1st Women's Pastelada with Seasoning in Jayuya

On October 18th, we welcomed 13 women who safeguard the Puerto Rican pastry tradition to Jayuya.

At eight in the morning, the twelve women selected for this first edition began arriving, aprons in hand, at which point Chef Marilyn López, founder of Mujeres con Sazón, took the opportunity to welcome them, thank them, and share the importance of this event with them.

The smells of meat, achiote, and dough combined early on when the pastry making process began.

Among the women from different towns in Puerto Rico who took part in this first pastelada were Carmen Pagán, Carmen Sanabria, Olga Ivette, Carmen Meléndez, Margarita Sotomayor, Adalydia González, Maria Isabel Santiago, Iris (Maggie) Rodríguez, Dixie Serrano, Minerva Ortíz, Marilyn Sánchez, and Carmen Sánchez, who shared their culinary secrets while making the cakes.

Welcoming them and sharing their cooking experiences and secrets was wonderful. These women are the guardians of Puerto Rican culinary tradition, and together we ensure the preservation and conservation of one of our most native dishes: the Puerto Rican pastel.

The cakes made at this event will be donated to the Network of Shelters for Women Victims of Violence so they can enjoy them at their Thanksgiving dinner.