Chef Chat: Leticia Moreinos Schwartz Brings Brazil to You

Leticia Moreinos Schwartz is a native Brazilian chef, culinary instructor, spokesman, award-winning cookbook author, and mother of two. She is also a former economist who switched careers in order to follow her dreams in the culinary field.

If today’s working woman can’t have it all, someone forgot to tell chef Leticia. We scored an interview with the super-talented Brazilian chef, and got her thoughts on topics ranging from advice on becoming a cookbook author to the challenges of raising bicultural children to the Brazilian singer icon Marisa Monte. Come join us for this exclusive chat.

The Latin Kitchen: Tell us a little about your latest cookbook, My Rio de Janeiro. How is it different from your first cookbook, The Brazilian Kitchen?

The Brazilian Kitchen features recipes from all over the country and is organized by recipe categories (soups, salad, main course, dessert, etc); My Rio de Janeiro features local and creative recipes from my hometown of Rio de Janeiro and is organized by neighborhood, presenting the best recipes from each part of town.

TLK: You are an accomplished professional and the 2010 Gourmand World Cookbook Award winner for Best Latin Cookbook. What advice(s) would you give to someone who would like to become a cookbook author?

Follow your passion!

TLK: Rio is your home city. Do you plan to go to the Olympic Games this summer?

I hope so!

TLK: Which dishes and places would you recommend to those attending this event? 

I would recommend my whole book! It’s really the best food guide one can possibly have in hands when traveling to Rio! I take you on a tour of the city including the best places and recipes from each neighborhood. [pagebreak]

TLK: You have a BA in economics and worked in finance prior to pursuit a career in the culinary arts. How do you see the present economic scene in Brazil?

You don’t want to even get me started on this! This is a big question to be answered in such a short manner. Let’s just say it has affected me and everyone I know in many different aspects. It will take a long time to recover from this one!

TLK: You have two children born and raised in the US. What are some of the challenges of passing on to them your language and culture? 

I speak Portuguese with my children; they answer back to me in English! It’s a crazy conversation! They are growing up on rice and beans, cheese bread, and lots of other classic Brazilian foods. But I am really conscious about not trying to make them look at Brazilian culture as their number one culture because I will never win. They are Americans, and English is their first language and culture. I was born in Brazil, not them. They will never feel for my country the same way that I do. Whatever I can pass on, it is profit, and I will certainly continue to make all my efforts to pass on a lot.

TLK: What do you cook at home for your multicultural family?

My kids really love rice and beans, not only from our own kitchen, but also from the influence of so many Latin restaurants around. So I cook tons of Latin food, Italian, American, French, and Asian. [pagebreak]

TLK: And now it’s time for our rapid fire questions. Fill in the blank in the following sentences with the first thing that comes to your mind. 

TLK: If  I  were a telenovela star, my name would be…

Maite Proenca.

TLK: My favorite telenovela is…

America.

TLK: My favorite song to cook to is…

Anything from Marisa Monte.

TLK: Social media – love it or hate it?

It depends on the day…most days—LOVE it!

Want more? Try this recipe for Leticia’s Molten Brigadeiro Chocolate Cake!