Food Network Star Daisy Martinez Comes to Westport

Stephanie Webster June 15, 2010

On June 22nd, Daisy Martinez—star of the Food Network’s Viva Daisy!— is coming to Fairfield County!

She will be at Barnes & Noble is Westport on Tuesday, June 22nd at 7pm with her new book, DAISY: MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT. Bringing Your Family Together with Everyday Latin Dishes.

Daisy has been a “Foodie” from a very young age. She grew up cooking alongside her mother and grandmothers. On her 40th birthday, her husband surprised her with a gift of attending the French Culinary Institute. Her idol, Jacques Pepin, welcomed her personally. After a stint as a private chef, she hosted Daisy Cooks! on PBS. In early 2009, she teamed up with Rachel Ray and her production company to ramp up the Latin flavors of the Food Network. A launch pad to explore the food of Latin America, the second season of Viva Daisy! premiered in July 2009.

In the introduction to her fresh and inviting new cookbook, Daisy says, “To say that I am a bit obsessed when it comes to Latin food would be the understatement of the year. I’ve been known to chase people down the street in pursuit of the perfect tamale or to engage the cashier at my corner supermarket in a conversation about healthier refried beans.”

A native Brooklynite with roots in Puerto Rico, Daisy and husband began traveling with their daughter to a different country in Latin America every year between Christmas and New Year’s Day, experiencing the country through its food, historic sites, and culture.

During those trips, Daisy kept careful notes on the food she and her family enjoyed, including what dishes were whose favorites.

Recapturing the flavors and dishes they shared when traveling as a family—and keeping those memories alive—was Daisy’s inspiration for writing DAISY: MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. She found that whenever she recreated dishes from the trips they’d taken, her family not only enjoyed the fruits of her labor, but also reminisced about the memories, stories, and laughter from those trips. And now, with her highly personal and engaging new book, Daisy hopes to pass along the cultural bounties of Latin America and the importance of spending quality time together as a family to her countless fans.

Conveniently divided into Morning, Noon, and Night sections, DAISY: MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT is replete with brilliant colors and bold flavors that mirror Daisy’s exuberant and innovative cooking style. Daisy shares memories of her family’s trips, the people they met, and the food they ate through a series of recipes and travelogues; her enthusiasm and infectious passion for food leaping from every page. She literally brings readers into the heart of her kitchen as she prepares meals that are enjoyed all over Latin America, including some of these tasty morsels:

SWEET AND SAVORY MORNING MEALS:

•Arepas, or corn cakes, that are popular in Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.

•Mayan Omelets infused with chaya—a plant reminiscent of spinach but with a kick—from the Yucatán

•Chile-Spiked Hot Chocolate, a pairing that goes back to pre-Columbian Mayan culture

NOONTIME MEALS AND SNACKS:

•Puerto Rican Jibaritos, sandwiches made with slices of fried plantain instead of bread

•Cream of Zucchini Soup with Crabmeat, inspired by the Peruvian dish Zapallitos Rellenos

•Tortillas filled with Roasted Poblanos, a delicious, roll-your-own taco dish from a restaurant in Oaxaca

FAMILY DINNERS, BARBECUES, COCKTAIL PARTIES, AND ELEGANT DISHES:

•Arepitas de Yuca (Yuca Fritters) with pineapple-vinegar-chili dipping sauce

•Salt Cod and Eggplant Napoleans, a traditional pairing of food in the Caribbean

•Chorros a la Chalaca (Mussels with Corn and Tomato) from an extraordinary restaurant in Lima