Is Gloria Estefan the new Mario Batali?

These days it's hard to tell the difference between a chef, a celebrity and a restaurateur. So many actors are now clad in Crocks, critiquing foie gras, sharing family flan recipes or opening Hollywood hot spots so I didn't really flinch when I received a copy of Estefan Kitchen cookbook in the mail.

Well maybe I flinched a little bit when I saw the cover. Hey, I get the whole love for board games thing. I love Scrabble, but I'll bet you a Z on a triple letter score that I'm not the only one who doesn't think a game of Dominoes screams "buy my cookbook" like beautiful shots of food could.

Cover art aside, the recipes look really yummy. Sopa de platano, arroz con pollo, and her flan all look delicious but the one that I'm most excited about is her recipe for pudin de pan (cuban style bread pudding) And call me a dork, but the anecdotal introduction to her new cookbook is heart-warming. I think I teared up. Good for Gloria. At least she's not getting her foodie stripes by making culinary students cry.

To get you ready for some Estefan's ensaladas and other tasty treats, stick on your headphones and check this out.

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