"LIVE DELICIOUSLY"
Ingrid Hoffman will demonstrate her skill in Tampa at Arte 2007

Cooking has been a major part of her life since she was a little girl and now Food Network’s newest darling – Ingrid Hoffmann – will demonstrate her skill in Tampa at Arte 2007 – a festival to celebrate Latin culture and influence. Born in Columbia and currently living in Miami, Hoffmann strongly supports art and culture. “There is a natural mix of the visual and culinary arts,” said Hoffmann. “We need to support every level of art.”

“It’s all about what you see, hear, feel and taste.” — Ingrid Hoffmann

Hoffmann has a love affair with food saying, that her twist on Latin cuisine is “Spanglish – a cross between burgers and beans. It needs to be easy and fast, but it needs to be fresh – not canned or frozen,” said Hoffmann.

It’s about creating and making everyday food an experience she adds. “I want to make cooking fun,” said Hoffmann. “It’s all about what you see, hear, feel and taste.” One of her favorite ingredients is the Chilean house avocado. “It’s creamier and higher in fat, but it is good fat.” She is an advocate for eating healthy and using natural ingredients. “I like to flavor with fruit,” said Hoffmann. “They provide little calories and are natural sugars.” Her favorites include mango, guava and papaya. Cilantro and lime are also kitchen staples.

She lives by the mantra “If I can do it, you can do it. I want to empower people to ‘Live Deliciously,’” said Hoffmann.
Ingrid Hoffmann is scheduled to appear Nov. 3 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

For more information, visit www.artefestival.org.

— By Ronda M. Parag