Episode 26: Food Stylist Mariana Velásquez on Colombia's Cuisine of Generosity

With Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, rain forests, jungles, great valleys and rivers flowing from the Andes Mountains, desert, and fog forests, Colombia is a country with deep regionality and distinct food, culture and customs. As the country exports more and more talent in music, innovation, art, design, fashion, and now food, today we are going to introduce you to a brilliant tastemaker, chef, and food stylist, Mariana Velásquezz, a native of Bogotá. She’s spent the past two decades residing in New York and cooking in restaurant kitchens, food styling, and writing/collaborating  on cookbooks and published her own cookbook called Colombiana, which she says brings it all full circle. Mariana shares why Colombia's culinary philosophy means ‘more is more’ and the inherent joy and generosity present in its cuisine, and culture, which anyone traveling to the region will immediately savor.

In this episode we talk about:

• Mariana’s childhood memories of her grandmothers and the strong women in her family who modeled for her how to ‘dress’ a table.
• How she followed her passion in food abroad, honed her skills and eventually meshed her love of aesthetics into food styling.
• The diversity of Colombian cuisine, understanding its pillars, and how to make Colombian cuisine translatable at home.
• Her cookbook creation journey, the challenge faced when the pandemic hit, and how she pivoted.
• The stories behind the recipes and why she featured whole menus evocative of different regions of the country with hosting tips, suggestions for setting the scene, and playlists.
• Just to whet your appetite: here are a few examples of delicious dishes from Colombiana: empanadas (need we say more)... Cuchuco de Papaya y Camarón Tostado (Spicy Papaya and Charred Shrimp Gazpacho); Lomito de Cerdo al Tamarindo y Menta (Tamarind Pork Tenderloin with Mint). 

Resources:

Instagram: MarianaVelasquezV

Website: www.marianavelasquez.com

Casa Velasquez HostingWare: https://www.casavelasquez.co/

You can learn more about Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences and the trips we offer in food, wine, culture, design & beyond at www.lizcaskey.com

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