Mother's Day: Our Moms, the Strongest Connection to our Roots
As Latinos, we love to gather around a good meal, and share much more than food. No matter what part of Latin America your family is from, food is a staple that brings us together. And nobody makes it better than our moms.
This is why this Mother’s Day we want to honor the role Latina mothers have taken on. We come from so many different places, many moved in search of a better life for their children, but they keep us connected to our culture, and what stronger connection than our food? For centuries women have been in charge of passing on their knowledge of gastronomical traditions, and in a way, of bringing their family together.
Some women are mothers to a whole community, they spread our culture and expand the concept of family. “My great grandmother, she would introduce people to the Puerto Rican food, not just me, she would feed everybody,” explained Frankie Correa a young Puerto Rican man living in Boston. That’s what it’s all about, bringing people together, giving them a taste of arroz con gandules and a piece of our country. One of the most important parts is the legacy Latina women leave behind, even though Frankie’s great grandmother passed away, “It has become a tradition, her daughter, my grandmother, does it too now.”
All of us have a favorite specialty that tastes infinitely better when our mom makes it. Clemencia Herrera, originally from Colombia, visits her parents in Atlanta, and her mom knows to ask what she wants her to prepare: “I immediately say: buñuelos and arepas - they are so delicious and such a huge part of Colombian breakfast,” she said. For her, it’s buñuelos for others it’s sancocho, or empanadas, but the ritual never changes. “Sitting at my family's table and all of us eating from a huge bowl of freshly made buñuelos while we talk is one of my favorite parts of every visit,” Clemencia concluded.
[caption id="attachment_3232" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Buñuelos[/caption]
We can go anywhere and instantly be brought back home in just one mouthful. Ioannis Paterakis, born and raised in Athens, Greece shared how his Venezuelan mother taught him about his heritage. “When I eat arepas it reminds me of her making them, of breakfast, and dashing out to school in a hurry, it brings me back to my life in Greece and closer to my mom,” he said. Like so many of our moms, she also introduced their friends to other typical foods through holidays, like hallacas, and pan de jamón.
[caption id="attachment_3233" align="aligncenter" width="679"]
Arepas[/caption]
So many of us associate the foods of our childhood with our roots, sometimes it is the only connection we have, but it is a strong one. Gabriela Rios, from Mexico, is a mother herself, raising her children in Spain. She makes them guacamole, quesadillas, and brings back Mexican marzipan. Just like our mothers did before, we want our children to share a collective experience, we want them to taste their country. “Even though we are far away and they were born here I want them to feel 50 percent Mexican (her husband is Spanish). And when their grandparents cook for them, I want them to know and eat,” she said. “I know it will make them happy that their grandkids have maintained their roots.”
[caption id="attachment_3234" align="aligncenter" width="686"]
Guacamole[/caption]
Cooking can be a way of developing incredible bonds. Laura Puentes, born and raised in Miami comes from a Cuban family. She remembers her childhood fondly, “I was always in the kitchen with my Abuelita,” she said. Laura explained that everything she knows about cooking and kitchen tips has been from her, and she kept on learning after she moved away from home. “I would call and ask her questions about her recipes from my house and even from the grocery store,” Laura said. “I still call her to this day to ask for advice.” Cooking is also a way to remain connected with our ancestors, and maintain our family history.
For her birthday this year, Laura’s Abuelita gave her her own mother’s handwritten recipes in a notebook. “It was then that I realized she has given me more than I could ever imagine,” Laura said. “By teaching me our family recipes, she has given me the gift of tradition and love that has been passed from generations.”
Each of our countries have their own rich variety of dishes and traditional cooking and they are all leaving their mark around the world. We ritualize food, it brings us together, and serves as an example of tradition and culture.
From us at IBA, we want to thank all of the wonderful mothers out there, and wish everyone a very happy mother’s day surrounded by family -- and of course, food.
We would love to hear your experience. What’s the cultural legacy your mom’s cooking has left on you?...