“Taste of my Homeland” by Dominican Author Socorro Castellanos Wins 2012 GOURMAND World Cookbook Award

“Taste of my Homeland” by Dominican Author Socorro Castellanos Wins 2012 GOURMAND World Cookbook Award
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic   3/6/2013

Pioneer Dominican television and radio host Socorro Castellanos´ most recent book has received the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards prestigious international prize for “second best book” of easy family recipes in a decision announced last February 23rd.

Over 26,000 cookbooks and wine primers are published each year internationally. The books first compete in their own language and category then the winners compete against each other to be pronounced the Best Book of the Year.

A total of 171 countries with over 8,000 books participated this year in the competition, and some forty books from Latin America -entered in the Spanish language- were finalists. In each category, finalists rank among the best five books in the world.

“Taste of my Homeland,” published by Aguilar de Santillana in 2012, comprises a collection of creole recipes, legacy of an exquisite gastronomical native culture, spiced up with memories and anecdotes, historical data, advice and cooking secrets.

Over 26,000 cookbooks and wine primers are published each year internationally. The books first compete in their own language and category then the winners compete against each other to be pronounced the Best Book of the Year.

Founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau, the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards reward the best wine and cookbooks each year. Their goal is to honor those “who cook with words,” and build respect and knowledge of the different culinary traditions as well as help readers and cuisine aficionados to find the best books on the subject.

The decision is made by an international jury comprise of Jean Jacques Ratier, Mayor of Sorges, the capital city of  Perigord truffles, in Périgueux; Sara Baer-Sinnott, president of  Oldways, a US non-profit organization; Bo Masser, Booktown´s primer director, Grythyttan (Sweden); and Edouard Cointreau, president and founder of the Gourmand Awards.

“One day I realized that recipes are as essential an ingredient of a nation´s culture as literature or music,” said Castellanos. “I realized in time how much of a treasure they are to be preserved, because they constitute the basis on which new culinary traditions can be built, traditions that will be increasingly healthy without losing their cultural authenticity.”

Socorro Castellanos is a veteran radio and TV producer and hostess. She pioneered programs targeting female audiences, such as “Buenastardes a la orden” (Good Afternoon, how can I help you?). Other programs she has produced are, “A buentiempo” (On Time), “El show del mediodía” (The Midday Show), “Punto Final” (Full Stop), “Entrega especial” (Special Delivery), and “Con los cincosentidos” (With Five Senses). She has published “Con los cincosentidos” (With Five Senses), “Las mejoresrecetas de Buenastardes a la orden” (The Best Recipes of Good  Afternoon at Your Service) and the memoir, “Johanna, mi hija” (Joanna, my daughter).