BLODEGA BY THE PERALTA PROJECT — ONTHEGRILL

Now that we have set our clocks back and our nights are longer it is the perfect time to do all things cozy! A person who knows just what to do for cozy season is Terrell Davis, the self proclaimed ‘good times dispenser’. Thanks to his viral videos on Tik Tok, Terrell has become popular for sharing his delicious homemade tea recipes that will warm any cold soul right up and his love for plants which were ingrained in him by his grandmother. Not only is Terrell blessing us with these quick step by step videos of his tea time he is advocating self care while doing so. We love to see it and cannot wait to try one of this teas on a brisk fall night. 

Longer nights in the fall also mean we have less time to cook dinner at home since our bodies will start getting into their hibernation mode. Vivian Aronson has a quick solution and all you’ll need is a rice cooker. With over five million views on TikTok, her “one tomato lazy rice” video recipe won over every person who is need of an easy but flavorful dinner. This Minnesota chef who has appeared on Master Chef season 10 says that rice cooker recipes are common in China where she is from due to the lack of ovens. As a busy mom, this “rice cooker” skill has saved her plenty of time when it comes to both prepping and cooking the meals. If you want to try this out, check out her Mini Rice Cooker Chicken Curry dish - it’ll spice up your dinners even on weeknights! 

What other dish could solidify the arrival of fall better than the tastiest stew ever created by Latinos and Caribbeans in all of the diaspora - sancocho! For those that may not be familiar with this hearty dish (which comes in many different versions depending where you are from) in essence, it is a meat and roots based stew typically paired with white rice and avocado. In case you have not been passed down your ta-tara abuela’s family recipe we got you with this one from the oldest and largest Dominican cooking websites since 2001 DominicanCooking.com. Get ready to impress the whole family including the tia que critica todo! 

We all know the love story between a true New Yorker and their local bodega. They were the unsung heroes of many communities during the pandemic when major department stores were closed or had lines around the block to get in. Doesn’t matter if it’s 6 A.M. or 12 A.M., when there is nothing else open, those bodega sandwiches hit all the right spots. One sandwich that has gone viral and nationwide thanks to the popularity of “New York culture” is the Chopped Cheese. Thanks to former sneaker head and owner of the Bodega Truck, Jeremy Batista, you can now get six variations of this mouthwatering N.Y. staple. You also can catch the Bodega Truck all over the city and on the upcoming docu-series “Hungry for More” by First We Feast premiering 10/27.

If you open a Caribbean household’s kitchen cupboard without a doubt you will find espresso coffee and Maria cookies. These two are a match made in Hispanic heaven. When we came across Sade Serrano’s Cafecito-Inspired Icebox Cake we instantly became nostalgic of those cafecito moments and had to share it with you all! To Sade, also known as the Kitchen Bruja, this recipe she created represents “the wholesome moments shared around the dinner table or living room”. Not only does this cake recipe contain coffee infused cookies but it is layered with another classic, dulce de leche. Jesu’! Try this at home with your loved ones or for the upcoming holiday parties. We are sure that this will be the perfect kick of azúcar everyone needs. 

If there is something we love to do is give flowers to people who, via their own lane, are making history. As the first African American female to serve as the chef for the Atlanta Braves, Catrisa Turner deserves her flowers. Even though it is slightly saddening that in 2021 we are celebrating any “firsts” of Black & Brown people in prestigious positions, it is still an incredible accomplishment for this trail blazing chef. With over 15 years in the culinary game and having studied in kitchens all over the world it is no wonder Cat is in the position that she is in. These culinary skills are in her blood as she is a third-generation chef in her family. Her ongoing goal is to continue to open doors of opportunities for those who come after her, specifically for women and people of color. Hats off to you chef! 

Imagine a pizza made of plantain crust topped with chicken in vodka sauce, mozzarella, longaniza, salami, queso frito, and special sauce. That would be like a little piece of Dominican-Italian heaven right? Well that foodie dream is a reality with Stephen “chef papi” Rodriguez creation of the Dominican Pizza,  a dish that became so popular that it changed the trajectory of his culinary career. Chef Papi not only has a food truck called IZKINA and his own seasoning but he also caters private dinner events. IZKINA has an array of mouth watering dishes like Jarabacoa Sushi Roll and Guava and Cheese Empanadas. If you can’t wait to try some of his dishes, book a ticket to his upcoming two day birthday event “Dinner in the Sky”. Buen provecho! 

As Latinos the greatest traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation are those recipes that remind us of home, our people, and our motherlands. Afro-Puerto Rican chef and actress Santana Caress Benitez understood that assignment and has been giving some of those traditional recipes her own flair. You may recognize her as “Lulu” from the hit Netflix series, “She’s Gotta Have It” but this multi-talented queen is out here showing her true chef skills in the kitchen. Appropriately using the hashtag #Illcooklikeyourmother, Santana’s instagram is filled with dishes that will make you want to eat your phone like the tostones topped with cod fish, pickled pepper, and a dollop of sour cream shown above. Drooling yet? Fortunately for us she now shares her recipes and some of her lifestyle hacks via a subscription on the Patreon app which is worth every penny. Hit that suscribe button and get the cooking! 

We know you all have seen them. They have taken over all of our feeds. It all started last year where Tik-Tok blew up with videos of people dunking cheesy and meaty tacos into a scrumptious broth and so started the Birria taco trend.    The thing is that these tacos were nothing new to true taco eaters. These Mexican beef or lamb filled tacos topped with cheese and served with a side of meat broth have been around since the 16th century. In N.Y. the smell tacos have been filling  the streets by the O.G.’s of the game Birria-Landia. With locations in Brooklyn and Queens the lines to these trucks are always long but worth the wait (trust me as I have been to BOTH). Go with a nice empty stomach and get ready to take your taste buds for a ride. 

Speaking of traditions is it too early to talk about coquito? The holidays are quickly approaching and we all know that it is truly not a Noche Buena until you’ve had that sip of coquito while hearing the current family chisme from your tia, am i right? All jokes aside, coquito is one of those traditions and recipes we previously mentioned that upholds our roots and customs from our cultura. Johnny Rivera owner of Brooklyn Coquito knows this very well. He believes that this creamy drink is not only a beverage but a lifestyle. It carries the legacy’s of our ancestors and creates memories with every bottle gifted or shared. Right now, you can place a pre-order as shipping starts October 25th. They’ve even shared a discount code on the site for the next time you place an order since it’s so good that you’ll be back for more for sure. Salud! 

Hay hambre and we have just the person for you to follow and drool over as you scroll through their feed - New York’s very own Dominican Chef Kelvin. Better know as the Arepa King (arepas so good that they granted him a win on Beat Bobby Flay), Chef Kelvin is now blessing us by sharing some of his mouth watering recipes on his YouTube channel like his Baby Back Ribs with a Guava Glaze. Delete that UberEats app and go create some magic in the kitchen. Your stomach and taste buds will thank us later. 

Is there anything better than the smell of fresh coffee brewing in your greca? If you are a coffee aficionado like us, you are going to love Don Carvajal Café created and founded by Hector Castillo Carvajal. Influenced by his childhood in his grandfather’s farm in D.R. and the call to break the unethical practices used by major coffee producers, this organic coffee which is packed in biodegradable & compostable packaging, offers options from D.R., Colombia, Costa Rica and Brazil. Did we mention that our very own Tony Peralta designed the graphic art used on the Greca Blend? Go show support for this Latino owned coffee brand that will not let you down.