10/26 - Adriana Lopez Vermut of Pica Pica Maize Kitchen Shares the Venezuelan Lifestyle; Dr. Robert Hampton & Claudia Sansone on a Humanitarian Mission to Malawi

Adriana Lopez Vermut

We enjoyed a fascinating conversation with native Venezuelan Adriana Lopez Vermut, founder of Pica Pica Maize Kitchen. Then we visited with Dr. Robert Hampton and wife, Claudia Sansone, just back from an amazing humanitarian healthcare mission to Malawi, Africa with Health Roots.



Adriana Lopez Vermut, who comes from a family of cooks and restaurant owners, was born and raised in Venezuela.  In founding Pica Pica, she created the opportunity to marry her passion for her Venezuelan culinary heritage and her entrepreneurial spirit.  With extensive experience in new businesses, having worked in technology start-ups and a venture capital firm, Adriana is responsible for overseeing the development, fund raising, launch and marketing of Pica Pica.

Tradition and family are the inspiration of Pica Pica.  Father and daughter, Leopoldo Lopez Gil and Adriana Lopez Vermut, joined by Luis Sosa, transported and translated their passion for their native Venezuelan food and created a convenient and delicious formula that produced Pica Pica Maize Kitchen or the 'California Arepera.'

Pica Pica Maize Kitchen is inspired in the tradition of areperas, which are as present in Venezuela as coffee houses are in the United States.  These 24/7 diners or take out restaurants offer arepas, cachapas and bastidos (freshly squeezed fruit juices), served with a combination of fillings that accommodate the various tastes at breakfast, lunch, dinner, as well as a snack between meals.  Pica Pica Maize Kitchen offers an introductory gastronomic tour of the most characteristic and flavorful tastes of Venezuelan cuisine.

The Pica Pica Team
Leopoldo Lopez Gil, Adriana Lopez Vermut & Luis Sosa

The team decided to create the first Venezuelan arepera in California and it put together the most distinctive combination of sweet, savory and spicy flavors that represent a centuries-old culinary culture, unique for its authentic combination of Spanish, African, Caribbean and indigenous flavors.  Venezuelan cookery combines the most original New World ingredients, such as maize (corn), with European culinary delicacies such as stews, cheeses and cured meats.     ###



Dr. Robert Hampton and wife, Claudia Sansone,
just back from Malawi, Africa!


Rob Hampton and Claudia Sansone, we thank you for your tremendous contributions of time, expertise and love!  For more information on this fantastic healthcare mission, and to become part of a great humanitarian solution, visit:

Health Roots
http://www.healthroots.org/

'GoGo Grandmothers'
Caring for the Needs of
African Orphans of Aids
http://www.gogograndmothers.com/