New York Times: Philadelphia Native, Author Promotes Latin American Roots Through Cuisine 

In March 2020, Sandra A. Gutierrez had plans to visit 23 Latin American cities for her fifth cookbook, then the pandemic forced her to pivot, writes Christina Morales for the New York Times. 

No longer able to engage in international travel, Gutierrez had to find an alternative way to fill her encyclopedia-style cookbook, “Latinísimo: Home Recipes From the 21 Countries of Latin America.” 

Rather than travel, Gutierrez moved her preplanned interviews to Zoom and scheduled dozens of online cooking classes with industry experts. 

For the book, she mainly wanted to highlight the home cooking of Latin American countries and recipes from nations that many Americans may not be familiar with. 

She managed to find them through family recipes, cookbooks from libraries, and other resources. 

Born in Philadelphia but raised in Guatemala City – her parents’ native country – Gutierrez often traveled throughout Central America throughout her childhood.  

As she got older, Gutierrez came to the realization that there was a lack of modern cookbooks representing Latin American cuisine.

Maricel Presilla, fellow cookbook author, namely the author of James Beard Foundation Award-winning cookbook, “Gran Cocina Latina,” agrees. 

“There are recipes that are endangered everywhere that need to be saved,” she said.  

Read more about how Sandra A. Gutierrez aims to keep Latin American recipes alive in the New York Times.  

_____