NOURISH
More than a Taco
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by seeking out cuisine from a diverse mix of Latin counties – you won’t be disappointed.
M Víctor Melendrez
By Arlinda Smith Broady
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Photos by George Hunter
Peachtree Corners Magazine ■ August/September 2022 ■ LivingInPeachtreeCorners.com
any Americans aren’t aware of the complexities of many cultures across the globe. For example, not all Latin food is spicy or comes in a tortilla. As Hispanic Heritage Month approaches, please don’t think of Taco Bell as the place to sample the cuisine of more than 60 million people on the planet.
With Spanish being the second most spoken language in the world, the Pew Center estimates that there are more than 500 million Hispanophones across the globe. That is, people who speak Spanish — whether natives or those for whom it is their second language. To honor the diversity within the peachtreecornerslife
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Latinx culture, Peachtree Corners Magazine met up with Victor Melendrez at his restaurant Tortuga Cuban Grill in Peachtree Corners. He was working on a big catering order for a client who was looking for authentic Cuban fare. “That’s what you get here,” he said, adding that during the holiday season he’s overrun with orders for lechon asado (roast pork), arroz congri (Cuban rice and black beans) and yuca con mojo (cassava with garlic sauce). Melendrez has been in the food service industry for more than 25 of his 53 years. He and his family emigrated from Guadalajara, Mexico when he was young. The family settled in California, like many Latinos
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