Esteban Castillo writes his cookbooks with pride in his heritage, his culture, and his roots—as a celebration of where he comes from and the foods he grew up eating. He states, "I decided to start Chicano Eats because I’m proud of my roots, and I’d like to invite you to experience un pedacito de mi cultura and traditions through food." Chicano Eats features delicious Mexican-American recipes, both traditional and fusion, all while honoring Esteban's Chicano identity and nostalgic dishes he holds dearly.
Bricia Lopez was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, and moved to Los Angeles, California when she was a young girl. She has become a figurehead for Oaxacan culture in America, and her Oaxacan soul certainly shines through in her first cookbook: OAXACA. As the first cookbook written and created by a family from Oaxaca about Oaxaca, this cookbook is one-of-a-kind and rich in culture. The recipes are authentic and approachable, and they follow the Lopez family's journey from Oaxaca to L.A.
"Over 90 delicious, deeply personal recipes that tell the story of Puerto Rico’s Stateside diaspora from the United States’ first Puerto Rican food columnist, award-winning writer Illyanna Maisonet." Illyana Maisonet visually and geographically traces Puerto Rican food to its roots in her cookbook: Diasporican. Maisonet's recipes demonstrate the diverse traditions of Puerto Rico and how food has historically connected families, communities, and people of different backgrounds across the island.
Mariana Velásquez shares delicious recipes in her cookbook, Colombiana, which is the first to be written solely about Colombian food and culture. The book visually tells the story of meals through more than just flavorful food. To Velásquez, a meal is, of course, about the delicious and flavorful main dishes that will be served, but it is also about the act of gathering, setting out beautiful tablescapes, imbibing beverages, and more. The book features vibrant photos and traditional recipes and truly embodies the phrase Velásquez used to sum up Colombian food in a few words: "More is more!"