It's a very communicative and special way of receiving guests in this country. Every home I go to, that's the family style of eating, the homey format. Empanadas are simple to take to Tia Mary down the street. They're a hospitality kind of food. Rogers sees no reason to experiment with a proven success.
Simplicity is a word that often comes up in praise of the local cuisine.
Dominican recipes tend to center on a few ingredients found in most home kitchens, including onion, garlic, oregano, chicken bouillon and salt, Vargas says. Vargas likes going back to basics with a dish such as pollo guisado, chicken cooked in a sauce base. The seasoning may include fresh limes, pepper, salt, onion, sugar, garlic, chicken bouillon, paprika and oregano. Still, some modern chefs are experimenting. I'm working with my Latino roots, which are Dominican.