Q. What was your impetus and inspiration for the recipes you developed.  Ie why these ingredients, why now?

I have been a fan of Latin cuisine since I was a young kid growing up in Venezuela. But recently I’ve discovered a nationwide interest in Hispanic foods.  I’ve also learned that many people can be a bit intimidated by some ingredients used in Latin cuisine so I set forward to develop some recipes with that in mind. My newest Latino creations will inspire anyone to create these delicious dishes by using comfort foods we all love (like pancakes) and twisting them into mouthwatering recipes with a Latin flare (Piña Colada Pancakes!).

Q.What is your view of being part of the IMUSA Chef team and participating in this Hispanic Heritage program with Macys

There is nothing more that I love to do than to propagate my Hispanic heritage. Being able to do it with Macy’s and IMUSA is a dream come true. Macy’s offers one of the best environments to purchase all the kitchenware you need in your life. I’m truly excited to travel throughout our nation and inspire people to begin cooking Latin foods in an environment where they know they get quality products and service.

Q. What is your view of IMUSA products and the place they have for today’s cooks

It’s an absolute honor working with a company like IMUSA as they have lead the world in latin kitchenware. Their products are not only affordable and helpful in the kitchen, they also inspire you to start cooking Latin-style. That means fun, vibrant, and delicious recipes that transforms your dining table into a ’sabroso’ Latin feast!

Delicious and Nutritious!

One of the best parts of my job is having the opportunity to work with people to develop recipes that truly reflect their needs. That’s why it’s been such a pleasure to collaborate with the Latin kitchenware company IMUSA. A household name throughout South and Central America, IMUSA has been manufacturing top quality cookware for over 70 years. Now, with Latin inspired dishes now such an integral part of the menu here in the U.S., it’s my pleasure to introduce home chefs here to the benefits of working with the right equipment for the job.  My genre-bending cookbook Take This Dish and Twist It is all about exploring innovative variations to culinary classics. And with the help of the IMUSA kitchenware, it’s been a blast developing several Latin-inspired dishes that’ll hopefully inspire all of you to get in on the fun.

And what better way to get started than with some guacamole? But not just any guacamole—we’re talking my Herbed Crunchy Guacamole! For most home chefs, a mixing bowl and a fork are the tools of choice for this task. But once you’ve whipped up some guac with an IMUSA molcajete, you’ll wonder how you lived all these years without one! I know I did.

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We at IMUSA believe it is important to converse and share with our fans and community. Foodies and cooking enthusiasts can now interact with our brand by downloading recipes, signing up for contests, learning about their community and participating in the creation of new and catered products. We want you to join us and enjoy our free media, but don’t forget to tell us what you think and how IMUSA makes your cooking experience traditional! Join us in Facebook and Twitter where you can find:

• Exclusive celebrity chef recipes
• Free celebrity chef demos and events
• Opportunity to participate in contests with generous cash and merchandise prizes
• Information and guided interaction on the creation of new products (Let us know what your kitchen is missing and we’ll do our best to fix it!)
• Information on community outreach

IMUSA got back-stage passes to George Duran’s apperance in Univision’s show, Qué Sabor!, where he promoted his upcoming MACY’S demo tour.

For dates and locations visit: http://tinyurl.com/DuranDemo . RSVP Today!

We would like to share our VIP-ness with you through these cell-phone camera pictures:

By LOIS HEYMAN

HOME NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Elsie Ramos, one of two local cookbook authors whose upcoming personal appearances are featured today in Community Life, is part of a team of Latin celebrity chefs sponsored by the Hispanic housewares company IMUSA. Her cooking demonstration Sunday in Perth Amboy will use cookware that may not typically be found in an American kitchen, such as calderos, tamale pots, a tortilla maker and a stone mortar and pestle. All items in the IMUSA line are designed to create dishes popular with Hispanic cooks and chefs interested in experiencing the flavors of Hispanic cuisines.

One of Ramos’ favorite cookware pieces is her caldero. “I like it because it is made of cast aluminum, so it gets seasoned the more I use it,” she said of the deep pot that she uses for rice and beans, soups and roasts, as well as frying and browning. “It’s as personal as a baseball mitt is to a ballplayer.” Among the other cookware items in Ramos’ arsenal:

• Comal, a round griddle used to warm tortillas, cook pancakes and sauté meats.

• Molcajete, a Mexican stone tool that serves as a mortar and pestle for grinding various foods and which is considered essential for making guacamole.

• Tamalera (or olla), a stock pot or sauce pot, primarily for making tamales. It can range in size from 12 to 21 quarts, but is not used for fried recipes. “The recipes I’ve developed and demonstrate are based on my worldview that in Latino culture, a home-cooked meal is the best way to say, ‘I love you’. I’ve used IMUSA all my life and think its quality is sometimes overlooked,” Ramos said.

Lois Heyman: 908-512-2731; lheyman@MyCentralJersey.com

Visit The Food Chain blog at http://blogs. mycentraljersey. com/foodchain