Bizarre Foods - Puerto Rico

ON TV

The folks of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods reached out to Puerto Rico Sun to let us know about this show airing tonight.

Here's the info.:

Andrew takes a tour of Puerto Rico where the flavors of the food tell the history of the island. From the deep-fried treats brought in by Africans, to the roasted pork made popular by the Spanish, Andrew tries a variety of traditional foods.

Andrew's culinary tour kicks off with stops not usually seen by the average tourist. First is a local bakery in San Juan where he tries Mallorcas (a Spanish pastry) and Cocas (similar to pizza, but with vegetables and sardines). Next, he visits Plaza del Mercado de Rio Piedras to find some unique local products including: Algarobba, Mavi (a drink made from sugar and tree bark), Corazon, and Caimitos (a star shaped pulpy fruit).

What would a trip to Puerto Rico be without pork? On Sundays, Puerto Rican families like to pile into the car and take a trip up into the mountains of the Guavate Region, where they pig out on roasted pork. There are a dozen of lechonaras that serve pork along the so called “Pork Highway”, but the original is El Rancho Original. In Andrew's own words, "That little bite that I had there is the best pork I've ever eaten in my life!".

Tonight at 10 p.m. on the Travel channel.

source: TravelChannelTV on YouTube

El Rev. Pedro Pietri Hand Awards

Community calendar
The awards ceremony at Hunter College in Manhattan is Friday. Award winners are Puerto Rican Traveling Theater's Miriam Colon, the late boxer and writer Jose "Chegui" Torres (in memory), activist, filmmaker, writer, and artist Dylcia Pagan, poet/playwright Tato Laviera, poet/playwright and author Ntozake Shange and photographer, filmmaker and director Carlos Ortiz.
The award honors the memory of the late Rev. Pedro Pietri, one of the most gift poets and playwrights of the Twentieth Century and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poetry Movement. The award was created to recognize significant artistic and cultural contributions by Puerto Rican/Nuyorican poets, artists and political activists working in their fields today.

For more information, go to http://lostidentities.vox.com/library/post/el-rev-pedro-pietri-hand-awards.html.

(Click on image to see larger text.)

Boogie Rican Blvd.'s Caridad De La Luz 'La Bruja' to chat with PRSUN Radio

My upcoming guest on PRSUN Radio is writer and actress Caridad De La Luz "La Bruja" who will speak on her newest project "Boogie Rican Blvd: The Musical." My chat with La Bruja is at 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

On Tuesday, June 30th, Urban Lifestyle Media (ULM) presents “Boogie Rican Blvd: The Musical” for a limited engagement at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre (304 W. 47th Street) in Manhattan, running from July 1st - July 26. Written and performed by La Bruja, directed by Nelson Vásquez and music by William Cepeda. Boogie Rican Blvd. in the Bronx is where the Pacheco family and their colorful collection of friends examine life, love and regret through words, song and dance in front of Don Jose’s bodega.

Renowned composer and arranger, William Cepeda comes from a well-known family rooted in music. The Familia Cepeda is famous for their performances of folkloric music with African roots, and as keepers of traditional Puerto Rican music for many years. Cepeda's unique jazz style he coined as “Afrorican Jazz.” He has produced all the music for “Boogie Rican Blvd: The Musical”.

The multi-faceted De La Luz gives life to seven colorful characters such as “Don Jose”, the owner of the bodega, patriarch of the family and father of three daughters. 

For more, go to my blog at www.blogtalkradio.com/prsunradio.

(Click on the photo to learn more about La Bruja.)

UPDATE: To listen to my interview with La Bruja: