Patricia Cartin knows of which she cooks. A native Costa Rican, she immigrated to the United States in 2007, experiencing the flavors of the South, Southwest, and New England before settling in New York, where she attended the International Culinary Center. She now shares these cooking and baking techniques with her own students and teaches workshops including 'Tapas from Spain', 'Costa Rican Food at Home', 'Just Finger Food', 'Latin American Food' and 'Amazing Cakes'. Patricia has cooked for the President of Costa Rica at University receptions, and caters for the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations. She travels extensively, visiting and tasting with family members living throughout Latin America. These experiences allowed Patricia to hone her knowledge of the unique ingredients and flavors found in each Latin American nation. Patricia currently resides in King's Point, New York, with her husband and favorite food taster, Juan Jose Leon. A Taste of Latin America is her second cookbook.

Introduction
Argentina
Medialunas (croissants)
Chimichurri (green sauce)
Choripán (sandwich with chorizo sausage)
Locro (stew of meat and vegetables, also vegetarian option)
Empanadas (meat patties)
Humitas (fresh corn dough wrapped in corn husks)
Alfajores (sugar cookie sandwich)
Brazil
Farofa (fried cassava flour with eggs and bacon)
Pao de Queijo (cheesy bread)
Feijoada (black bean chili)
Coxinhas (fried cheese and chicken balls)
Moqueca de Camarão (shrimp stew with coconut milk)
Vatapá (spicy cream of seafood soup in peanut sauce)
Bolinho de Chuva (cinnamon donut holes)
Brigadeiro (chocolate truffles)
Chile
Empanadas de Pino (meat patties with vegetables)
Curant (shellfish, meat, and vegetables)
Paila Marina (shellfish soup)
Charquicán (Chilean beef stew)
Sopaipillas (fried pastry made with mashed pumpkin)
Calzones Rotos (dough twists with powdered sugar)
Manjar (caramel spread)
Colombia
Sopa de Habas y Cebada (barley and fava bean soup)
Arroz con Coco (rice with coconut)
Arepa con Pollo Adobado (tortilla-style bread with marinated chicken)
Almojábanas (cheesy bread)
Crema de Aguacate (creamy avocado soup)
Sancocho Trifásico (three-meat soup)
Dulce de Leche (caramel)
Plátanos Asados con Bocadillo y queso (plantains with cheese)
Costa Rica
Gallo Pinto (rice and beans)
Ceviche de Corvina (raw fish with lime)
Yuca Frita (fried cassava)
Tamales (steamed corn cakes in banana leaves)
Garbanzos con Cerdo (chickpeas and pork)
Arroz con Pollo (rice and chicken)
Sopa Negra (black bean and boiled egg soup)
Pudín de Pan (bread pudding)
Flan de Coco (coconut custard)
Cuba
Ropa Vieja (shredded steak)
Croquetas de Jamón (ham croquettes)
Frijoles Cubanos (Cuban beans)
Chuleta de Puerco (grilled pork chops)
Salsa de Mojo Roja (red Cuban sauce)
Sandwich Cubano (Cuban sandwich)
Frituras de Yuca (yucca doughnuts)
Mexico
Huevos Rancheros (Mexican-style eggs)
Enchilada de Queso (corn tortillas with sauce and cheese)
Fajitas de Pollo (chicken marinated with onions and peppers)
Flautas de Pollo con Salsa de Aguacate (rolled tortilla stuffed with shredded chicken)
Nachos (tortilla chips with toppings)
Guacamole (avocado dip)
Mole (traditional Mexican sauce)
Crepa de Cajeta (crepe with caramel)
Peru
Papas a la Huancaína (Peruvian potatoes with spicy sauce)
Ceviche Peruano (raw fish bits cooked in lemon and spices)
Chupe de Camarones (shrimp soup)
Causa Limena (potato, avocado, tuna, and hard-boiled egg in layers)
Lomo Salteado (stir-fry beef with soy sauce and fried potatoes)
Anticuchos (skewers of grilled marinated meat)
Lúcuma (lúcuma fruit smoothie)
Puerto Rico
Mojo Isleño (Puerto Rican sauce)
Tostones (fried plantains)
Jueyes Hervidos (crab stew)
Lechón Asado (roast pork)
Pollo al Jerez (chicken in sherry)
Nisperos de Batata (sweet potato balls with coconut, cloves, and cinnamon)
Arroz con Leche (rice pudding)
Venezuela
Cachapas (thick pancake-like corn cakes)
Perico (scrambled eggs with onion, tomato, and pepper)
Arepas (griddle-fried corn cakes made from masarepa)
Bollo Picante Vegetariano (steamed spicy vegetarian cornmeal roll)
Pastel de Chucho (fish lasagna)
Ponche Crema (eggnog)
Besitos de Coco (coconut “kisses”)