Raised in the south side of Chicago, I never knew much about Puerto Rico and our Puerto Rican Culture.  The south side of Chicago is mainly Mexican and we indulged in so many Mexican dishes.  I loved it!! When I was 19 years old, I landed an amazing job with United Airlines and was attending De Paul University, both located in the north side of Chicago.  The north side has a huge Puerto Rican culture that reminds you of Puerto Rico. When I moved to the north side for work and school,   I learned about the food, the culture, the music, and discovered how Puerto Rico and Cuba are sisters. These Caribbean Islands have cultures that are so similar it was no wonder the foods emulate each other.  "Todo Caribe" (everything Caribbean) was the drive to my catering business. My years at United Airlines and traveling  introduced me to places and foods that I can honestly admit made me a foodie.  Both the Mexican and Puerto Rican in me has helped me experiment in different spices and sauces. I love bringing spicy to Puerto Rican food or black beans to the Mexican dishes.  Garlic! Garlic! Garlic! Love it!!!! You will too. I can not cook a thing without my fresh garlic.