Coffee: The Link Between Gastronomy and Creative Writing

Santo Domingo, June 9, 2018 – Coffee cupping, fusion with unusual tapas and creative writing all came together recently for the first time under the title Tell Me a Story with the Flavor of Coffee. The objective of the event, held June 2 in the Mamey Librería, is to bring together – under the same roof – the production of local artisan coffee and gastronomy. The final product was the generation of literary content inspired by these two very important ingredients.

The event included the coffee cupping of three special coffee blends, each one with very specific characteristics and prepared with various techniques, such as the French Press, Chemex and the cold-filter process. Each preparation process and coffee product was paired with a particular tapa, or Spanish hors d’oeuvres.

The tapas were prepared with unusual ingredients to complement the particular coffee served. For example, some of the tapas served were: Eggplant Capressa; Cassava topped with Mozzarella; Beet Croquette topped with Blue Cheese Alioli, and Chicken, Pork, Onion, Pepper and Roasted Yellow Plantain Skewers.

Each cupping and gastronomic pairing was accompanied by writing exercises to motivate the participants to express in words the tastes and aromas they were experiencing. Also, to identify the emotions produced through the perception of aromas or the taste of a particular flavor to create different types of stories.

The coffee cupping experience was organized by Coral de Camps, from the La Gente de la isla store. Mónica de Moya, from the Mamey Library, organized the fusion between the tapas and the coffee; and the story writing part was headed by Elaine Hernández, who was also the event sponsor.

“The ‘Tell Me a Story with the Flavor of Coffee’ is the first in a series of future gastronomic events that will continue to bring together various coffee flavors, unusual tapas and the presentation of various top-quality local products,” explained Elaine Hernández, a well-known food blogger and gastronomic journalist. “Some of the other artisan products that we will present are honey-based products, cheeses and yogurts, as well as liquors, chocolate and rum,” she added.

Participants included coffee lovers, chefs, bakers, journalists, influencers and gastronomic entrepreneurs. The goal was for all to learn how to bring together the coffee experience and creative writing by putting together words, ingredients, temperatures, techniques and flavors that would help generate stories where coffee and gastronomy are the main characters.

The initiative “Tell Me a Story with the Flavor of Coffee” will continue to take place at the national level, designed and sponsored by Plato Grande. The event is also sponsored by local hotels, restaurants, journalist associations, chefs and others related to the gastronomic sectors.

Plato Grande is a communications and marketing agency that works to promote specialized gastronomic and tourism projects. It also offers special training, consulting services, and development of gastronomic projects.