Tlayudas: A Oaxacan Street Food Success Story
Second only to dark chocolaty mole negro, tlayudas are without a doubt the principal, uniquely Oaxacan, culinary seduction, renowned throughout Mexico. While eaten virtually any time of day or night, tlayudas are more typically consumed late evenings, and tradition suggests that they be purchased from street vendors. Tlayudas México 68 is one […]
Tiritas – Mexican Fish Strips
My discovery of tiritas happened a while ago, when my Mexican partner said on a Sunday morning, “I want to take you to eat tiritas today.” I had never heard the word and didn’t know what they were. “They’re fish stripes.” Yes, he said “stripes.” “You know, fish that is cut like […]
The Rich History of Mezcal In Mexico
Perhaps the story of distillation and mezcal in Mexico begins with the arrival of the Spanish during The Conquest in the first quarter of the 1500s. Or with Filipino seamen in the Manila galleon trade who reached the country’s western shores that same century. Or with Olmec or other indigenous cultures some 2,500 years […]
The Flavors of Mexico; Zapotec Cuisine
Abigail Mendoza, the famous cook of the zapotec She is going to receive you with a smile, like it or not. She and her sisters serve at Tlamanalli, a small zapotec restaurant- kitchen in Teotitlán del Valle, 35 km of Oaxaca. Her kitchen is gorgeous, a powerhouse of images that encapsulate the reading of […]
Guidelines for Safe Eating in Oaxaca
Street Food Street food is okay; you can drink the water in restaurants; salads are safe; and you can even ask for ice in your Coke. There. I’ve said it. But of course there’s more, and expanded explanations are warranted. So here they are, rules for eating all that Oaxacan gastronomy […]
How To Eat Like a Local in Huatulco Mexico
When you’re traveling to Mexico, you won’t want to miss out on the delicious fare that awaits! From taco stands to ma-and-pop restaurants, you’ll get a taste for authentic flavors that are missing in the touristy establishments. Now’s your chance to eat like a local, to enjoy Mexican recipes have been passed down from […]
Taking the Mystery Out of Dried Chiles
Walking through a food market or any major grocery store in Mexico you are likely to find piles of dried chiles. A staple in Mexican cooking, they are rated from 1-5 on a hotness scale, 1 being mild. (Ultimately, pepper hotness scales are based on Scoville Heat Units, developed in 1912 by Wilbur Scoville, a […]
Traditional Mexican Sweet Dessert – Tres Leches Bread Pudding
One of the best things about being on vacation is hitting the “pause” button on your diet and indulging in the delectable desserts that the local area has to offer. Who doesn’t love the delectable, sweet treats from a different region, culture and kitchen? You’ve probably heard the expression, “It always tastes better when someone […]
Mexican Soups: Sopas, Cremas, Caldos, but not Sopes
Mexican soup, to folks north of the border, usually means tortilla soup, or as it is usually called in Mexico, sopa Azteca. Usually made from a rich chicken soup with pureed tomatoes and garnished with avocado and cheese cubes, cilantro, diced onions, and, of course, crisp fried tortilla strips, the exact flavors vary from cook […]
Oh Papaya!
Papaya (Carica papaya) is native to southern Mexico and Central America and has become naturalized throughout the Caribbean Islands, Florida and several countries in Africa. It is also cultivated in India, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and the U.S. state of Hawaii. The Maradol variety of papaya was developed in Cuba between 1938 and 1956 by […]
