Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz: The Best of Latin Baking

by Kim Haas

Recently, I interviewed Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, author of The Brazil Kitchen and My Rio de Janeiro: A Cookbook at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City.  The interview focused on the cuisine of her native Brazil and its African culinary influences. Coming soon, we’ll bring you our interview with Chef Leticia, her photos from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil (the center of the country’s African roots) and a recipe or two.

Until then, I share with you photos from “The Best of Latin Baking.” Chef Leticia invited me to observe this class which she was teaching immediately after our interview.

Originally, I had only anticipated staying a few minutes. Instead, minutes turned into hours and a blog post developed. It was delightful to witness the commitment, precision and dedication of the 9 baking students.  They whirled around ICE’s kitchen like busy bees with tremendous focus and concentration. They beat, mixed, rolled and sifted ingredients, creating a mélange of Latin American desserts including:

• Flan
• Rocambole de Doce de Leite com Coco (Dulce De Leche and Coconut Roulade or Jelly Roll)
• Nha Benta (Brazilian Mallomars)
• Pão de Mel (Honey Cake)
• Cheesecake de Coco com Calda de Goiaba (Coconut Cheesecake with Guava Sauce)
• Brazilian Thumbprint Cookies (Topped with Powdered Sugar)
• Quadrodos de Doce de Leite com Chocolate (Dulce de Leche Brownies)

Sharing these delicious desserts would not have been possible without the cooperation of the students. I sincerely appreciated their willingness to be photographed especially since this was not a planned blog post. It’s safe to say that “The Best of Latin Baking” would not have run so smoothly without the support of Will, ICE Culinary Assistant.  He showed the students how to operate every appliance and worked his magic, appearing, disappearing and reappearing with whatever ingredient was needed. And special thanks to Chef Leticia, who freely shared her warmth, generosity and knowledge of Brazil and its wondrous cuisine.

Happy Baking!

Photo Gallery: Dulce De Leche Brownie photo is courtesy of Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz

Click on an image to open a slideshow and see the full-sized photos.

ICE Instructor and Chef Leticia

ICE Culinary Assistant Will

Listing of desserts to be prepared in class

Flan

Flan

Jelly Roll Batter

Baking student preparing jelly roll

Jelly Roll

Chef Leticia making Mallomars

Mallomars

Chocolate goodness

Pão de Mel (Honey Cake)

Shivani making Cheesecake de Coco com Calda de Goiaba

Shivani after pouring the cheesecake batter

The finished product: Coconut Cheesecake w Guava Sauce

Baking students with the finished cheesecake

Jenny and Maria

Maria making Brazilian thumbprint cookies.

Jenny, Maria, and Seri share a laugh

Jenny with baked Thumbprint cookies.

Jenny and Maria adding powdered sugar to the thumbprint cookies

Brazilian Thumbprint Cookies with Powdered Sugar

Baking student Seri

Will cutting block of chocolate

Meringue ingredients

Maria and Chef Leticia preparing a dessert

Anjan and Vicki preparing dulce de leche brownies

Seri

Anjan and Vicki

Dulce de Leche Brownies. Photo courtesy of Chef Leticia.