Juan catches up with Karla T. Vasquez, a food justice advocate by day and a food historian by night, on a journey to preserve Salvadoran culture one recipe at a time with SalviSoul. When a Google search turns up just two existing cookbooks and just as few narratives, Vasquez says “documentation is power.” Vasquez is currently researching and writing a Salvadoran cookbook, highlighting the stories of Salvadoran women. She and Juan talk about learning from her mother, the power of cookbooks to pass on stories and the obstacles she’s faced trying to get her book published. But first, Stephanie and Juan discuss the state of subway policing and what that means for food vendors.
Produced by Juan Ramirez and Stephanie Kuo. Music by Brad Turner and Blue Dot Sessions. Photo by Marisa Sarto Photography.
LINKS DU JOUR
This Is Why You Can't Find Many Salvadoran Recipes by Karla T. Vasquez (Cocina)
Karla T. Vasquez Created an Instagram Account to Preserve Her Salvadoran Roots by Pamela Avila (LA Mag)
Handcuffed for Selling Churros: Inside the World of Illegal Food Vendors by Sharon Otterman (The New York Times)