The Good Life

Born in Miami and raised during the Cuban migration that change Miami for ever, and in my opinion for the better, I love Latin food.  Cuban, or any of the many cuisines from South America all are distinct, colorful, flavorful and FUN.  My guest this week is Sandra Gutierrez with her new book; “The New Southern-Latino Table – Recipes That Bring Together theBold and Beloved Flavors of Latin American & the American South. ”

In this splendid cookbook, bicultural chef Sandra Gutierrez blends ingredients, traditions, and culinary techniques, creatively marrying the diverse and delicious cuisines of more than twenty Latin American countries with the beloved food of the American South.

The New Southern-Latino Table features 150 original and delightfully tasty recipes that combine the best of both culinary cultures. Sandra, who has taught thousands of people how to cook, highlights the surprising affinities between the foodways of the Latin and Southern regions–including a wide variety of ethnic roots in each tradition and many shared basic ingredients–while embracing their flavorful contrasts and fascinating histories.

These lively dishes–including Jalapeno Deviled Eggs, Cocktail Chiles Rellenos with Latin Pimiento Cheese, Two-Corn Summer Salad, Latin Fried Chicken with Smoky Ketchup, Macaroni con Queso, and Chile Chocolate Brownies–promise to spark the imaginations and the meals of home cooks, seasoned or novice, and of food lovers everywhere. Along with delectable appetizers, salads, entrees, side dishes, and desserts, Sandra also provides a handy glossary, a section on how to navigate a Latin tienda, and a guide to ingredient sources. The New Southern-Latino Table brings to your home innovative, vibrant dishes that meld Latin American and Southern palates.

I’ll also be telling you about another Latin cookbook by Lourdes Castro “Latin Grilling – Recipes to Share, from Patagonia Asado to Yucatecan Barbecue and more.

From the steamy jungles of the Yucatán to the verdant valleys along the Andes, Latin Grilling goes beyond typical barbecue fare and familiar Mexican and Tex-Mex standards to present more than 90 recipes that showcase the diversity of Latin American cooking. Acclaimed cooking teacher Lourdes Castro takes you on a culinary tour of the Americas with ten fiestas featuring authentic Latin flavors tailored for home cooking and backyard grilling.

In addition to steak and other grilled meats, Latin Grilling includes options for chicken, fish, shrimp, and vegetables to offer a bounty of delicious dishes sure to please all of your guests. Kick off your Peruvian party with a trio of fresh ceviches or host a Cuban Cookout complete with a whole roasted hog. With country-by-country entertaining plans and menus including beverages, starters, entrées, sides, and desserts, this celebration of traditional Latin American grilling is a refreshing change of pace. Lourdes captures the essence of Latin America in each meticulously formulated recipe, and to ensure you feel comfortable at the grill, she shares tips and notes on ingredients, flavor variations, techniques, and entertaining ideas throughout.

Whether you’re hosting a festive Brazilian Rodizio kicked off with Caipiroska cocktails and Skewered Shrimp with Coconut Lime Sauce, or a hearty Andean Barbecue featuring Arepas, Grilled Salt-Crusted Beef Tenderloin, and Chocolate Pudding with Espresso Cream, Latin Grilling is sure to get the party started—and keep your amigos coming back for more.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2007 Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The fruit-laden 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers a luscious bouquet of dark fruit including blackcurrant, black cherry, and blackberry layered over aromas of sweet vanilla and baking spices. Approachable cherry and cocoa notes lead to a wine of intense concentration, with flavors of dried plums and cola laced with hints of tobacco. Generous weight and mouth-filling velvet tannins frame a finish that lingers with flavors of dark cherry and cassis.

“A terrific wine that proves you don’t have to spend a fortune for a top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. It’s a deeply flavored, brooding young wine, filled with exciting blackberry, cassis and mineral flavors. Big in tannins, yet with a very refined, classy mouthfeel, it should begin to hit its stride after 2014.”
94 Points Wine Enthusiast