156. Speaking Indigenous Cuisine, Taino Heritage & Spanish Language with Chef Alexandra Strong of Mitsitam Café

Speaking Tongues

Hello Language Lovers! Welcome back to a new episode of Speaking Tongues. This week, we're thrilled to chat with Chef Alexandra Strong, the executive chef for Restaurant Associates at the Mitsitam Café located at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Chef Alex shares her rich multicultural background with roots in the Indigenous Caribbean, West Africa, and Europe, and her unique culinary experience that honors the diversity of Indigenous communities of the Western Hemisphere.

In this episode, we explore:

🌽 Chef Alex’s journey from Puerto Rico to The Bronx, NY and how her Puerto Rican and Indigenous Taino heritage influences her culinary creations.

🌽 The linguistic and cultural differences between Puerto Rican Spanish in New York City versus on the island, and how these differences manifest in food traditions.

🌽 The importance of traditional ingredients and cooking methods, and Chef Alex’s commitment to honoring these practices in her dishes.

🌽 The fascinating connections between Caribbean and African cuisines, and the shared ingredients and dishes that link these cultures.

🌽 Chef Alex’s innovative approach to fusing traditional Puerto Rican flavors with other culinary traditions, such as her sweet plantain and goat cheese ravioli.

🌽 The role of language and communication in the kitchen, and how Chef Alex fosters a multicultural and inclusive environment for her diverse team.

🌽 The responsibilities of representing Indigenous cuisines authentically, and the importance of using traditional ingredients and techniques.

🌽 The significance of food as a medium for cultural expression, history, and storytelling, and how Chef Alex uses her platform to educate and celebrate Indigenous heritage.

Thank you to Chef Alex for sharing your incredible journey, your culture, and your culinary wisdom with us and for being a beacon of Bronx excellence. A very special thank you to Raya Sfeir at Restaurant Associates and to the Mitsitam Café at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian for facilitating this conversation.

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Visit Mitsitam Café: Mitsitam Café at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian

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