Savor Latino Holiday Flavors at the Ocean County Library

TOMS RIVER – Want a flavor boost for your holiday fare? Wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month with a demonstration of Latin American specialty cooking. Enjoy “Coquito and Chocolatadas: Celebrating Holidays Latino-Style with Casa de Castillo” at two Ocean County Library branches:

• Plumsted Branch – 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, (609) 758-7888, 2:30 PM Thursday, October 10. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclPlCoquito.
• Jackson Branch – 2 Jackson Drive, (732) 928-4400, 2 PM Saturday, October 12. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/JaOclCoquito.

Learn about the history and evolution of Latin American cuisine from food enthusiasts Ruben and Pattie Castillo. They’ll touch upon dishes and drinks that enhance the festivities in Latino households such as coquito, arroz con gandules, panettone and more.

After the talk, the Castillos will whip up samples of holiday favorites from Puerto Rico and Peru for you to try, and they’ll provide recipes to bring a special Latino flair to your table. Please note that food samples may contain potential allergens.

The Castillos became passionate food enthusiasts through their rich Hispanic heritage and unique experiences. Ruben’s years in his family’s food truck business instilled a deep appreciation of traditional flavors and street food culture. Patricia, inspired by her mother’s highly-regarded Puerto Rican recipes, developed a love for cooking and sharing meals.

Together, they created a program that explores the European influences on Latin American and Puerto Rican holiday traditions and offers a cultural and culinary journey.

For more information about these free presentations, stop by or call either participating OCL branch or visit https://theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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