For Norma McCready, 51, chipa is more than a traditional Paraguayan food. It is a connection to her grandmother, her childhood and a culture she has spent years sharing across borders. Born in Asunción and with family roots in Eusebio Ayala, formerly known as Barrero Grande, Norma has lived in New York City for seven years. Her relationship with chipa began during childhood holidays at her grandmother Idalina Quintana’s home.
“My earliest memory of eating chipa goes back to my childhood when I was about 5 or 6 years old,” Norma tells The Asunción Times. “I vividly remember watching my maternal grandmother, Idalina Quintana, wake up at 04:00 to prepare and bake chipa, only to head out afterwards to sell it from a basket balanced on her head all across the city of Eusebio Ayala. I used to spend my childhood vacations at my grandmother Ida’s house, and chipa was our daily breakfast, always accompanied by cocido.”
A lifelong connection
Idalina’s work as a chipera became one of the most important influences on Norma’s relationship with Paraguayan culture.
“What sets Paraguayan chipa apart from other cheese breads is precisely its deep connection to our roots and ancestors. Traditional ingredients are typically homemade and authentic, making them very hard to find in other countries. And it is traditionally baked over firewood in a mud oven we call a tatakua. The combination of all these elements gives chipa a truly unique and incomparable flavour.”
That connection to her grandmother eventually found its way into Norma’s work as a promoter of Paraguayan culture.
“I truly began to cherish Paraguayan culture when my children started taking Guaraní language classes at school. Since I was born in Asunción, I was not a native Guaraní speaker, so I enrolled at the Ateneo de Lengua y Cultura Guaraní to help them with their homework. I fell so in love with the language that I eventually earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Guaraní.”
Norma McCready also studied Performing Arts at the municipal theatre in San Lorenzo. The two interests eventually came together in a play inspired by her grandmother.
“As a teaching tool, I wrote a short play in Guaraní titled Kuña Omba’apóva (‘Hardworking Woman’), featuring a chipa vendor as the protagonist. Of course, deeply inspired by my grandmother’s life and how hard she worked to support her family through that profession.”
Taking chipa and Guaraní abroad
Norma’s efforts to share Paraguayan culture continued beyond the country’s borders.
“In 2013, I moved to Rome, Italy, for work, where I founded a folkloric group called ‘Grupo de Lengua y Cultura Guaraní – Ciudad de Roma’. Together, we hosted several cultural events and, of course, brought Kuña Omba’apóva to the stage in Rome and Naples. In every way, I have always strived to represent and honour the culture surrounding chipa.”
Now living in New York, she continues to find creative ways to represent Paraguay.
“I carried a basket of chipa on my head during the World Cup matches when our national team played, as a representation of a cherished tradition that is never missing in Paraguayan football stadiums. At every cultural event, I recite my poetry in Guaraní, also titled Kuña Omba’apóva, aiming to give wings to our sweet Guaraní language and share it with the world.”
Her husband, John, has also become part of that connection to Paraguay.
“After discovering my country’s culture through me, he now shares this same passion for our folklore. He absolutely loves starch chipa (chipa de almidón) and all of our traditional dishes. Whenever I prepare Paraguayan food for family gatherings, it is always a huge hit with his family.”
She jokingly describes him as “a true chipa connoisseur”, explaining that he compares different recipes in search of his favourite.
“Which happens to be the exact chipa I bring to events! He also joined me at the Hispanic Parade in Queens, NY, holding a tereré in hand while I carried my chipa basket on my head.”
A tribute to the woman who started it all
This 2026, Norma’s efforts to share her grandmother’s story came full circle. On Sunday, 9 August, a chipa festival was held in Eusebio Ayala, a historic town in the Cordillera department, located 72 kilometers from Asunción. The same city where Idalina once walked the streets selling her homemade chipa. During the event, Norma’s grandmother was honoured for her contribution to the tradition. Norma’s uncle attended the ceremony on her behalf and received the recognition.
“I am extremely proud because, through everything I have always been trying to do to promote this culture and this tradition, it also reached this stage and this beautiful tribute to my grandmother.”
From Asunción and Eusebio Ayala to Rome and New York, Norma McCready continues to carry the story of her grandmother with her, through Guaraní, through a play, and sometimes with a basket of chipa balanced on her head.
