The Illustrious Plate (2019) was a project focused on education, water conservation, art, and culinary traditions. Its purpose was to recognize and celebrate the wisdom of past generations' gastronomic traditions and, through visual art, to share and disseminate awareness and solutions to the environmental impact of practices that affect water quality. The project's mission was to educate the community about healthy cooking options and proper disposal of frying oil to reduce illegal dumping, prevent water pollution, and conserve vital elements of our ecosystem. Artists Omar Torres Calvo and Samantha López Muñiz carried out this mission by searching for, selecting, recognizing, and celebrating the Illustrious Plate in the communities of Caimito and Loíza.
Caimito
The Illustrious Dish involves several generations; through interviews, the students in the history class at the Inés María Mendoza School (EIMM) in Caimito collected recipes and stories from elders. The perspective of traditional kitchen artisans was also incorporated, with Chef Eliel of La Cabaña del Chef Eliel, a Caimito native, joining the effort to prepare the chosen recipe. The Pom – an ancestral recipe “in danger of extinction” – is primarily made with root vegetables and requires no frying oil. It has been prepared on a brazier for over 120 years. This dish was enjoyed with black coffee and shared within the community. The final result is reminiscent of bread, cake, and root vegetables, with a sweet flavor tinged with raisins and accentuated by the spices of cinnamon and cloves. To honor the illustrious character and contributions of this recipe, a mural was created as an icon of the new culinary-environmental awareness, and a cultural activity was carried out at the Haydée Colón agricultural market and we participated in the community resilience activity at the Caimito Cultural Center, to publicize the findings of the research and the recipe.
Loiza
The Illustrious Dish encompasses several generations. Through interviews, the 11U history class at the Nueva Vocational High School (ESVN) in Loíza collected recipes and stories from senior citizens in their community. The perspective of skilled artisans from Loíza's ancestral cuisine was also incorporated, with Aracelis Rivera Pizarro, a Loíza native, participating in the preparation of the selected recipes. To honor the dish's illustrious character and contributions, the students created artwork as an icon of the new culinary-environmental awareness. An educational exchange took place, culminating in a closing activity where the interview findings were presented and options for the safe handling of cooking oil and water conservation were discussed. As a result of this research, the following traditional Loíza burén recipes were selected: Coconut and Corn Arepas, Casabe, and Crab Empanada, due to their cultural and historical value, the quantity of local ingredients, their popularity in interviews, and their positive value to the ecosystem; since they do not involve frying oil in their preparation.
“When art projects are integrated into the community, highlighting its values, culture, and history, they facilitate the recognition of the importance of preserving and maintaining the health of our environment, in this case, the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed. The opportunity to acknowledge historical contributions and leadership allows for the creation of new ways to value and assume responsibility for protecting what is essential: clean water.” Omar A. Torres Calvo y Samantha López Muñiz
Omar A. Torres Calvo (1982) and Samantha López Muñiz (1989), in addition to being artists specializing in mural painting and design, are healthy eating educators and chefs. For the past 10 years, they have been promoting and practicing a natural lifestyle based on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and Caribbean culinary traditions through their project, Ama Pachana. There, they support people in transitioning to a lasting healthy diet through classes, cooking courses, and personalized meal plans. Their mission is to inspire and educate people who want to eat healthier, to help them fall in love with healthy food, and to easily, affordably, and deliciously incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets, thereby increasing the nutrition and well-being of families in Puerto Rico.
