MECA International Art Fair Takes Place June 1-4, 2017

The MECA International Art Fair will take place in San Juan, PR from June 1st to the 4th. For more information, visit www.mecaartfair.com/.

An Introduction To Puerto Rican Food

The food is probably the best thing about the island that most of the 
world at large doesn't know about. Puerto Rican food is largely a 
combination of Spanish and African elements, with some American 
characteristics blended in over the last century. Puerto Rico's best 
known dish these days is probably Mofongo, which is a ball of fried, 
green plantain filled with meat (usually either chicken, fish or pork) 
and sometimes served sitting in a few ounces of fish broth. Green 
plantains look a lot like bananas, but aren't sweet. The closest co-
mmon taste I could compare it to would be potato. When the plan-
tain ripens, it becomes sweet, but dishes with green plantain always
seem to taste best. Dishes like tostones and arañitas are also made
from green plantain.

Rice and beans are everywhere, and have long been a staple of the 
Puerto Rican diet. The rice is usually white, and the beans most often 
red kidney beans, but different varieties of both are used. The island's 
diet is also heavy on pork, and is often found inside pasteles (which
 are a sort of turnover) on kabobs (orpinchos) and in sausages. Pork 
chops are also...[CONTINUE READING]

An Introduction To Puerto Rican Food

The food is probably the best thing about the island that most of the 
world at large doesn't know about. Puerto Rican food is largely a 
combination of Spanish and African elements, with some American 
characteristics blended in over the last century. Puerto Rico's best 
known dish these days is probably Mofongo, which is a ball of fried, 
green plantain filled with meat (usually either chicken, fish or pork) 
and sometimes served sitting in a few ounces of fish broth. Green 
plantains look a lot like bananas, but aren't sweet. The closest co-
mmon taste I could compare it to would be potato. When the plan-
tain ripens, it becomes sweet, but dishes with green plantain always
seem to taste best. Dishes like tostones and arañitas are also made
from green plantain.

Rice and beans are everywhere, and have long been a staple of the 
Puerto Rican diet. The rice is usually white, and the beans most often 
red kidney beans, but different varieties of both are used. The island's 
diet is also heavy on pork, and is often found inside pasteles (which
 are a sort of turnover) on kabobs (orpinchos) and in sausages. Pork 
chops are also...[CONTINUE READING]

Being Puerto Rican Outside of the Island

Tatiana K. Tenreyro

Huffington Post

After studying abroad in England for 10 months, I recently moved back
to Maryland to finish my senior year of college. While I'm glad to be back
to finish my final year of college, I can't help but dread the unavoidable ig-
norance expressed towards my ethnic background.

I grew up in Puerto Rico in a bilingual household to a Cuban father and a
half-American mother. Although I grew up in the island, my life consisted
on a melting pot of cultures. I personally felt more in touch with American
culture, since I related more to American pop culture, literature, music, and
other aspects.I always thought I would be able to fit in well if  I moved to
the States for college, considering my identity with the culture and my up-
bringing.

However, I was treated as an outsider. During my first week of classes, I had
a short writing assignment due for my English...[CONTINUE READING]