"Raised in an environment with three neighborhood shops, she remembers not just the snacks and staples, but the core of the community. Everybody knew everybody. When someone did not have a dollar, the owner of the bodega would tell him not to worry, it was an IOU, and they would not cash it in, Velez says. The lesson of that generosity was the kind of chef she would grow up to be, and that kindness and community are as basic as flour and sugar."
"Velez was born to a Dominican mother and grew up in New York; she was trained on using anything she could get: cosmic brownies, honeybuns, or measuring cups that served as improvised utensils. Those modest beginnings taught her the value of being creative and resourceful, which now permeates her award-winning baking and her cookbook, Bodega Bakes. The book blends her Dominican heritage with the flavors and memories of New York City bodegas, offering comforting, creative recipes that highlight her playful approach to pastry."
Paola Velez grew up in Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx, where neighborhood bodegas served as essential community hubs. The bodegas taught practices of mutual aid, with owners extending IOUs and neighbors knowing one another. Early improvisation with snacks and kitchen tools instilled resourcefulness and creativity. Her baking blends Dominican family flavors with New York City bodega memories and appears in the cookbook Bodega Bakes. Velez channels bodega generosity into community acts, including distributing over 1,000 pastries to SNAP-benefit furloughed workers in Washington, D.C. Holidays like Thanksgiving now center on sharing time and food with family rather than working in restaurants.
Read at www.amny.com
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