LA COCINA: Angie Barrios
Welcome to our current edition of LA COCINA. La Cocina showcases women we admire and their kitchens. Part photo essay, part interview, all admiration.
Over conversation and cooking smells, our photographer, Zoe Ching, acts as a “fly on the wall,” seeking to capture the essence of the meal, the mood and uniqueness of the subject, and the spirit of their kitchen: the heart of the home. Instead of perfection and portraiture, La Cocina episodes aim to share good vibes, nuance, and a much adored recipe. We then pair the photos with answers to some of the following interview questions, to create a finished episode that is both story and imagery. Our goal is to make art and cherish the people and the foods they love.
Meet Angie Barrios, a Portland-based food artist and the creative force behind COMPARTA. We’ve had the joy of collaborating with Angie on multiple occasions, and her food never fails to impress. Even more remarkable is how she orchestrates every meal herself, delivering each dish with a calm, joyful ease that leaves us in awe. Spending a winter afternoon with Angie in her sun soaked kitchen was a gift—one I won’t soon forget. The risotto she shared with us, finished with a gentle dusting of freshly grated nutmeg, was unforgettable. Now, every time I make risotto for my family, I think of her.
Enjoy this cozy episode, may it inspire you to make a warm pot of risotto to share with your loved ones tonight.
Con cariño,
Shay
Please describe your kitchen:
My kitchen is spacious, it allows room for a lot of dancing and people cooking together. The counter that serves as a dining table keeps my people close as I make food and prep a sweet meal to share. My favorite items live in here and it really makes up a large portion of our home.
What’s your style of cooking?
Intuitive. I pull from nostalgia a lot and the flavors I used to eat growing up, but I also love to try a new recipe and figure out how to add my own twist to it.
Do you taste as you go?
I always taste as I go! I don’t really follow recipes and I tend to cook intuitively. All the women in my family cook this way.
What is the soundtrack to your cooking?
Funnily enough, I don’t cook to music a lot of the time. I have to really be in the groove prior to cooking to really get into it in the kitchen. More often than not I’m moving quietly through the space, maybe I have a TV show or a movie with food imagery in it that feels calming and inspiring. It’s my meditative space after all.
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Favorite take out meal?
Khao Moo Dang! I love dumplings and soup as my comfort food - so this always always hits the spot for me regardless of the weather.
What is your all-time favorite meal, where did you eat it, and with whom?
Honestly- Ramen. It’s not something I ever had growing up and you certainly couldn’t get it anywhere. The first time I ever had Ramen was the first time I flew out to the West coast. I was visiting my long distance boyfriend at the time in Oakland, SF and he took me to The Ramen Shop. I felt like a kid at this super dark, hip little spot and remember how much the flavors had me wanting a second bowl the second I finished.
Who taught you to cook?
My mother and I bonded the most in the kitchen. We would always cook together or I would watch her as she shared some tips or stories and memories from her own upbringing.
Food shopping can be a drag or a dream; where is your favorite spot to gather ingredients?
After living in the PNW for 8 years I’ve grown to love my trips to the farmers market at Shemanski Park and PSU. It gives me a better idea of what’s in season and what could really be nourishing my body during the different seasons. It’s definitely a fun way to challenge myself to use something new or have a hand at a recipe that I’ve never tried before.
Doing the dishes: soothing or annoying? What’s your relationship to dish washing?
I love this question - Soothing! That could be a result of cleaning as I go in the kitchen - it allows for my brain to stay on task, more organized and able to move quicker. I love a clean home so this usually doesn’t feel like too daunting of a mission!
Would you rather cook or be cooked for? Do you prefer to host or be a guest?
I wish I could be more of a guest at times! I love hosting with my whole being, I take pride in it and believe I have a little magic touch when it comes to cooking for others and hosting but, everyone loves to be treated to a little meal sometimes.
Whose cooking makes you feel the coziest and most cared for?
It’s always going to be my moms cooking. And if not my mom, then I would probably put Kate Shela on my list. She’s one of the most magnificent women in my life and like a second mom to me.
MADRE’s tagline is We all eat. We all rest. We’ve asked a lot about eating, so how do you build rest into your day/week/month?
I try to recognize where my limits exist and create time in my schedule to go on a hike, maybe the sauna, a fun little movie night with my partner. We create a lot of silly time together at home and for that I am really grateful. It keeps me balanced in my capacity to nourish others and take care of myself.
What are your three favorite MADRE products?
