Spanish-language TV stars are cooking up something in S.A.

February 22, 2007
By Edmund Tijerina

If you watch novelas or other Spanish-language television, names such as Laura Flores, Jaime Camil, Charytin, César Évora, Jacqueline Bracamontes and El Gordo y La Flaca all are well known in the house.

And if you don't watch novelas, just know that their addictive power is somewhere between potato chips and nicotine.

In any event, several Latin American television personalities are coming to San Antonio to tape promotional segments on behalf of Maseca, which produces corn masa. (It's a type of corn flour. Just add some water, knead, roll in balls and press to form corn tortillas and various dishes from Central American countries.)

The segments will air on Univision during Wednesdays in May on the morning show "Despierta America."

The company is working with owners of a restaurant in Guadalajara to create the recipes for these segments. Visiting celebrities are learning the recipes — using Maseca products — and cooking them on camera.

The recipes will be available on www.mimaseca.com when they air.

A San Antonio-based promotions company, Hispano USA, is making these segments and using the facilities of Maverick Studios to tape them. The set is an upscale modern kitchen design with lots of upscale Mexican touches that have many of the same geometric touches as the Central Library.

It's something to watch the taping as the director calls everybody to attention in Spanish, reminds them to keep quiet and turn off their cell phones.

"¡En cinco, quatro, tres, dos ... action!"

Following up
The Artist Foundation of San Antonio was able to raise more than $70,000 at its first ArtBall.

The money from art sales, ticket sales and donations will go for grants to local artists.

Big felicidades to foundation creators Bettie Ward and Patricia Pratchett, and to event co-chairs Lobie Stone and John Speegle.

Plans are already starting for next year's shindig.

Up, up, up
Breakfast brunch, lunch buffet or afternoon and evening cocktails with appetizers and a stir-fry station — The Spire got a long introduction to the people of this town.

It's a new event venue and folks from Sunset Station threw an all-day open house to show off their new facility.

Built in 1884 as the original home of St. Paul's Methodist Church, the stone structure can hold up to 300 for a reception or 160 for a banquet.

As Sunset Station picks up clients and as the nearby Vidorra condos gain more residents, it will be something to watch the East Side grow right in front of all of us.

Source: San Antonio Express-News