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    Interview with Carlos Barrera Cancun’s Elite Chef and Book Author

    Interview with Carlos Barrera Cancun’s Elite Chef and Book Author

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    Chef Carlos Barrera, originally from the State of Merida Yucatan, Proud Yucatecan. Raised the first part of his life in Yucatan and developed in the State of Quintana Roo, in the area of ​​Puerto Morelos in his youth teenagers’ years. Moved at the age of 18 to United States, stayed in Philadelphia, Washington DC, New York.

    Learned how to cook and eat local’s dishes, as he was doing other things. He didn´t really click at that age and time all the passion for food and was just natural cook.

    Carlos was very big on the environment helping support the ecology in preservation of sea life as turtles from the State of Yucatán.

    When Cancun was growing and there were no more possible activities to keep doing that he decided to move and open a new page in his life, and moved to California looking for a new opportunity in his young life., Carlos was very lucky he got a job offer from Chef Jose Chavez, Called Sabor in the area of Santa Monica. Chef Chavez opened and taught Carlos teaching his first dishes in Cajun south Latin flavor cuisine.

    After that Carlos worked for a Food Factory, that provided food, for Trader Joe Workers in the area. Carlos was a fast learner and was introduced to learn about food catering as well as a Bartender, learning to make all kinds of drinks. Carlos also Worked in Beverly Hills, Bell Air Areas, worked in Harold & AMP a Belles Restaurant a Cajun Restaurant.

    Carlos had learned his Cooking, Catering and bartending skills, well and had dreams of working as a chef in Las Vegas. So he got a job in Cesar’s palace and worked also in the Venetian, as well as working under Executive Chef Luciano Pellegrini, Piero Selvaggio’s of Valentino’s Restaurant, next door to Chef Emeril Lagasse, Warner’s Brother Kitchen at the Venetian casino, Zeffirino Italian Restaurant, and other important places Carlos learned his Culinary skills.

    Carlos was well on his way living his American Dream, he was very happy with his progress and being an elite executive chef, learning from of the best chef’s in the world. He also got married to Nora Espinoza.

    All his life changed 360 Degree’s when he got a call from his family member that his father was on his death bed and wanted to see Carlos. In 2002, packed his bags and headed back to Merida Yucatan the land where he was born. after the death of his Mr. Father, Maestro Carlos Barrera the person that motive him to reach his goals cooking, and he wanted to show and honor his memory, showing and sharing his experience with his family and friends, combining all the recipes and doing some new dishes. To honor his father’s legacy.

    So after Carlo’s father passed away he decided to stay in Mexico open his first Restaurant call SeaFari and he had a great successful place where others like Big Locals chefs like Jhon Grey, David Laos and many others who tasted his fresh Lobster tacos, Seafood platers and Mexican Carnitas because Carlos had a big impact in the Village with his way of cooking with simple small kitchen and very creative plates. People were coming back on a regular basis and introducing their friends and family members who too were coming and eating his food.

    Carlos with his wife Chef Nora Espinoza, had 3 children, Little Carlos, Mahatma and Indira. Chef Nora grew up in a family of cooks, with a father who was a Cuban chef originally from Cuidad Cien Fuegos, Cuba, and a mother from Veracruz Mexico, who learned ancient Mexican recipes from her grandmothers and taught Nora since she was a child the love of cooking and to do everything from scratch the artisan way, 2 great young Chefs  were working together at the same time  and decide do something bigger, they begin working hard to get a good position and enter the Yachts community in Cancun, services for catering and private luxury homes, work for celebrities and politician form Mexico, Ex Mexican President and Governors, as also some businessmen of large old Mexican families that visit Cancun.

    Chef Carlos and Nora are known as Los Chefs as the name of the new and old Restaurants, begin a new chapter in Cancun Hotel zone, as part of a vacation Club from USA, where he currently works together with his wife Chef Nora and one of the Kids, Mahatma Espinoza in a great quiet place at the end of Pok Ta Pok Av, by the lagoon with the best view of the lagoon side hotel zone.

    So when I stayed in Cancun and met Carlos, he prepared Maya Whole Fish dish with rice and salad, with Virgin Mojito’s and Pina Colada’s. It was a wonderful dish, I never personally tasted fish so good and well prepared.

    So asked Chef Carlos what’s next for him he told me Los Chefs Carlos and Nora are working on few cookbooks. First book to explain in a simple way how to cook some of our dishes, so you can enjoy with family and friends.

    So the next book is very interesting which I sat down with Carlos, for a few hours’ brain storming to see how this next project can be bought to life. I personally loved Carlos’s idea and will help him to make this project a super success. Is to rescue many of the old recipes from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

    Once these recipes have been saved, they will be added to to Carlo’s Cook Book, for people to try and cook. The next plan is to sell the book and share some of the proceeds with many of the family’s that are struggling and need help. Also some of the book proceeds will be given to environmental causes and natural wild life reserves in the Yucatan Mexico.

    So I believe in Carlos, I believe he is a warrior, like myself never gives up and will do everything to make,  this project a success, as we will support him as much as possible, with our Humanitarians of the World Inc, org ( www.hotwinc.org ) based here in New York City.

    To learn more about Carlos Barrera and Nora Espinoza Los Chefs, to attend their restaurant next time you are in Cancun or to purchase his Cook Book and help or support in some way. Click here for more information.

    Humanitarians of the World Inc., Homeless Presentation in Cancun Mexico-2023

    Humanitarians of the World Inc., Homeless Presentation in Cancun Mexico-2023

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    We went to Cancun Mexico from May 27th 2023 till June 3rd 2023. As we travelled the World we take many gifts for Homeless people living in the Streets. For our Cancun Mexican North American, Humanitarians of the World Inc., (www.hotwinc.org) . We took close to 30 bags filled with gifts for the homeless.

    ROSA :First person we met was an older Mexican lady by the name of Rosa, who was 63 years old and has been living in the park for over 20 years, no family or friends, according to Rosa when we interviewed here. She begs for money from local cars going by, many times many people who go to work, stop by and give her money.

    She also went to say, she sleeps behind the tree in the evenings in the park, according to Rosa, there is always police officers patrolling the area and she feels safe there.

    Lope and Fernando :, both homeless living on a street corner, no shoes, dirty clothes sitting in mud. So both of them are friends, they have family living in Mexico City, they moved to Downtown Cancun many years ago, got involved with Alcohol abuse, went to rehabs could not kick the habit. Lived on the streets for most of their lives.  So they are on the street corner panhandling, soon as they have enough money they buy beer and Tequila they both share.

    They both asked me for some Peso’s, so when I asked them what you need the money for, they said a beer. So I told told them since they were honest about it.  How about i buy you a plate of food each with a soft drink each, they said beer would be better. But they took my offer, I ended up buying, a Beef Taco and an Empanada as well as a Coco Cola for both of them as well as giving them a bag to each one of them.

    Pablo (AKA Pablito) A very Young Kid in his Twenty’s has deep mental issues, Pablo was not able to speak too well , he had problem’s speaking. We spoke to an friend who lives with him on the streets with Pablo. He told us that he met Pablo 2 years ago, on the streets and is always quite, has family who does not care about him, his father was alcoholic and mother a drug addict. When Pablo was born he had birth defects, he cannot speak properly, does not sleep too well at night. He went on to say since Pablo does not speak or tell him too much he could not tell us too much about him.

    Day Workers making no income: A lot of others we gave Gifts and basic necessities, were day labors who hung around Downtown Cancun area, looking for Jobs. A lot of the guy’s doing day labor jobs. Had bad experiences, one guy buy the name of Chicko , said he worked for an moving company for 1 week and his boss told him that he will pay him , at the end of the week . So after working for 7 days when it came to pay day, the boss never showed, he disappeared.

    Chicko never got any of the money which he needed desperately to pay for his rent. He lives with his wife in a room. If he cannot pay the rent, he might have to move back with his wife’s parents, who are already struggling with 12 people living in a small apartment. So I asked Chicko through our interpreter, did he file a report or tell the police about his situation, he said. It is not worth it you need to file court papers, you need money for that and he does not have it. So there is nothing can be done. But he did tell me that when he gets a job, he wants to be paid daily or he will not work, as he said it’s better to lose one day’s pay then seven days pay.

    A lot of his friends had similar stories, and experiences, 2 of them became homeless and started living on the streets. Keeping in mind these are good people who are willing to work and do the right thing in life and get caught up with the wrong people and their life’s take a different direction.

    I thank (Allah) , God. That he gives me the energy and stamina and wisdom to help these people with donating some gifts and make these people important for that few minutes and let them know they too are someone in society, Human beings who are down and out on their look.

    I have been a Humanitarian for over 45 years, helping folks like these throughout the world, without ever taking a single penny for my services. Acts of humanity is a great thing to do in this life. Do as much as you can, Finically, Giving Gifts and if you are not in any position to do anything just say a prayer, that will be enough.

    We are looking for  Money  donations, so we can continue to do our Work Worldwide, with our Humanitarians of the World Inc, Your Contribution is Tax Deductible fully allowable by law. Click here to contribute.