Patricia Kantzos Photography

Neighborhoods: Connections

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  • Have you ever wondered about the food we eat every day and where the recipes come from? Why do we make certain dishes? Can we think of food as an expression of our personal history? In America, the connection between food and identity is often overlooked. Maybe it’s because we have so many choices. But, food shapes every society and for immigrants, the recipes they bring connect them to of their country and is a way of preserving their cultural identity. So - what connections can food create? We all grow up eating the food of our culture. It brings us back to our childhood and creates warm memories. Judith is from the Honduran Coast of Guatemala and loves to make Hudutu, a dish that originated in Ghana and traveled to the Americas with enslaved Africans. When she cooks Hudutu Judith likes to play loud Guatemalan folk music – Parang - and dance her happy dance
  • This creamy traditional soup is made with coconut milk, fish, other seafood, cilantro, thyme, garlic, green peppers, shrimp, okra and plantains. Fish heads and pig tails are added to the recipe to help achieve the authentic taste.
  • In her New York City apartment, Judith and her cousin Sylvia work in tandem to prepare the initial ingredients for Hudutu.
  • Okra, shrimp, red snapper and conch in coconut milk conjures fond memories.
  • The plantains are boiled and then mashed with a Hana Uduwa, which is made of mahogany wood. Hana Uduwa is shared in Judith’s community; whomever needs it, asks for it and gets to use it.
  • This coconut grater made from rocks is still used on special occasions.
  • Because of the amount of work involved, what was served as a common dish in Judith’s home country, is now made only on special occasions, necessitating the use of fine china.
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  • Mashing the boiled plantains, “hudutuing,{quote} is traditionally done by men. However, here, Yolanda and Sylvia take turns huduting.
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  • Judith always has gratitude for what she has in her new country.
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  • This recipe, as with so many recipes, is passed down from one generation to the next, forming the connections to history, values and beliefs. It’s a symbol of pride and is an expression of one’s cultural identity.
  • Regardless of geography, warm food and warm dialog keep the friendships going.
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