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By Ikam Acosta

While Lady Gaga might be successful in the music industry, her father may not be so lucky as a restauranteur. Joe Germanotta's new Manhattan restaurant received horrible reviews on opening night.

Gaga's parents recently teamed up with Art Smith, Oprah's former personal chef, to open up an Italian restaurant in Manhattan's Upper West Side. The restaurant was named Joanne, which happens to be Lady Gaga's middle name.

New York Post restaurant critic Steve Cuozzo sampled the restaurant's cuisine during their big night, and he had no qualms writing about how much he despised it.

"You'll gag on the food at Gaga's," he stated.

While Cuozzo admits it isn't really fair to judge the full potential of the restaurant on opening night, he still had some pretty bad things to say.

"One-note orecchiette with shellfish recalled the the flacid pasta commonly doled out along Long Island's Jericho Turnpike- or at 35,000 feet. Unspeakably fatty veal osso bucco was $38. In a review the other day, I criticized the same dish at Caffe Storico, where it cost only $28. Come back, Caffe Storico! All is forgiven."

Not great for publicity. Despite all the celebrity connected with the restaurant, a bad review is a bad review.

Would you dine at Gaga's dad's new restaurant despite the negative reviews?

Tags Blogger: Ikam Acosta, Celebrities, Food, Lady Gaga

By Michael Lopez

The next time you pull one of those delicious popcorn bags out of the microwave, you may want to give a little shout out to Peru. According to some recent discoveries, the South American country may be the originator of what we now know as popcorn.

National Geographic is now claiming that Peruvian civilizations created the crunchy kernels over 6,700 years ago. Archeologists exploring the Andean region of the country recently discovered ancient corn remnants wrapped in foil-esque material and resting near coals.

They believe the Peruvians used the coals to "pop" kernels, simulating the same fluffy edibles we now enjoy today. Was there liquid butter, salt packets, and Diet Coke cups? Probably not, but the discovery is groundbreaking nonetheless.

It's all pretty amazing stuff, though it's a shame the ancient Peruvians weren't able to copyright their invention. Because as we all know, there are going to be A TON of kernels popping come Super Bowl time.

What's your favorite flavor of popcorn? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Food, National Geographic, peru, Popcorn

By Harry Pagancoss

Navidad is finally here! I know a lot of us have special seasonal foods from our different countries: arroz con gandules, roast pork, guajolote, tamales, crema de vie, coquito, you name it.  If I could taste them all, I would. There is something about this time of the year that makes us all want to be home or remember happy times with friends and our families. Do you have a special recipe request?

One thing we can all see from New York to Miami and Chicago to Los Angeles are gingerbread cookies.

Those little man-shapped cookies with buttons and a happy face surely do taste good. While the most famous gingerbread man has starred in the Shrek series, I am sharing with you a super easy recipe to make at home but with a Latin twist. These are perfect for a party and if you feel inclined, you can prepare these cookies with your friends, which can be a lot of fun.

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the shortening, molasses, brown sugar, coffee, egg, and vanilla until creamy. Add the dry ingredients, until they are completely absorbed.
3. Divide dough into 3 pieces, pat down to 1 1/2 inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness.
5. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven.
7. When cool, the cookies can be frost with the icing of your choice (buy vanilla frosting at the store) and sprinkle with shredded coconut.

Tags cooking, gingerbread cookies, Harry Pagancoss, Holidays, Recipes, Shrek

By Harry Pagancoss

Eating a gourmet meal at home for less than $10 is not impossible. I am on the constant lookout for ideas of how to make classics into frugal, lighter meals as well as creating new ones.

For instance, try my delicious version of a Cuban classic, for less than $10 and even feed four of your friends! With the money you save, you can buy more cocktails when out partying or take that trip to the Caribbean you have been wishing for.

Ropa Vieja is one of my favorite Cuban dishes and it is pretty satisfying and full of flavor. My version is light and feeds four people, served over rice. You can make it for your friends or just for you, keeping the leftovers at home for later snacking during the week. You can also freeze it for a week or so.

The ingredients in this Ropa Vieja cost lest than $10. However, they do not take into account basic ingredients such as salt, spices and olive oil, which you should already have at home.

In a cooking pot of 4 quarts, cook meat in water and a little salt for two hours or until meat is tender. Strain the broth into a container and save it. Cool meat.

Chop the red pepper, onion and garlic. In a deep pan, add olive oil and when hot add the onion, peppers and garlic to brown. Add tomato sauce and other seasonings. Add 1½  cups of beef broth.
Shred the beef with a fork or hands. Add into the pot and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Tags cooking, frugal, Harry Pagancoss, Recipes, ropa vieja

By Michael Lopez

C'mon, we all get pretty bored with the same old stuffing and cranberry sauce. That's why this Thanksgiving we thought it would be fun to explore some spicier options for la cocina. Several Hispanic chefs and food sites have offered their own unique take on turkey day and we thought it would be fun to share the ideas with you.

One of our favorite Latina cooking queens happens to be Marcela Valladolid. The host of The Food Network's Mexican Made Easy (and one of our Hispanic Heritage Month Coolturistas), Marcela shares dozens of Spanish-style recipes on her site. One we found to be particularly festive was for Turkey Picadillo Sloppy Joes. A textured mix of ground turkey, jalapeños, garlic cloves, and tomato puree, it'll definitely bring a unique twist to any family dinner table.

The trendy ladies' site She Knows also has some great Mexican-flavored Thanksgiving ideas. Unconventional meal suggestions include Chile Cheese Casserole (made with green chiles and Monterey Jack), Brussels Sprouts and chorizo (covered in queso fresco, yum!), and Pumpkin Fiesta Rice (with just a touch of black pepper).

Fox News Latino mixed in suggestions from their readers. Though the ingredients list wasn't present, just the ideas alone sounded fantastic. There are posts about Pumpkin Margaritas, Pumpkin Flan, and turkeys glazed in guava!

If you're thinking of having an "adults only" party, make sure to Google the recipe for Ponche Crema. Also known as Latino eggnog, it's a special rum concoction that's got a quite a kick and can keep your turkey day festivities flowing long after the sun goes down!

And for all you leftover lovers, Latino food bloggers have shot out a ton of creative ideas. One of our favorites is Turkey Tortilla Soup. Not only will it put your extra carvings to good use, it's a great way to stay warm during the cold November nights. All it requires are turkey slices, broth, shredded cheese, and a hint of taco seasoning.

What are your favorite Latino Thanksgiving recipes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Food, Food Network, Fox News Latino, Holidays, Marcela Valladolid, Mexican Made Easy, She Knows, Thanksgiving

By Harry Pagancoss

Considered on of the most exotic fruits, papaya is one of my favorites. You can have it in a shake, a salad, in sweets, and many more uses, both in the kitchen and beauty. However, we will focus on the beauty department this time.

As a fruit, papaya is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5 and C, contains calcium and iron and is a good source of fiber. Fiber is always good to help you cleanse your intestines. So, if you have intestinal transit problems, this may be one of your healthy choices to correct the issue.

In addition to all the nutritional virtues papaya has, Vitamins A and B5 can be very useful in helping with skin hydration and an excellent ingredient for cleansing due to its astringent ability. When used correctly and with regularity, it can provide you with an economical alternative to expensive beauty treatments. Why not give it a try?

Therefore, I wanted to share with you some recetitas that will help you stay pretty and fresh like a bunch of romaine lettuce:

Tags Beauty, beauty treatments, Harry Pagancoss, papaya

By Michael Lopez

There is no denying that Brazilian Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima is in incredible shape. But the way she achieves her perfect figure has drawn some criticism. Adriana had recently been quoted as saying that she sticks to a liquid diet to stay thin. But when speaking to E! this week, she was quick to clarify that statement.

"Everybody is talking about my crazy diet," she said. "I know it's very intense but...I just have an athlete's mind and I appreciate doing this thing. It's not that I do crazy diets throughout the year. I just do it for this particular thing. After this show, I become normal again!"

Obviously that description makes more sense. The idea that you could live off liquids full time seems a little drastic. Lima went on to emphasize that she only goes to "liquids only" nine days before a modeling show.

Of course to some dietitians, that may seem unhealthy too. But Adriana assured her fans that once she's done on the catwalk, her tradition has been to eat a hearty meal at New York's posh Milos restaurant.

Do you think the Victoria's Secret models are too thin? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Adriana Lima, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Food, Health, popnews, Supermodels, Victoria's Secret

By Michael Lopez

As if the Machu Picchu ruins weren't enough, now tourists have a whole new reason to book a trip to Peru. The famous travel guide Frommer's has listed it as 2012's Top Food & Drink Destination.

Frommer's specifically honed in on Lima and all of the edible goodies the capital city has to offer. And, in case you're curious, the travel brand has built a huge reputation for its global recommendations. Frommer's guidebooks have sold in the millions and they've proven to be quite trustworthy for adventurous (and hungry) travelers.

So getting the top food and drink nod is quite an accomplishment. Of course, culinary experts are already well aware of Peru's stellar reputation. The country's Astrid y Gaston eatery was recently named one of the top restaurants in the world.

Part of what makes Lima's cuisine shine is its sheer originality. A little bit Spanish, a little bit African, and doused with unique Asian spices, a good Peruvian meal tastes unlike anything else in Latin America.

"Lima's cultural miscegenation -- a rich stew of Spanish, African, Chinese and Japanese -- is reflected in its culinary fusion," Frommer's printed in their latest edition. "Limeño cuisine encompasses spicy creole dishes, Nikkei (2nd-generation Japanese), and chifa (a Peruvian twist on Chinese)."

There is even a new documentary chronicling what makes the platters so special. Titled MISTURA: The Power of Food, the film details the types of ingredients and preparation needed to create the perfect Peruvian delicacy. Astrid y Gaston chef Gastón Acurio is heavily featured in it and even gets touted as the next cooking superstar.

MISTURA takes its name from a huge food festival in the country. One of the highlights of the event (and the movie) is Peru's world-famous ceviche sampling. Featuring special lime juices, marinade, and ajíes peppers, it may just be the best cold dish you ever eat!

In the film, Gaston seems confident about his country's ranking on the world food scale and encourages tourists to bring their appetites to Peru.

"If you want to live, feel, laugh, dance, cry, eat, sang, kiss, love, and never forget, that's MISTURA," he exclaimed. "[It's] a party where we all reunite around our pots and fires to celebrate our differences, and join together as tribute to history, tradition, creativity, culture and biodiversity."

Of course if you want to keep it closer to home, try Googling "Peru Restaurants" in your neighborhood and see what pops up.

Are you a fan of Peruvian cuisine? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Astrid y Gaston, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Food, Frommer's, Gaston Acurio, lima, MISTURA, MISTURA: The Power of Food, peru, travel

By Michael Lopez

Victor Ortiz seems to be a real renaissance man these days. He's achieved fame as a boxer, rapped on music tracks, and is now looking to launch his own chain of taco eateries. TMZ caught up with the former Welterweight Champ, who explained his desire to become a world class restaurateur.

"We're looking into some locations right now [for the restaurants]," he explained. "We're going to keep it close to home, with tacos and such. It should be interesting and good."

And considering that Victor earned a cool $2 million from his most recent Mayweather fight, we're sure he's got plenty of cash to invest. Judging by his interview though, the Ortiz taquería is still in the very early planning stages.

Victor did share a name with the interviewer. Apparently, his new chain will be called V.O. after his own initials. And perhaps if he really wants to stir up business, he can get the staff to serve up food in their underwear!

Would you eat at Victor Ortiz' taco restaurant? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, boxing, Food, Restaurants, Sports, Victor Ortiz

By Ikam Acosta

Certain select stores are freezing out Ben & Jerry's new long-awaited flavor because of its name. Yeah, BOO! That's what I say.

Stores are not finding any humor in the Schweddy Balls name. Even though consumers find the flavor to be quite delicious, certain supermarket chains are refusing to stock the offensive ice cream.

"The title was inspired by an innuendo-laced 1998 skit featuring Alec Baldwin as baker Pete Schweddy, who promises, 'No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.'"

Well as it turns out, that's not completely true. Members of the One Million Moms group are boycotting the flavor and pressuring retailers to keep the hilarious flavor out of their stores. They are even turning up the heat on Ben & Jerry's to stop production altogether, claiming Schweddy Balls is "nothing but locker room humor that's not appropriate for young children." Hey moms, here's a thought: Don't feed it to your kids!

Don't they have more important causes to worry about, like school budget cuts or unsavory characters hanging around children's playgrounds? Let the people have their Schweddy Balls!

Stores are not disclosing whether their decision to not stock Schweddy Balls in their freezers was a result of incessant nagging and complaining from One Million Moms. A spokesperson from a Massachusetts Stop & Shop said,

"We haven't received any complaints that we're not carrying that flavor. However, if we do get feedback from customers that they want it, we'll certainly revisit that decision."

Good God, I hope that's true. You know what to do folks. Demand your Schweddy Balls!

The ostracized flavor has ironically become the most popular limited edition flavor Ben & Jerry's has ever produced. See, the people know what they want. This will hopefully give grocery stores a clue that the majority of the people outweigh these bitter moms and will move them to stock more of the delicious flavor.

Hopefully, Ben & Jerry's will stand their ground and not change the flavor because of all the backlash, just like they did with "peanutbutter-laden What a Cluster, formerly known as Clusterfluff."

The One Million Moms group is going to the extent of badmouthing the company on their website, encouraging its members to tell Ben & Jerry's they will stop buying products if they continue producing Schweddy Balls or other items with offensive names.

"The vulgar new flavor has turned something as innocent as ice cream into something repulsive. Not exactly what you want a child asking for at the supermarket."

Again, why is your child alone in the supermarket? Focus on that, whiny overprotective mom! Priorities, priorities. Maybe Ben & Jerry's should come up with a new flavor for these moms to stuff their faces with: Party Poopers!

Have you managed to get your hands on some Schweddy Balls yet?

Tags Alec Baldwin, Ben & Jerry's, Blogger: Ikam Acosta, popnews, Schweddy Balls