San Juan, PR (Wednesday, November 13, 2024) – Through a collaborative agreement between Para la Naturaleza and WIPR, the premiere of the series Nueva Cocina Puertorriqueña (New Puerto Rican Cuisine) was announced today. This series will highlight the creativity and passion of various chefs who have revolutionized local cuisine by using fresh ingredients and sustainable techniques that support agriculture, fishing, farmers, ranchers, and producers from Puerto Rico.
The first season of the project premieres this Monday, November 18, at 10:00 a.m. and consists of 11 episodes and 22 recipes filmed in the Las Lunas Protected Natural Area in Caguas. Each episode will feature a guest chef, including:
Wilo Benet, a pioneer of the new Puerto Rican cuisine;
María Grubb, who blends her experience in New York kitchens with Antillean aromas and flavors;
Gabriel Hernández, a forerunner of proximity cooking and the use of local products;
Kevin García, a passionate advocate of the farm-to-table movement;
Francis Guzmán, a flavor alchemist specializing in intricate cooking methods;
María del Pilar Ponce, whose cooking is based on traditional homemade dishes elevated with new aromas and textures;
José Enrique, a self-taught and original chef, known for his bold flavors and commitment to sustainable, accessible cuisine.
Other featured participants include chefs Paola Noriega, Paxx Caraballo, and Panadería Clandestina.
“It is essential for us to provide this platform to non-profit organizations that, day by day, impact sectors with the greatest needs. At WIPR, we continue to strengthen bonds and collaborations that positively contribute to our community by offering content that educates, inspires, and celebrates our roots,” expressed Jorge Pagán, President of the Public Broadcasting Corporation.
The project’s designer, Gabriel Suau, remarked, “We created this video series to support farmers and individuals committed to agroecology. This is a fundamental project to pave the way toward reducing our dependence on imported food.”
Likewise, the project manager and producer, Tatiana Hernández Cotto, emphasized, “We need to maintain a symbiotic relationship between nature and humanity, promoting the land’s well-being by consuming what it provides seasonally. The benefit of these videos is that they show us how to prepare and consume locally and agroecologically sourced harvests, catches, livestock, and other products whenever possible. We are not reinventing Puerto Rican cuisine; we are sharing new ways to savor what we already know from our land.”
(From left to right: Attorney César Alvarado Torres, Attorney Fernando Lloveras San Miguel, Jorge Pagán, Tatiana Hernández Cotto, and Gabriel Suau).
Nueva Cocina Puertorriqueña will air on WIPR every Monday at 10:00 a.m., with a rerun on Sundays at 4:00 p.m.