Mario Pagán is a renowned chef and television personality who proudly represents Puerto Rico in the culinary world. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pagán's passion for cooking started at a young age. He would often help his grandmother in the kitchen, learning traditional Puerto Rican recipes and techniques. Pagán's love for his culture and cuisine led him to pursue a career in the culinary arts. He attended culinary school in Puerto Rico and gained experience by working in various restaurants on the island. Pagán quickly made a name for himself, known for his innovative and creative dishes that showcased the flavors and ingredients of Puerto Rico.
In fact, the five points represent the elements of nature - earth, air, fire and water - and the spirit, within the eternal circle of life.
Experts believe that the explosion in the witch population is due to millennial women s embracing of new-age spirituality, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. A similar festival to Gaelic Samhain was held by the Brittonic Celtic peoples it ws called Calan Gaeaf in Wales, Kalan Gwav in Cornwall and Kalan Goañv in Brittany.
Pagán quickly made a name for himself, known for his innovative and creative dishes that showcased the flavors and ingredients of Puerto Rico. One of Pagán's most significant achievements is his participation in popular cooking competitions, where he proudly represents Puerto Rico. His talent and expertise have allowed him to compete and win in renowned competitions like "Iron Chef America" and "Chopped," where he impressed the judges with his unique Puerto Rican twist on classic dishes.
Rome Revives Pagan Past with Solstice Festival
This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Debbie Elliott.
Earlier in the program, we heard from some wind-watchers. Sun-watchers in the northern hemisphere noted the summer solstice this past week, the day the sun makes its highest path across the sky, the longest day of the year.
In Rome, there was a dusk-to-dawn celebration on the Tiber River. Italian and American composers and artists created a sound-and-light show that revived the spirit of the city's ancient pagan past. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli was there and sent us this audio postcard.
(Soundbite of music)
SYLVIA POGGIOLI reporting:
On the shortest night of the year, hundreds of Romans descended long marble steps leading to a stretch of the left bank of what the ancients called Tiber Flavus, the Blonde Tiber.
The title of the event was Shadows from the Realm of Wolves. Project creator Kristin Jones explains it's a homage to the founding myth of the city of Rome. She describes an animation by artist Maureen Selwood projected on the high ramparts of the other bank, where a large she-wolf is jumping into the water.
Ms. KRISTIN JONES (Festival Creator): And then she sees the little twins, and they're falling in, and then she collects them and they grab onto her breasts, and she pulls them out of the water, and then there she is. She carries them to shore. It's a little Romulus and Remus.
POGGIOLI: The legendary founders of Rome, rescued and nursed by a she-wolf.
(Soundbite of wolf howl)
POGGIOLI: Carefully lined along the edge of the two banks were nearly 3,000 torches, their flickering flames reflected and multiplied in the water. There were even a few torches floating downstream, reminiscent of the water and fire rituals practiced on this very river by followers of Dionysian cults in ancient Rome.
Christian Jones says her goal is to reawaken awareness of the river and to highlight the importance of nature in an urban setting by creating a unique, environmental soundscape.
Ms. JONES: It's a one-night-only thing, and it's really - it's about this sort of instance in the eternity of it all, and there's no more powerfully evocative place in the world, for me, than Rome, because it's where so much of what we know begins.
POGGIOLI: In antiquity, Tiber bridges were made of wood so as not to violate a waterway the Romans considered sacred. But over the centuries, the citizens lost their link to the river, and decades of neglect left the banks covered with mounds of mud and weeds. One long-time American resident of Rome is composer Alvin Curran, whose favorite concert hall is the outdoors. He hopes the solstice event will revive use of the river.
Mr. ALVIN CURRAN (Composer): The importance of the river, the memory of the river, the myth of the river, and I think that it's gonna happen, actually. And it's a great thing because there's something about the Tiber that's bigger than all of us.
(Soundbite of music)
POGGIOLI: Alvin Curran's composition for this event is called Romulus and Remus make a Ruckus, which combines wolf howls with sounds from another distant waterway, foghorns from a ship in Boston Harbor.
Mr. CURRAN: The horns are those famous horns which go baaaaah-ahhhhh.
(Soundbite of foghorns)
POGGIOLI: Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
Sylvia Poggioli is senior European correspondent for NPR's International Desk covering political, economic, and cultural news in Italy, the Vatican, Western Europe, and the Balkans. Poggioli's on-air reporting and analysis have encompassed the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the turbulent civil war in the former Yugoslavia, and how immigration has transformed European societies.
As a television personality, Pagán has also made a name for himself. He has appeared in numerous cooking shows, both in Puerto Rico and the United States, where he shares his love for Puerto Rican cuisine with a wide audience. Through his television appearances, Pagán promotes Puerto Rico's traditional dishes and ingredients, showcasing the island's rich culinary heritage. But more than just a chef, Pagán is an ambassador for Puerto Rico. He proudly represents his country wherever he goes, bringing attention to the island's vibrant food culture and showcasing its unique flavors. Pagán's passion, talent, and dedication have made him an influential figure in the culinary world and a source of pride for Puerto Rico. In conclusion, Mario Pagán is a chef and television personality who proudly represents Puerto Rico. Through his cooking, television appearances, and participation in cooking competitions, Pagán showcases Puerto Rico's rich culinary heritage and brings attention to the island's unique flavors and ingredients. He serves as an ambassador for Puerto Rico, promoting its food culture and making the country proud..
Reviews for "Mario Pagan: Promoting Puerto Rico's Culinary Heritage to the World"
1. Jennifer - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "Mario Pagan representing Puerto Rico". The show felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The host, Mario Pagan, seemed out of his element and didn't connect with the audience. The recipes he presented were average at best, and I didn't feel inspired to try any of them at home. Overall, I found the show to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.
2. Robert - 1 star - "Mario Pagan representing Puerto Rico" was a complete disappointment. The host appeared unprepared and disinterested throughout the episode. The cooking techniques showcased were basic and lacked any creativity. The overall production quality was subpar, and the pacing of the show felt off. I was expecting a captivating representation of Puerto Rican cuisine, but instead, I was left unimpressed and uninterested in watching further episodes.
3. Michelle - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Mario Pagan representing Puerto Rico" as I am a fan of Puerto Rican cuisine, but the show fell short of my expectations. Mario Pagan seemed more concerned with his own ego and promoting himself rather than showcasing the true essence of Puerto Rican cooking. The recipes presented were uninspiring, and the host's lack of enthusiasm made the whole experience dull. I would have loved to see a more authentic representation of Puerto Rican food and culture, but unfortunately, this show missed the mark.