Food Unites

Ingredients for a pico de gallo, a Mexican salad that pairs well with a myriad things -- from crackers, to meat, to rice.

It is undeniable that the Coronavirus has changed the way we tackle our daily lives. Many of us, in fact, now only venture outside to stock up on food and other basic necessities. We are, in a sense, united by our need for food. If we don’t obtain and nourish ourselves, there is no you or me – and certainly no us.

For as long as I can remember, food has played an important role in my family. And it’s not just the food in and of itself, it’s the work that goes into making food – the hands that, together, craft something delicious and special. At my house, when we’re making dinner, it’s something like a cartoon scene where several minions are running around, tossing ingredients all over the place. The end result is a terrible mess: sauce on the walls and ingredients strewn about the countertops and floor. Yes, my family is indeed messy in the kitchen, but at the end of it all, we sit down together at the dinner table and share a meal. We become one through our need to be nourished by the food we eat.

Sometimes, to prepare food, a little teamwork is necessary. Here, Emmanuel helps my sister Mariana grill.

My brother, Emmanuel, is embraced by my mother. This moment reminds me of my need still for my mother’s embrace when a day has been long or difficult.

Because my family is Mexican, most of the food we eat is inspired by Mexican cuisine, however, over the years, we’ve all learned a thing or two about food from other countries. My mom, for instance, borrows a lot from Puerto Rican foods. And I, in turn, have experimented with European food.

At the end of the day, whether it's Mexican, Italian, Puerto Rican, or an odd mix of the three, we’re blessed to have something to eat everyday, unlike many people around the world who don’t know when their next meal is coming, nor where it will come from.

Refugee in Quarantine

Human Connection