With Hispanic Heritage Month in the USA under way and to bring Menú Urbano to life, the Des Moines, Iowa-headquartered National Pork Board has partnered with Mexican-born celebrity and TV host Ana Patricia Gámez (pictured above) and three influential Latina foodies. Throughout 2020, Gámez and these influencers will introduce Hispanic consumers to the street food cultures in Miami, Los Angeles, El Paso and Tijuana, Mexico, and will also re-imagine these classic street food dishes for cooks at home.
The goal, according to Gámez, is to demonstrate the endless culinary possibilities that exist with pork.
“I am a firm believer that food can act as a bridge to understanding cultures and each other, and for this reason, I’m really excited to join the National Pork Board and share some of my favorite street food recipes – some of which I enjoyed as a kid in Mexico,” Gámez said. “As a mom and wife, it’s important to keep traditions alive through cooking, and pork’s authentic flavors allow me to keep our Latino heritage alive at home.”
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pork is the most popular protein in the world – and for good reason. From its pleasing flavor to its many cut varieties, pork serves as an affordable and easy solution for meal occasions, including street food options.
According to research by the National Pork Board, US Hispanics are more likely to eat pork than non-Hispanics (67% vs. 62%, respectively).
“Menú Urbano showcases how pork connects many cultures around the world,” said Jose de Jesus, senior director of multicultural marketing at the National Pork Board. “We may cook it differently and use different ingredients, but pork is a food we have in common. What better way to bring that to life than by shining a spotlight on some of our communities’ cultural crusaders: street food vendors?”
According to the North American Industry Classification System Report, street food is a $3.6 billion industry with an annual growth of 6.5% from 2014-19. That makes it one of the fastest-growing segments within the larger hospitality sector. As street food represents cultures worldwide, 41% of street food menu items originate from Central and South American, Asian or from kitchens of mixed ethnicities. The street food business is expected to reach $3.9 billion in value over the next five years.
As part of the Menú Urbano series, consumers will be introduced to street vendors and explore a taste of their different cultures through the National Pork Board’s Spanish-language digital platforms. Tasty street food pork dishes will be shared on @PorkEsSabor social channels and website, PorkEsSabor.com.
Menú Urbano partner influencers include:
- Victoria Gautier, a Venezuelan foodie and lifestyle influencer based in Miami. The VIPig food blogger’s amazing Instagram account has many followers.
- Karen Delgado, a Mexican influencer and the creator of Mi Cocina Rápida, based in Los Angeles.
- Maria Sierra, a Honduran influencer and the co-founder, host, and producer of La Cooquette, a food and travel YouTube channel that celebrates culinary adventures around the world, She is based in Tijuana, Mexico.
Traditional recipes that will be featured throughout 2020 include tostadas de tinga de cerdo, quesabirria: quesadillas de birria de cerdo, cachapa con pernil de cerdo horneado, and mini hamburguesas de cochinita pibil Yucateca.
