Rodri and the REG crew visited the set of “Tu Estilo” with host Daniela Ganoza for a special Mother’s Day taping that aired Saturday May 10th on UNIVISION 34. Mariachi Monumental de America was also present with a special serenade to all the mothers that tuned in. More MARIACHI USA artists will be featured on KMEX 34 in the coming weeks.

Food is always at the center of any celebration. For so many of us, eating is a ritual and I don’t mean the ‘grab a sandwich and run’ type of meal. Most of the meals we cook for our family and friends revolve around memories and nostalgia via abuelita hand me down recetas. Such is the case with my Mom’s arroz con pollo recipe. Every now and then I get calls from friends announcing that they are in the kitchen making my Mom’s recipe. Mom passed five years ago, yet her memory is deliciously alive in many kitchens.

As an immigrant to this country at age 7, I landed in a foster home in Albuquerque where black beans were nowhere to be found and I just couldn’t get celebratory about pinto beans (these days I love frijoles charros just as much). I clearly recall someone going to a ‘hole in the wall’ neighborhood store and magically producing one can of black beans and the label said GOYA. That small, seemingly innocuous can, became a symbol of emotional connection for me, a can that gave me so much joy, yes, frijoles negros como los de mi mama!

And so I share the story of a family owned company whose success is founded in providing the very basic pleasure of good food. Goya Foods was founded in 1936 by Spanish immigrants Prudencio and Carolina Unanue, who began by importing authentic Spanish products, such as olives, olive oil and sardines, and selling them to New York's growing Hispanic population. More than 60 years later, Goya has become America's premier purveyor of rice, beans, seasonings, delicious nectars (mango is my favorite) and authenticLatino specialties.

Times have changed and it’s not always easy to cook from scratch, so for me, heating up that reliable can of black beans with a squirt of olive oil is quick comfort but it continues to ground me with family tradition.

GOYA FOODS ®

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Food choices for gatherings can be challenging for Latinos with diabetes. It is not easy to find dishes that are diabetic-friendly and that keep in line with diabetic nutritional guidelines. Goya Foods’ Mexican Nopalitos Salad is an ideal and healthy dish and a great picnic dish for the MARIACHI USA festival. Bring extra to share with your concert neighbors.