HERE’S THE STORY THAT WAS RECENTLY FEATURED ON KABC-TV. YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE.
From panela cheese to tostones, mainstream grocery stores are now stocking the aisles and refrigerated/frozen sections with Latin food beyond the “Hispanic Aisle.”
KABC-TV Lori Corbin interviewed LatinoFoodie recently to talk about how the size of the Hispanic population as the largest ethnic group in the United States means a plethora of different spices, ingredients and ready-to-eat products for all of us to enjoy.
“Americans are becoming big foodies. They’re seeing it (Latin cuisine) on TV. They’re rushing out and they’re asking their local grocery departments to share with them,” LatinoFoodie Co-Founder Stephen Chavez told the reporter.
“There was eight shelves worth of salsa or something,” said LatinoFoodie Co-Founder Art Rodriguez, who checked out the international aisle at a local Ralphs with Corbin. Chavez mentioned that he appreciates the availability of Cacique’s Panela and Cotija cheese.
Rodriguez added that today you can find “… a lot of great packaged, pre-cooked food that wasn’t available before.” LatinoFoodie would have to go to specialty Latin markets for some of the items they can now find at more mainstream grocers.
Chavez agreed, saying that companies like Del Real Foods making meats that are “ready-to-eat” is an art form. “It takes hours to prepare really good Mexican food, and so they’re (Del Real Foods) is doing all the work for you,” he said.
