A Look Back: Torn Between Two Worlds - Gino Garcia on Food, Identity & Belonging

In honor of Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, we’re revisiting one of our most heartfelt and thought-provoking conversations — a story that beautifully captures the complexity of identity, migration, and belonging through food. This special re-release celebrates Chef Gino Garcia’s powerful journey and the ways our culinary traditions continue to preserve and tell our histories.

In this episode of Dishin' Up Diaspora, I’m joined by Chef Gino Garcia for a deeply personal conversation about identity, immigration, and the stories food can tell. As a first-generation American, Gino grew up torn between two worlds—navigating the tension between assimilation into American culture and preserving his family's rich Mexican heritage.

We dive into his parents’ immigration story, the sacrifices they made, and the complex choices many immigrant families face when trying to build a new life without losing their roots. Gino shares how food became a powerful bridge back to his ancestry, and how reclaiming traditional flavors and recipes helped him reconnect with his culture on his own terms.

Before his journey into the culinary world, Gino worked in social services, serving marginalized communities. He reflects on how that experience shaped his worldview and his approach to food, community, and storytelling. Today, Gino describes his work as culinary anthropology—using food as a lens to explore, preserve, and celebrate cultural identity.

We also talk about his exciting project writing The Official Disney’s Coco Cookbook, a celebration of the traditions, memories, and spirit of family that inspired the beloved film. Through it all, Gino's story reminds us that food is more than sustenance—it’s history, resistance, and love passed from one generation to the next.

In this episode, we explore:

• Growing up first-generation in America
• The battle between assimilation and cultural preservation
• Finding identity and healing through food
• His early work in social services and community advocacy
• His philosophy of culinary anthropology
• Writing The Official Disney’s Coco Cookbook and connecting food to memory
• Honoring his family's legacy while forging his own path

If you love stories about food, identity, immigration, and creative journeys, this conversation will stay with you long after you listen. Make sure you are subscribed and share with your family and friends!

Follow Gino Garcia @mextizopnw
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