The kitchen is a fundamental space of Colombian culture Because it holds a special love for each preparation, it is not in vain that our nation’s midwives show their love and devotion through stews and preparations. Cooking and sharing at the table are the universal language of brotherhood and solidarity.
that’s why, Thinking Out Loud by Chévere Feelings, motivations, and knowledge we want to explore three women around food and its importance as a tool for the preservation of knowledge and traditions.
“The kitchen saved me”
Ana Patricia Chavez Preciado A woman from Tumaco, she was born in Vida Lavariant, a land bathed by the Pacific Ocean, filled with delicious food and dazzling sunsets. During her childhood, chontaduro, pepa de pan, and other breadfruit caught in the region fed her taste and fostered her love of cooking.
Tumaco According to the indigenous people who live in the area, the island was formed by three large fish, which got tired of swimming, stopped to rest, and were covered with sand, thus giving birth to Pearl of the PacificThe region’s worldview, traditions, and cultural practices were central to Anna Patricia Jr.’s ability to develop her love and curiosity for cooking.
Her grandmother and aunt inspired her and taught her the language of attention and care through food.At Pacific, everyone cooks, which is impressive. “I say I was born with salt in my hand because anything I make is delicious”.
From the age of 6 he left his native Tumaco and from there he dedicated himself to finding the best way enrich your lifeShe is a mother, a wife, and she gave her best at every stage, however, the sunset of love almost extinguished her light, and when she found herself in a very strong depression, she Born of her spirituality, he rises like a phoenix, giving way to his magical world.
“The kitchen saved me, when I thought it was all lost, I prayed to God for the strength to move forward with my company, it was a tough road full of tears and hard work, but I can tell all women today They’re in a painful relationship and they can get out of there, it’s something to dream about.”
today from your magic worldAna Patricia is the name of her company, and it vindicates gastronomic practices not just in her beloved Tumaco, but across the Pacific.She has always been responsible for making sure people enjoy through her dishes that are beautifully crafted, gorgeous and delicious, but most importantly It has succeeded in becoming a benchmark for the empowerment of women heads of household who have been victims of some form of violence and seek to recover from it and find a new direction for their lives.
Killing without killing
Dora Troyano was born in Piendamó Cauca It’s an indigenous and farmers’ land considered a must-stop for tourists visiting Kukaka, but it’s also a natural storehouse for the sector thanks to the farmers’ market run by the Guambiano natives in the city. Dora grew up on this land, instilling in her the importance and wisdom of the coca plant with the concepts and worldview of her grandparents.
Contrary to what the media has learned about the coca plant, it has many healing properties Dora was taught to discern by her grandparents, who grew the plant on their patio and endowed it with medicinal and culinary uses.
“I like this topic because I try to be objective and I tell people: coca is not all positive as they say it is, and it’s not all negative as they say it is. Coca contains some major elements such as: Phosphorus , Calcium, Potassium, Iron, yes, we know they’re high in them, we also have fiber, hemicellulose and cellulose, carbohydrates and some ash. If anyone has congestion, sinusitis, pain around the eyes, runny nose Or any symptoms associated with a cold, you give that person a shot of aromatic cocaine, a little lemon and a little hot honey, and the person gets decongested within 20 minutes. I’m a witness to that, it’s a reality.”
Dora is currently coordinating the project Coca Peace Alliance Through this process, my country has endeavored to give new meaning to the coca plant, since it is a signatory to international treaties that expressly prohibit its use in any form.
Generating investigative content that helps us understand the properties, efficacy and benefits of the coca leaf is one of the tasks Dora is committed to in this projectWell, the biggest difference in our experience compared to countries like Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina is that Colombia fully signed the 1961 declaration through which the United States was committed to eliminating all use of coca within 20 years, ignoring the All knowledge as well as the coca leaf represent the ancestral worldview of indigenous peoples.
Bolivian sociologist Silvia Rivera Gastronomic uses of the coca plant are explored, emphasizing its versatility and strong ability to adapt to other foods. For example: if you add coca powder to dark chocolate, you will reduce its bitterness, in fact the coca plant has many possibilities in gastronomy, because in order to test these uses and relate them to Colombian cuisine, Dora and her team created The Coca Challenge, a culinary creation space, has been held three times, inviting chefs from all over the country to participate, they had the opportunity to go to Lerma Cauca, learn about the production process, and then they moved to the SENA Regional Cauca kitchen in Popayán to develop their recipe, eventually creating a document containing the recipe. Consult on the microsite www.retococa.org.
This process and others have undoubtedly given new value, use and meaning to the coca plant in local and collective imaginations. It’s not easy work, but what we’ve accomplished is gratifying,” Dora said.