definitions could include subgroups of immigrants who were in some way be different from the native-born majority. Racial categories could be said to have both good and bad outcomes. The reason why I say it can have both positive and negative outcome is because first, it helps the people in racial categories get resources. For example, there are scholarships for African American students, Latinos, Haitians and etc. In certain places they have a program for just for black women. The only requirements are that you are a black female. The negative is that it continues the stereotype of people. It also continues the racism and in the past this has led to segregation. 

To conclude, I believe that counting people in racial category both help and diminish for people who fall in this category. It has a little of both pros and cons. Therefore we cannot completely eliminate the categorizations process. We can just try to curve the thinking of those who have negative feelings towards certain races.

 

My Beautiful Name

 

           Across the entire United States a total of 1,529 people bear the same name as me. Mayra consists of five letter two syllables. Such a popular name, Mayra is of a Spanish origin and it means “Combination of Maya/Myra/Mara”. In Spanish Mayra means ungida which is anointed in English. I don’t know how true that is. My name was spelled the Spanish way, therefore my name can be pronounced in two ways. It could be pronounced as Myra or May-ra. I prefer it to be pronounced as Myra. My mother, Ana was the one who came up with my name. One day I was in her bedroom lying down in her bed next to her and we were talking about baby names. So I thought about the name she gave me and asked her why you gave me my name? She responded that when she was pregnant with me she would watch her favorite novela, which is a soap opera. As my mother watched her show she had a favorite actor and her role was to be a beautiful, strong, and smart woman. Once my mother heard her name, not only did she fall in love with the role she played but also the beautiful name she had which was Mayra. So my mother touched and rubbed her belly and said out loud, “Your name is going to be Mayra”.

 I, Mayra Vega am Hispanic. I was born here but both my parents were born and raised in Puerto Rico. My last name Vega is also from a Spanish origin, and I took that name after my father’s last name. My father took his father last name also. I asked my father were did the name Vega come from and he only responded that his mother gave him his father name. My grandfather passed away when my father was about nine, therefore my father doesn’t know anything about the name. Since both my parents, and both side of my grandparents were born and raised in Puerto Rico my ethnicity has not change at all.

           What I learned about this is that every name does have a meaning. Also, I not knowing too much about my background ethnicity makes me want to ask question and want to know where my name really came from. Every race has their different culture. Some usual and some unusual, but we should all be able to respect every race, ethnicity and culture and be able to talk about our own.