for Business Insider: I went to a food festival where Latina chefs shared their culinary journeys — and fed my Boricua soul by José A. Alvarado Jr.

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for Business Insider: I went to a food festival where Latina chefs shared their culinary journeys — and fed my Boricua soul

josé a. alvarado jr.

Jun 19, 2024

Location: New Jersey

On a warm, sunny April day in Paramus, New Jersey, the Westfield Garden State Plaza parking lot transformed into a Latin food festival.

I grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to central Jersey after Hurricane Maria in 2017. My family didn't venture out much, so I had never attended an event like this in the state. The festival, which was organized by Mega Bite Events, featured dozens of food trucks and family-friendly activities, including chalk drawing, bubble blowing, and a bounce house — or, as I called it when I was little, "el brinca brinca," meaning "the jump jump."

Photographed for Business Insider, words by Sofía Viera

I went to a food festival where Latina chefs shared their culinary journeys — and fed my Boricua soul
Latina restaurant owners showcased their culinary skills at a Latin food festival in Jersey. Their dishes included empanadas, alcapurrias, and crepes.
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José A. Alvarado Jr.

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