Welcome to our first cookbook author and culinary artist Milena Rodrigues, who was also, unbeknownst to me, my neighbor in Buarcos, Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Yes, a small world indeed! Milena is a first-generation American and daughter of Portuguese immigrants from Figueira da Foz.

Her parents and sisters immigrated to Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1966. In the early 1970s, Milena Rodrigues and her family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Milena always stayed connected to her family’s roots. She spent her summers in Portugal since the age of one.

Milena Rodrigues grew up enjoying and loving everything Portuguese, including the food. However, as she states, “I am not a chef and never had any professional training in cooking. I enjoy cooking good homemade food for my loved ones.” In 2013 she began sharing recipes on her Facebook page called For the Love of Portuguese Food.

She had always dreamt of writing a Portuguese cuisine cookbook in English because she realized there were very few then. Milena’s Facebook page marked the beginning of her writing her cookbook come true, which she published in 2017.

Milena Rodrigues speaks with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, about her continuing journey and mission to share her culinary heritage. They also reminisce about their experiences living in Buarcos, Figueira da Foz, Portugal. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

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Milena Rodrigues

Dartmouth, MA 02747

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