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Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to info@southernfoodways.org.

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ORAL HISTORY

Rosa Isela Suárez Guerrero


Auntenticas Gorditas Laguneras

Rosa Isela Suárez Guerrero was born in La Paz, Baja California, Mexico in 1978 and grew up in Torreón, Coahuila. As a child, Rosa’s mother used to make food to sell, and she would always help her mom prepare and cook the food. As an adult she enjoyed learning how to make the popular Torreón style gorditas, which are perfectly round corn or flour dough pockets stuffed with guisados or stews such as mole, pork in red or green sauce, ground beef and vegetables, shredded beef in sauce, or beans and cheese. Rosa moved to Lexington, Kentucky from Omaha, Nebraska in 2005 with her four kids and a list of goals she wanted to accomplish. She’s served these gorditas in her food truck since 2015. Customers line up in the parking lot of BP gas station.

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Rosa Isela Suárez Guerrero nació en La Paz, Baja California, México en 1978 y se crió en Torreón, Coahuila. Cuando era niña, la mamá de Rosa cocinaba comida para vender, y ella siempre le ayudaba a su mamá a preparar y cocinar la comida. Cuando era adulta disfrutó de aprender a hacer las populares gorditas al estilo de Torreón, las cuales son tortillas de harina o maíz perfectamente redondas que se rellenan con guisados o cocidos tal como el mole, carne de puerco en chile rojo o verde, carne molida con verduras, carne deshebrada en salsa, o frijoles y queso. Rosa se mudó a Lexington, Kentucky de Omaha, Nebraska en 2005 con sus cuatro hijos y una lista de metas que quería alcanzar. Ella ha servido estas gorditas en su camión de comida desde 2015. Los clientes hacen cola en el estacionamiento de una gasolinera BP.

Date of interview:
2017-08-21

Interviewer:
Alexis Meza

Photographer:
Alexis Meza

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