I’M DESIREE… AND I GREW UP EATING GOOD FOOD.
About Desiree’s Kitchen: Living in South Florida, many things were part of every day. Coolers full of fresh fish, the smell of pork roasting in someone’s yard, ripe fruit on every street corner and unique flavors everywhere you ate. My Cuban Grandparents and extended family were big eaters and we always cooked. A lot. There were very few things I wouldn’t eat, and that still holds true.
It led to my love for exploring the amazing cuisines that Latin and Caribbean cultures brought to South Florida. I developed an admiration for how each cuisine adapted in its new home. From there came about Desiree’s Kitchen and growing this food blog has been a delicious learning journey!
My Latin and Caribbean recipes stem from the cultures I tasted in Miami. I cook dishes traditional to Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and the other sandy islands of the Caribbean. My pantry consists of a rainbow of ingredients found in Latin and Caribbean markets and kitchens I grew up around. From meats like oxtail and goat, to fresh ingredients like seafood, sweet fruits, plantains, and spices of all sorts, there was always a new flavor that made an influence or a memory.
ABOUT DESIREE’S KITCHEN: I CAN’T WAIT TO COOK FOR YOU.
After years of living in a culturally diverse culinary scene, moving from Miami to Southwest Florida was a bit of a culture shock. I craved the flavors I was surrounded by at home, and began the adventure of perfecting my family’s recipes by practicing and creating my own dishes. I learned to really appreciate the Latin and Caribbean culture and its beautiful, worldly foods. As Cape Coral’s culinary scene grows, not only in size but in cultural depth, I look forward to exploring my new options and highlighting hardworking restaurants that deserve the recognition.
Thanks for reading this far! Want to learn more about me? Here’s some facts.
- FUN FACTS: Former member of the National Piano Players’ Guild with over 15 years performance experience in classical and contemporary music. Big Star Trek, Lord of the Rings and Sci-Fi Nerd. Loves Gardening, Propagating Free Plants (definitely not stealing), Trying to Pet Animals that look like they don’t want to be petted, and Whiskey, usually consumed before trying to pet the animal or propagating the plant.. Favorite Music: Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse and Nas. Favorite Breakfast: Steak and Eggs. Favorite Dinner: Steak and Eggs, but with Rice.
- SERIOUS FACTS: Certified SERVSAFE Food Safety Manager with Top Testing Scores in 2022, Second Consecutive Certification, valid through 2027. Attended College and gained experience in Music Business, Business, Hospitality and Psychology. Associates Degree in Business Management, Currently working on Bachelors in Hospitality Management at FIU.
LEARN ABOUT CARIBBEAN FOOD WITH ME.
As this blog grows, I look forward to sharing my food journey with you! I look forward to writing and learning about Latin and Caribbean flavors and histories. I hope you can try a dish or two of my favorite Latin dishes and Caribbean dishes, and that you and your families enjoy making them! Feel free to DM me on Instagram with photos of your meal, I’d love to see your creations and share them!
If you have any questions or are curious to find out about anything regarding Latin and Caribbean food, feel free to contact me! I’d be more than happy to look into it and learn alongside with you!
Thank you for reading, and for your support. It means a lot!
Desiree
