Aug. 2007 - Tostobueno® LLC is the first company to manufacture quality ethnic kitchenware in eco-friendly bamboo. And Tostobueno® is not the only company with Hispanic on the brain; mainstream TV seems to be jumping on the Hispanic bandwagon. And this is good for all things Hispanic. But first -- a little Plantain knowledge.
Tostones are Patacones are Tachinos are Plantain Chips. In the end, it just depends if it’s a Dominican, Cuban, Puerto Rican or Foodie home serving what can be considered the Latin equivalent of the American French Fry. Tostones--sliced fried green plantains, smashed and refried--are served in many Latin homes for lunch and/or dinner up to three, four times a week. It’s tradition.
“Everyone becomes a child when presented with a toston,” said Chef DonClark, designer of the Tostobueno® “The toston speaks to the reverence that Latinos have when it comes to their food and certainly their family, and when you put the two together, fun is never far behind.”
Evolution of a Toston?
Well ... Hardly. Why? Time Consuming to Make Until now. After four years of prototypes, Chef DonClark gave the plantain a culinary life beyond the toston/plantain chip, with his final design of the Tostobueno® . Now there are plantain cups or “rellenos” perfect for any topping, savory or sweet, delicious stuffed plantain pockets, or toston sandwiches. And the timing can’t be better . . . !
Chef DonClark is right on time since "Hispanic-ness" is "muy caliente" at the moment in mainstream media. This time it’s not just Crocket and Tubbs in their Michael Mann best, fighting crime on South Beach. There’s Shakira and her sensual Latina earthiness. And the beautiful Ugly Betty brought to America by Salma Hayek. How about that Mojito commercial, hips gyrating to the beat of the bartender smashing away at the mint. Or The Food Network with Daisy Martinez’s show Viva Daisy. Even Goya commercials have gone mainstream.
And then, there is Burn Notice, the sizzling hot, new show on USA Network. Picking up right where Miami Vice left off. It’s the same typical getting in and out of trouble, but with the show’s sexy star occasionally stopping for his shot of Café Cubano. You can see the pastelitos. And all those little Cuban “antojitos” (snacks) that makes a South Florida coffee break so “rico.” Tostones or a toston cup with caramelized apples, walnuts and whipped cream cannot be far behind. It’s the plantain meets the apple pie.
Assimilation at its best!
| Chef DonClark, The Simple Chef®
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