misangrelatina-blog - Tumblr blog

[misangrelatina-blog]

Samantha Alvarez

Last night I had a conversation with someone that really sparked my thoughts. As we were talking, he asked me if I knew this one girl. Although I don’t know her well; I have been around her as my mother knows hers and always invites them to my little sister's’ birthday parties since she has four little siblings. Anyway, the acquaintance I know told me how he went to school with this girl but at school she completely would deny speaking Spanish and being Mexican. I immediately felt a little embarrassed for her and truly a little angry. Then I told myself not to be hypocritical, I realized I had had similar feelings when I was younger. I never went as far to deny my heritage, since living in a small town not much is hidden. However, I remember times when I would be at the store and see someone I knew, and immediately think “I hope my parents don’t say anything at this moment”. Although I must have been around 13-14 years old when I had these thoughts, I feel shame for them. I understand this girl though, being a teen can be hard enough, but especially when you’re different than everyone else. We feel that conformity is our only option to fitting in or being liked. We later grow up to realize the opposite. Individuality truly is praised in the real world, whether we think it or not. Owning who we are and what we’re born into is incredibly rewarding, encouraging others to do the same is too. Being proud of who you are makes personalities spark in the eyes of others. Individuality is truly what makes us special, especially if you’re different and not afraid to own it.

[misangrelatina-blog]

Jai Nitz, bringing some Hispanic action to comic book characters! Here's his exclusive interview with Mi Sangre Latina. He says things, we hear things.Go vote, then check this out.

[misangrelatina-blog]

Samantha Alvarez

Although this subject is something that is being talked about quite a bit during this time, it cannot be talked about enough. I’m sure you’ve guessed; I’m talking about voting. Voting especially during this election is crucial for Hispanics. The pressure is on for Hispanics who are able to vote, since so many of us aren’t. I’m one of those people, holding permanent resident status makes it unable for me to vote. So I have made it a personal goal to push people to make them understand just how much putting their formal opinion out there counts. Tell a friend, tell a co-worker, chances are some of these people could care less and don’t resonate with either candidate. Your life experiences and background may be different than your friends, shedding light on subjects she/he had never explored before. People tend to only know & think about things they’ve personally experienced. However, someone close to them sharing something different than what they’ve lived can help broaden people’s views on politics and also life itself. Remember to go out and vote this November 18th. Don’t only vote for the president, also vote for your local and state representatives. Stay informed and empower other Hispanics to do the same.

[misangrelatina-blog]

Here's the second part of the interview with Luz from the band Y La Bamba - talking about combining arts, flowing with the world and her Latino community at home.

[misangrelatina-blog]

[misangrelatina-blog]

Music! - Y La Bamba interview. Part 1. Check back soon for the second part!

[misangrelatina-blog]

---This is the first in a regular column we will run by our contributor Samantha Alvarez talking about her experiences of Hispanic life in Kansas.--- Samantha Alvarez When I meet people today I eventually tell them I was born in Mexico. This can come completely out of the blue or because I simply want them to have a better understanding of who I am. This has not always been the case. I am a first generation Latina immigrant, with a pretty conventional (although not as much as I know some can be) Mexican family. My mother, little sister, and I immigrated here when I was six. We came to Oklahoma with the intentions of visiting my father for Christmas. My father has worked jobs in the United States for as long as I can remember. A couple weeks turned into months and now we have been here seventeen years. After living in the US for seventeen years I still own my heritage and defend it when needed. It’s really hard to understand something you’ve never lived, so patience with others can be key. Not only being Mexican but being an immigrant taught me a lot about people from an early age. It taught me tolerance, even if I didn’t quite realize it then. I felt that I had to be tolerant of others’ differences since, well, I was different from everyone around me too. I’ve lived in a small town with no diversity in North East Kansas, with a population of about 3,500 since I was ten. I made friends easily and felt accepted. I wish it was like that everywhere though. Understanding that not every human has the ability to put themselves in others’ shoes takes time but when you do it makes the rest easy. What I’m trying to say is that people who cannot see the value in you or what you’re contributing shouldn’t matter to you.  Some people are too stuck in their own ways to be able to open their eyes to new ways. Don’t let yourself be one of those people. Always celebrate who you are and remember to stay tolerant to those who aren’t different than you.

[misangrelatina-blog]

Kansas City! Here's the most recent poll we conducted on the presidential race. Check it out to see who KC is voting for.

[misangrelatina-blog]

undefined

[misangrelatina-blog]

Sabrina MJ

Nacida en la cd de México. Sabrina, siempre sintió inclinación por la música desde una temprana edad. Durante su adolescencia fue solista de un grupo cristiano. Así mismo estudiaba música el la academia G.Martell y batería con el maestro Mike Portillo, quien en ese entonces era baterista de Rocio Durcal. En los Estados Unidos ha tomado clases de piano con el maestro de jazz Mike Dowe y voz con la maestra de música clásica Madeline Capelle. Fue solista del grupo Diamante en Kansas City. Ha echo programas de radio y T.V. en las Vegas y Los Angeles. En la actualidad reside en las Vegas y se encuentra trabajando en su nuevo material. Como eres? Alegre, apasionada, sociable, generosa, y temperamental. Que es lo que te gusta? Me gusta todo lo q se refiera a las Artes. Música,pintura, baile..etc. Ahora en cuanto a comida la mexicana es mi favorita..me gusta admirar la naturaleza. Las playas me encantan y también amo a los animales. Y por que te inclinaste por la música? Creo que por que vengo de una familia musical y eso me influenció de echo mi madre estudio opera y canta hermoso, mi padre tocaba tanto la guitarra como el piano. Como empezaste? Desde que estaba en la escuela me gustaba salir en obras de teatro y cantar y más grande comenzé ha estudiar en una academia. Que te gustaría cambiar? La negatividad que hay en cierta música e influenciar a las personas de una manera positiva por medio de la música. Cuales consideras son tus influencias musicales? Mis influencias musicales mas importantes han sido: Michael Jackson, Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston y cantantes latinos como Rocio Durcal, Christian Castro y Luis Miguel Ahora también eres compositora, cuando escribes canciones que te inspira para componerlas? Sencillamente se me viene la música a la mente y empiezo a escribir..mi primera canción que escribí fue para Dios la segunda para mi madre y se ahi muchas cosas mas le siguieron jaja… Cuales son tus planes futuros? Continuar preparándome mas cada día ya que este mercado es muy competitivo y si quiero destacar tengo que ser la mejor version de mi misma.

[misangrelatina-blog]

Alejandro Diaz, Chef

I was born in México City and lived in different states as a kid (Querétaro, Monterrey, Oaxaca). While in high school in Oaxaca, a great culinary place, I wanted to be an Architect to build a Restaurant. Since the age 8 I loved cooking, and I tried to help my dad and grandma to cook, I was able to make dinner by myself at age 10. It was a great feeling of accomplishment to feed my family, and that really got me hooked in to wanting to be a chef. When finishing high school I got an offer for a scholarship to be a engineer, I turned it down because I decide then that I wanted to be a chef. I did a Bachelors in Culinary arts in Puebla, Mexico, 4 1/2 years of school. After presenting my thesis I graduate and thru school got presented the opportunity to go to Naples, Florida to complete a program for "manager in development", which I completed and find out that I loved the mixed cultures in USA and that I wanted to be part of that. After returning to Mexico I worked there for a few months and I decide to moved to San Diego, lived and worked there for 4 yrs. It was really stressful the live as an illegal immigrant. Thought to move back to México to work in Cancun, but I met my now wife. in the past I got friends offering me to marry me to stay in US , and I told to all of them no, if I was going to be marring in US it was going to be for the right reason "To have a Family". Moved to Kansas City to be closer to her family and since then I been here at the Hilton.

In the move to the U.S., do you feel at all like an outsider or is there plenty of support available? My first contact in U.S  was in Florida, the south west, a fairly goo population of Hispanic but not as much as I thought, It was really rough the first 6 mo, that's how long it took me to get used to the language, and being more open to ask if I didn't understood and use the friends I was making to try to learn more expressions. So I did feel like an outsider, and still now I do at times, even when now I'm an American citizen. How do you consider your heritage?

By definition it's something I was born with, and I try to don't push it in to other people, a lot of the times is almost like a memory, I try to keep some of the roots, it's impossible to don't. My wife likes to help me keeping those roots and customs alive (dia de los muertos, dia de la independencia, Navidad.. etc.) most of the time they are food related.

But I try to be respectful of the US. I owe a lot of where I am at now to this country, and I like this country for the mixture of cultures and heritage. To me showing the respect it's to take seriously the holidays and customs and learn more about them. my family will be here. My heritage make me who I am now, and I think part of it is the "working hard " mind set. "hustle" I might say now. you see the great opportunities in this country and its almost foolish to don't work hard.

How important is this to your cuisine?

The flavors of  Mexico are plenty and somehow being exposed to those as a kid, gives me an understanding of what I call the basics on my taste buds.... Sweet, spicy, salty, sour.. etc.. I truly believe that most cuisines are connected and If you look back to your heritage (Italian, indian, german.. etc)  all of them have flavors that will be pretty similar, this helps me to be able to now that I'm a Chef full fill requests from the different heritage customers that I get.

What inspires you in your cuisine?

Memories... I think about flavors that remind me  of something, either a place, a day, a person, a party... and I like to  always think about how the customer  might perceive it. As a chef I look for the opportunity that with my food I will create a New Memory to whoever is eating it.

How do you integrate your “sazon” into the menu?

I really don't think about it too much. I think It just happens. Its true what they say you either have it or not. you can develop it a litlle. I do sneak a few Mexican Ingredients on the menu, but try to don't make it to straight forward. since the concept its American Cuisine, not Mexican.

Where did you learn to cook?

It start with my grandmother and my dad, I did a culinary program in Puebla, México, it's  a Bachelors in culinary arts, 4 1/2 years. It's a great program with a wide variety of knowledge provided to the students.

Favorite dish?

Depends the day and I'm serious, It's a hard question for a person in the food industry, We like a lot of things. so I  always answer this question with. "I can't tell you because I really don't know".

What is your opinion on Cinco De Mayo (or any other Americanized cultural ideas)?

It's a marketing/ commercial opportunity for businesses, It is nice that  the country is open to celebrate something that is not American related. I wish it was something more meaningful to the Mexican community like independence day, but it will also feel wrong to celebrate about other country's independence being here. I wouldn't do it. I just watch the parades on TV. One custom that is from Mexico but its also Faith related are POSADAS, it a representation  of when Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to give Jesus to birth. People will gather and sing some song that describe the story, then they eat and celebrate. Those can be Americanized too and as well bring financial benefit to businesses and somehow show support to the Mexican heritage.

Who were your role models growing up?

My father as on work dedication and following rules and my mother gave me sensitivity and patience.

What’s the best advice you ever got? From whom?

The only way to change your situation is changing yourself, not changing others. (counselor when I was 20 yrs old) Knowledge not shared it does no good to anyone, Share it and you will also learn more from others ( my father)

Finally, any cooking tips you’d like to provide the readers?

Find what you like to cook, don't be afraid to fail, you can always try again and I guarantee you it will be better and better.

[misangrelatina-blog]

Vincent Paredes, Chef

I’m 3rd generation Mexican/American so it is important to me that I learn as much about my families history and culture, it is something that I hold close to me, it’s personal and I take great pride in the opportunities that have given to me by all of my grandparents that sacrificed so much for my family. Cooking Mexican food and all food in general has always been a big part of both side of my family, both sides are made of great cooks and chefs. My fathers side(Paredes/Bernal) has a bit more of a tex mex style, the traditional Mexican with modern influences, mainly because my grandparents were from El Paso Texas. My Mothers side(Cervantes/Abarca) has more of a Michoacán style, deep red chile sauces, mole negro and carne seca to name a few. Both of my grandparents were from Michoacán. With both parents and all four grandparents speaking fluent Spanish I still never learned to speak it, this has been my life’s biggest regret so far. Growing up in my house, not speaking Spanish wasn’t a big deal, speaking Spanish then wasn’t near as important as it is now, at the time it was more important that we spoke English to my grandparents because they were trying to speak the common language better. I understood Spanish more then, more then I’ve ever been able to speak it. When I said that I take my heritage personal this is a part of it, it is an insecurity I’ve carried with me for most of my life. How important is this to your cuisine? I know that it reflects in my cooking, I’ve always cooked with a chip on my shoulder and with something to prove while showing respect to the culinary traditions that I’ve grown up with. It is very important that I learn as much as possible about the my heritages cuisine, I feel that I need to learn even more about Mexican cuisine than my mother in order to compensate for what could get lost over time. I have recently begun to reach out to as many grandmothers and friends from Mexico for private lessons on classic techniques and better understandings of the styles from city to city.      

What inspires you in your cuisine? Learning. Consistently learning and evolving feeds the culinary addiction.  

Where did you learn to cook? Growing up for as long as I can remember my mother taught me everything about cooking. After high school I attended and graduated from the professional cooking program at Area Technical School. After Area Technical School I attended and graduated from Johnson County Community College.  

Favorite dish? My mothers Pork Chile Verde

Cinco De Mayo? I like any reason to eat Mexican food and drink tequila!

Role models growing up? My older Brother Rudy Paredes and My Brother-in-law Spencer Kemmer.

What’s the best advice you ever got? You have two ears and one mouth so listen twice as much as you speak  From whom? I can’t quit remember but it was probably my mom.

Finally, any cooking tips you’d like to provide the readers? Stay away from truffle oil