Cookbook Review: 'Bodega Bakes' by Chef Paola Velez

By Chef Farys Martinez

Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store is not only a cookbook full of good recipes; it is about culture, society, and art. It is evident that its author – award-winning chef and activist Paola Velez – is proud of her Dominican heritage and, more importantly, her Bronx childhood. Readers will feel that pride in the food and heart of every recipe and narrative she shares. Out on Oct. 1 from Union Square & Co., Velez focuses her debut cookbook on the different tastes of classic Dominican desserts and modernizes them in a delicious way.

What’s Inside: There is an entire section devoted to all delicious sweet recipes, from cookies and cakes to ice creams and frozen desserts. They include Sorrel Snickerdoodles, Morir Soñando Tres Leches Cake, and Sweet Plantain Gelato, which are quite unassuming but truly innovative recipes. Mostly all the prepared dishes remind Velez of herself, her childhood, the bodega, Dominican tastes, and therefore weave a narrative into every plate.

Writing Style and Vibe: Velez puts down her thoughts as if she is talking to a friend. She is very generous and affectionate, and every single page of Bodega Bakes offers a piece of herself in her writing. She narrates about her childhood, how she grew up, and the challenges she faced in terms of her identity. She also touches on how she navigated the food world. Those moments in the cookbook make the narrative more than just about food. It’s also about Velez and the people who nourished her.

There are parts of the book where Velez lends her voice to rather personal reflections on mental health and the struggles of being a first generation American. Those struck a particular chord for me. 

Who Will Love This Book: If you enjoy baking and creating new discoverable flavors, Bodega Bakes will be right for you. Advanced players will be impressed with the inventions in Velez’s works, while amateurs will be encouraged by the interesting mix of tastes. Nevertheless, a few sections of some of the recipes can be rather complicated for beginners, so it may take a fair amount of time to execute. This book will also come in handy to people wishing to aim at Afro-Latina cuisines, or when one wants to go on an adventure with new tastes in desserts.

If you like cookbooks where the author sneaks in little stories about her life and family with recipes, Bodega Bakes should be particularly appealing. 

Why I Loved It: Velez’s way of mixing Dominican ingredients with baking is simply the best. My expectation was confirmed when I glanced at the illustrations and style of the food presented in this cookbook. 

Visuals: I was shocked by the photos! Award-winning food and travel photographer Lauren V. Allen has made everything too appetizing with her pictures. The book design looks entertaining and is easily navigable.