Author Archives: Ramon

The podcast talked about how food and gender are connected, especially regarding women’s roles in cooking and making food choices. It explained that even though things have changed, women still feel pressure about food. The main idea was that we need to work together to change this. Yes, I would recommend it because it helps us understand how food and gender affect each other. Some questions from the episode are: How can we make sure everyone has fair access to good food? Why do some people feel judged about the food choices they make? And how can we support women who work with food?

I recommend Ceviche de Camarones

   As a young kid, I was a very picky eater. No matter how hard my parents tried to convince me to expand my taste in food, I would always be that kid to ask for chicken tenders and french fries in a restaurant of any kind. Any time I would see something that looked or smelled like something I wasn’t accustomed to, I would automatically reject  it. So, when it came to things like seafood, I could’ve never imagined myself enjoying it as much as I do now.

   By the time I turned 16, something changed. My appetite felt a reawakening all of a sudden, as if I’ve gotten bored of the same 3 dishes that I would always eat. Around that time, me and my family took a trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador. My curiosity grew as every corner I walked there would be many interesting looking dishes, and they all smelled great. But one dish caught my eye in this one restaurant. It was a seafood restaurant, and while I looked at the menu, I decided to be a little daring. I looked at the ceviche (shellfish marinated in citrus and seasoning) side of the menu and there was a shrimp option. Ecuadorians have a different way of preparing it, as they use plantain chips to accompany the dish. My family looked at me with sheer surprise. Never in a million years would they have imagined that I tried something completely out of my comfort zone.

  As I was waiting in anticipation, I started to doubt if I would actually like the dish. I started getting a little antsy and I was playing with my fingers, as I didn’t want to disappoint my hunger. I was really hungry and it would’ve been a let down also to my family because they got so excited that I was finally maturing food-wise. When the food came, everyone got quiet. They all waited for me to try the ceviche and I got kinda nervous because all eyes were on me. So when I mixed the plantain chips with the juices and the shrimp, they were all like, “ Just eat it already!” So after putting that spoon in my mouth I simply said “ I like it”, and everyone nodded in approval. Looking back this was all very dramatic, but I’m glad I went for it, because man, those flavors were so good, the shrimp was nice and fresh. 

 After this, I had the courage to try more and more food that I wouldn’t have previously. To this day, ceviche is one of my favorite meals to eat and I can’t imagine how much longer I would’ve lasted if I kept eating chicken tenders with fries every time.

One memory that sticks out the most for me is my family going to eat Peruvian food. It would be tradition for us to go to a Peruvian restaurant once a month. It would be even more special when a relative came with us. They would have to be unfamiliar with the menu, as there is a dish called Anticuchos, which is cow heart. When the dish comes to the table, me and my family wait in anticipation for our family members to try it, and after they swallow it, we tell them it was cow heart. I remember my aunt who came from Ecuador tried it and liked it, but once we told her that it was cow heart, she was shocked that she was eating it, but after that came to terms with how good it tasted so. This memory was fun because every time I eat anticuchos now, it takes me back to those carefree days of childhood, and it gives me a sense of nostalgia which I love.

Hello, my name is Ramon Vallarino. My intended major is Finance, but it is subject to change in the future. I was born and raised in Queens, and I am the oldest of four siblings. My sister is 16, my brother is 12 and my other brother is 6 years old. My mother is from Ecuador and my father is from Peru. My mom immigrated to the United States in 2001, two months before 9/11. She came here to work hard to provide for my family back in Ecuador and ensure their well-being. I have a seasonal part-time job as a soccer referee near my neighborhood and it’s just something to do. I am mainly just focused on my studies and am doing everything in my power to make connections and keep my grades up. I have a lot of hobbies, as I enjoy playing soccer (I used to be in a team pre-pandemic), I play the guitar a lot and I am an avid music listener. My favorite band is the Beatles, I even went to a Paul McCartney concert back in 2022. I also enjoy playing pool and hanging out in the city with my friends. Lastly, I enjoy playing video games like Call of Duty and Minecraft. As far as food goes, I used to be the type of guy to only eat chicken tenders and fries wherever I would go. As I’ve grown older, I realized what I was missing out on and expanded my taste in food. I enjoy many cuisines, but my favorites are Peruvian and Italian. Peruvian food is just so diverse, and my personal favorite dishes are Anticuchos (beef heart), Papa a la Huancaina, and Peruvian chicken with green sauce. As for Italian food, I like Gnocchi, Fettuccini Alfredo and… Pizza. I also cannot forget about my Ecuadorian side, I enjoy Seco de Pollo and Ceviche de Camoron, since my mom makes both of these, I just had to include them they’re so good.