Doll's Kitchen

About the Book

Well that’s it, the book Doll’s Kitchen (La Cocina De Dolly) is complete, now I can give my brain a break and get some (R and R) rest and relaxation, but before I leave I want to give thanks to a friend whose help in typing and with the illustrations helped make this book possible, Mr. Gilbert Rivera (Thanks Gil), and especially to Ms. Dolores (Dolly) Batista for her love, support, and wonderful appetite for good food and fine restaurants in New York.

One of my goals in the near future is to travel the United States with Dolores and stop in as many restaurants as possible and sample its fine cuisine. But knowing Dolores as soon as we finish with the United States she will want to take on the world (and why not). We are number #1 in the world of culinary arts and I’m very proud to be a small part of it. 

I also have plans for a T.V. show on Caribbean cooking which is in the works, and a new book on spices and pirates which is presently in its research stage. I want to inspire the future chefs of America and throughout the world, because the task of becoming a good chef is long and at times difficult but worth its weight in gold, (so hang in there).

And as far as I’m concerned, theirs is no better praise than to hear the “mmmmm” sounds of someone enjoying a wonderful meal that you cooked. Cooking is an art form that requires time, spices, color, plating and lots of love and patience in its preparation. To all the future readers of this book, I sincerely hope that Doll’s Kitchen “La Cocina De Dolly” helps you in your kitchen and that you enjoy Hispanic Cooking for many years to come along with your friends and family and that you especially enjoy reading the funny stories that happened to us; and remember if you hear someone say “you cook great maybe you should write a cookbook” do it. God Bless.

About the Author

My name is Julio Rodriguez , I was born in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, when I came to New York I wanted to be a artist, little did I realize that the art that I would love most would be in the kitchen, cooking. Graduating from high school in the Bronx, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy where there was no need for an artist, which had been my major. I was then offered two choices in training, laundry or commissary, Hmm I thought, clean clothes or a full stomach, I chose the stomach.  Soon thereafter I started my culinary training by attending a commissary school at the Newport Military Academy in Rhode Island for 6 months. That tour of duty turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I later found out that I could use my knowledge of all those 8 years of art and apply them to creating beautiful dishes. After my tour with the Navy I went on to various restaurants cooking my way through New York until finally, I ended up teaching Culinary Arts and, today writing my first book on  the fine Art of Cuisine. I now invite you to view my art in the following pages; subsequently the study of colors becomes very important, for as you well know, food must first look good to the eye before it reaches the mouth.

This book is of much importance to the beginner because it will cover which pot or pan

to use, which knife, which spice and their uses, how much fire (heat) under the pan or pot, when to boil or simmer, when to fry, sauté, how to prepare soups, stews, the use of vegetables, meats, from steaks to ground beef, poultry, fish, and shellfish, how to prepare rice and beans, pastas, omelets, salads, mushrooms, how to bake and prepare deserts.  I even included a section for Italian foods. We Hispanics have a love affair with pastas, especially lasagnas. I also threw in some gourmet dishes that I hope you enjoy. I almost forgot the cute little stories on our travels and tribulations with pictures of Doll and some of our friends on our vacations and  dinners at home. The names are the same we did not protect the innocent.

I finally decided to write a cookbook because of the many times I’ve heard my friends say “you cook so good maybe you should write a book” So here it is guys, now go out there and buy it.