Photos
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Maricel Presilla Credits: Alexandra Lubischer
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Maricel Presilla talks about the history of peppers. Credits: Alexandra Lubischer
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The seminar included information about wine pairings. Credits: Alexandra Lubischer
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Peppers are a growing part of the American plate. Credits: Alexandra Lubischer
James Beard Winner Presilla Spices Up Summit Wine and Food Festival with Exotic Pepper Seminar
Sunday, September 23, 2012 • 7:37am
SUMMIT, NJ - Things got a little spicy at the Grand Summit on Saturday afternoon when James Beard winner Maricel Presilla gave a presentation on peppers.
The exotic pepper seminar was just one of Saturday's offerings as part of the Summit Wine and Food Festival.
Presilla, a successful restaurateur and doctor of culinary history, presented an hour-long seminar on the varieties of peppers, which also include two wine parings.
“I think that Americans are much more receptive to peppers than Europeans,” said Presilla, a native of Cuba.
Peppers, Presilla explained, are in the tomato and eggplant families. She also explained that they are native of South America and were originally found in the Amazon. They were spread by farmers and are depicted in pre-Colombian artwork of Central and South America.
“Americans are ready to go beyond Mexican and explore the world of peppers,” added Presilla.
