Chilaquiles.Chicharrón.Chapulines.Cochinita
Pibil...What did I know?
When I first came to
Mexico years ago, I didn't know Machaca from Menudo and there was no internet
to help me research the basics. Not that I cared. I just wasn't that much into
food.
But now, as a food
photographer based in San Miguel, I've taken so many photos of Mexican food
this past year, I could name them all blindfolded on a single bite.
For all the newbie’s
out there who are asking the same questions that I did back then, here is a visual
primer of Mexican foods you're soon to enjoy now that you're here.
My advice: try everything. I wish I had sooner.
And for everyone else
who is already in the know, a feast for the eyes to remind you that good eating
is just one of the many reasons we came here in the first place.
Buen Apetito!
Albondigas
Mexican meatballs.
First time trying
them, I devoured the better part of this bowl at the Mercado San Pedro Cholula
in Puebla.
Agua Frescas
A mixture of fruits,
cereals, seeds and flowers, they are combined with both water and sugar to make
a very refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
You can find these Agua
Frescas at almost every market in Mexico including the Tuesday market
in SMA.
Atole
A traditional
masa-based beverage, I enjoyed this cup with a group of friends on a
cold Saturday morning at the Organic Market in SMA.
What a warm up!
Barbacoa
In Mexico, Barbacoa is
a method of cooking meat, usually slow-cooked over an open fire, sometimes in
the ground.
A hot cup of caldo
(broth) with a generous helping of lamb Barbacoa is a favorite Tuesday morning
breakfast at the Robinson family stand at the Tuesday market in SMA.
Beans
Beans are a staple in
Mexico with pinto and black beans being the most popular and are frequently made refried. They are often served as a side and in fine dining restaurants
as a smear.
Get a bowl from Catedral Restaurante and Bar in Oaxaca.
Birria
This delicious stew is
traditionally made from pit-roasted goat. It's one of Mexico's secrets to
curing a hangover when you consumed way too much tequila the night before.
You'll find this stand
on Calzada de la Estacion in SMA where they make theirs today from beef.
Burrito Photo:
In Mexico, it's all about rice and beans in a flour tortilla with filling...Chicken, Ground Beef, Chicharrón, Carnitas, Chicken Liver, Arrachera…or whatever you happen to be craving at the time.
Chipotle made these
bombs famous back in the states.
Cabrito Photo:
A regional specialty
of Monterrey, Cabrito is roast kid goat.
It's so delicious that
El Rey del Cabrito is the first place I head when I hit town.
Honestly, I dream
about this dish.
Cajeta
This delicious treat is simmered goat's milk that is stirred frequently until it becomes caramelized.
This heavenly Cajeta was served over pancakes at the Sierra Nevada Hotel in San Miguel.
Carne Asada
Carne Asada means
grilled meat. There are many kinds but it’s usually used to describe beef.
In my book, there's
only one...Arrachera. It's true I often judge a restaurant by how they cook
their Arrachera.
This photo was taken at Casa Valadez in Guanajuato.
Carnitas
King of the street
carts in Mexico, Carnitas are made by
simmering pork meat in lard until tender. One of my all time favorite meals,
it's not the most nutritious dish around but it's certainly one of the
best.
A pile of carnitas from
the Bautista Brother’s stand at SMA's Tuesday Market.
Cecina
Beef that has been
salted and dried. Remember, you have to prepare it on a sunny day...which is
almost every day in San Miguel.
This photo is from
SMA's Tuesday Market.
Cemitas
This is my favorite
sandwich from Cemitas Las Poblanitas at Mercado Del Carmen in Puebla.
Overloaded with
avocado, pickled jalapeños, lettuce, tomato, and large handfuls of white
cheese, it's then drizzled with oil and crowned with a slice of ham.
You’re your biggest
challenge? Getting your mouth around one.
Ceviche
Raw fish cured in
citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají or chili
peppers.
This Ceviche of Salmon
with Cucumber, Nori, Chinese Pea, Sichimi Togarashi, and Sesame Oil is from La
Parada, a great Peruvian restaurant in San Miguel.
Wash it down with their
house drink: a Pisco Sour.
Chapulines
Grasshoppers. No, you
don't have to be on Fear Factor or traveling with Anthony Zimmern to acquire a
taste for them. They're good. Really.
This photo was taken at a Mezcal tasting in SMA.
Chilaquiles
Corn tortillas are cut
in quarters and lightly fried. Choose Red or Green salsa or mole to top it off
along with Queso Fresco and Crema. You can also top it with a fried egg.
I liked this one from
Moxi at Hotel Matilda because it was still crisp when they served it.
Eat it for breakfast.
Chilaquiles is a solid AM cure for a hangover.
Chicharrón
Fried pork rinds. Need
I say more?
From SMA's Tuesday Market.
Chiles en Nogada Photo:Gourmet.com
This traditional,
Mexican dish represents the colors of the Mexican flag – green (polio chili
pepper), white (the walnut sauce) and red (pomegranate seeds).
Comidistas are waiting
to devour it whenever it's in season.
Would there be Mexican
food without chilies? They are used in nearly everything you make in Mexico.
Chilies de Arbol,
Jalapeño, Cascabels, Habanero, Poblano, Pasilla, Guajillo, Ancho, and Serrano
just to name a few…there are so many varieties grown in Mexico you'll lose
count.
These chilies were
photographed at the Ignacio Ramirez Market in San Miguel.
Made from fatty pork,
the meat is ground and different seasonings are added. Green chorizo is native
to Toluca.
This delicious slab of
grilled chorizo was photographed at Casa Valadez in Guanajuato. Breakfast at the Sierra Nevada Hotel in SMA.
Every kid, or adult
for that matter, loves the taste of this fried-dough pastry that is dipped into
either hot chocolate or Cafe con Leche after it's pulled out of the fryer and
covered in sugar.
I dunk mine at San
Augustín Chocolates and Churros in SMA.
Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita Pibil
involves slow-roasting a whole suckling pig that is marinated and buried in a
pit with a fire at the bottom to roast.
This one was shredded
and served as a taco at Luna, a great rooftop bar at the Rosewood Hotel in San Miguel.
Cóctel de Camarón
A shrimp cocktail
consisting of shelled, cooked shrimp in a spicy cocktail sauce that is served
up in a glass.
Here is one in
preparation at Tuesday Market in SMA or you can grab one in town at a
little dive called Camaronicto where the centerpiece is a mug of beer.
Elote
A popular street food
in Mexico, this Corn on the cob is served with condiments such as chili powder,
cheese, lime juice, and mayonnaise. Cut the kernels off the cob, put it in a
bowl and you have esquites.
This ear came from the
Elote stand on Insurgentes in SMA.
Empanadas
For breakfast or
dessert, empanadas can be filled with anything from pumpkin to meat to fruit.
They are sweet or savory and delicious.
This empanada is from
Panadería San Sebastián in SMA.
Enchiladas
With each restaurant
in town having their own special version of enchiladas, this corn tortilla dish
is rolled around a filling and covered with chili sauce.
This one was prepared
with a green chili sauce at El Tucan in SMA.
Enfrijoladas
Enfrijoladas is a corn
tortilla that is covered with Black Bean Sauce and then smothered with cheese.
I devoured these at the Tlacolula Market outside of Oaxaca.
Fish Tacos
Fish + Tortilla = Fish
Taco. Simple.
Lightly battered and
deep-fried, it's served in a corn tortilla, often with shredded cabbage, a thin
smear of sour-cream, a bit of salsa, and a squeeze of lime.
This plate was
photographed at the 1826 Restaurant in the Rosewood Hotel in SMA.
Flan
Flan is the classic,
Mexican dessert and is a custard with a layer of soft caramel on top. It should
not have the consistency of a cheesecake but a jello-type jiggle.
Try this flan at
Victoria Restaurant in SMA.
Flautas
A taquito or rolled
taco, this one is filled with chicken and fried then topped with an array of
fresh vegetables and ranchero cheese.
This is my favorite
dish at El Tucan in SMA.
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Gorditas
A Gordita is a small
cake made with masa harina and stuffed with cheese or meat.
Hot off the grill at
Gorditas Tradicionales Colon (Ceci's) at the Tuesday market in SMA,
you can stuff them with any one or more of the 14 fillings they have on the
menu.
Grilled Whole Fish (Pescado a la parrilla)
Fresh fish over a wood
fire is celebratory and no better way than to stuff it with citrus and herbs
and cook it. This one was ready to throw on the grill in my backyard.
Once it's cooked, I
place it on a rack upright and let everyone pick it off the bone. It's party
food and quite a conversation piece. Serve it with a variety of sweet and spicy
sauces.
Guacamaya
This signature street
food sandwich is made of pork skin, fresh avocado, and a super-spicy pico de
gallo that is added to a special sauce made with chiles de arbol.
Yes, I did say pork
skins. It’s the most unhealthy sandwich on the planet but it’s so good.
A delicious view was
caught inside the Hidalgo Market in Guanajuato.
Guacamole
A basic dish made with
avocados, this dip has become part of American cuisine as well, illustrated
from this photo at Mercadito in Chicago.
It's made by mashing
ripe avocados and sea salt in a molcajete. You then add tomatoes, garlic,
onion, lemon or lime juice, chili, and other seasonings.
This photograph captured
the dish having just been made at a Petit Four cooking class in Paco Cardenas's
outdoor kitchen in SMA.
Helados (...and Other Icy Treats)
The wide-range of
frozen treats and flavors in Mexico is amazing. From a simple Paleta de Leche
to frozen ice and gelato, I love them all.
This was a treat to
cleanse the pallet- a refreshing ice- at a dinner at Casa De Cocinas in SMA,
made by Chef Michael Coon.
Do you think it gets
any better than this?... homemade vanilla ice cream in my own kitchen. I love
it plain or smothered with fresh fruit such as Chihuahua peaches or seasonal berries.
Huarache
A huarache is an
oblong, masa base that is topped with salsa, potatoes, onions, and meat such as
ground beef or tongue, and then crowned with a pile of Ranchero cheese. They
are similar to sopes but their shape is like the Mexican sandals of the same
name.
Huaraches are a
popular breakfast item and this stand at the San Juan de Dios market in SMA is
always packed.
Huevos
There are two styles
of Mexican eggs that I love: Rancheros and Divorciados.
Rancheros consists of
fried eggs on corn tortillas topped with a flavorful and slightly fiery red-chili
sauce.
Divorciados features
two fried eggs separated by Chilaquiles or refried beans. One egg is covered
with red salsa and the other with green, giving them both well-defined and
parallel flavors.
The Divorciados were
photographed at Posada de las Minas in Pozos and the Rancheros is the
impressive signature dish at Lavanda Restaurant in SMA.
Jugos
I love the fact that
everything in Mexico is fresh squeezed. Not so in the states where you spend
big bucks just for a glass of fresh squeezed OJ. Why is that?
You can get a glass of
fresh squeezed juice anywhere in SMA but I like mine with a big, friendly smile
from Ramundo every morning just around the corner from Insurgentes on Quebrada.
Machaca
Machaca is the Mexican
equivalent of beef jerky. It is beef that has been marinated, cooked, shredded
and dried. It's often used in scrambled eggs.
This Machaca was
served up at Restaurante Del Jardin in SMA. There was so much Machaca you can hardly see the eggs.
Margarita See Tequila
Memelas
Memelas, little
pizzas, is the Oaxacan name for the nearly identical sopes and huaraches that
are served in other parts of Mexico and are simply made with different toppings
such as shredded cabbage, black beans, mole negro and steak.
These were hot off the
comal at La Casa de La Abuela in Oaxaca.
Menudo
Menudo is
the Sunday cure for the tequila that got you on
Saturday night. People swear by it.
This traditional,
Mexican soup is made with tripe in a rich broth with a red chili pepper sauce.
Get in the soup line
every Sunday at Doña Bola in San Miguel.
Mexican Beer
Two large
conglomerates control the beer market in Mexico ...in the world for that
matter. They produce some of the best brands in the world including the widely
popular Corona, Carta Blanca, Bohemia, Dos Equis, Modelo Especial, Negra
Modelo, Sol, Tecate, Victoria, and Pacificio. Everyone has their favorite and
I'll admit that I've become a bit of a beer drinker myself since returning to
Mexico.
Microbrews are coming
on slowly in Mexico- although you would have never known it in Mexico City last
week at Cerveza Mexico 2014- compared to countries such as the U.S., Canada and
Europe but you can enjoy well-established brands such as Cervecería Minerva
from Guadalajara, Insurgentes, Agua Mala, Baja Brewing Company and even SMA’s
local favorite, Dos Aves.
Photos from Cerveza Mexico 2014 in Mexico City last week, deep sea fishing
off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, in my mexican refrigerator and The Beer Company SMA.
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Mexican Cheese/Queso
Two of my favorite
cheeses in Mexico are Queso Oaxaca and Ranchero or Queso Fresco.
Queso Oaxaca, a white,
semi-hard cheese that is much like unaged Monterey Jack, but with a string
cheese texture that involves stretching the cheese into long ribbons and
rolling it up into a ball.
Ranchero Cheese or
Queso Fresco is usually made from raw cows milk or a combination of both cow
and goat milk and has a very salty and somewhat sour aftertaste.
The Oaxaca cheese lady
is wildly popular at the Tuesday Market in SMA
Here you see Ranchero
cheese topping a plate of Flautas at El Tucan in San Miguel.
Mexican Chocolate (Spelled the same in Spanish
and English)
Mexican chocolate is
rather granular in texture and prepared with an assortment of spices and
additives such as nutmeg, nuts and chilies to produce very distinctive flavors.
It's typically used to make Hot Chocolate, moles and different desserts.
Photos from our Mole lesson in SMA.
Mexican Coffee/Café
Most of the coffee in
Mexico is grown by small farmers in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca and is
dark and rich in both taste and aroma.
I use to drink Cafe
Con Leche but the color of my coffee has gotten a lot darker since coming to
Mexico because the beans speak for themselves.
This cup comes from
Café Buenos Dias in SMA.
Mexican Wedding Cakes/Polvorones
Mexican Wedding Cakes,
as they are called in the states, are Polvorones here.
Like magic, they break
up and disappear the minute they hit your mouth.
One of Mexico’s most
popular cookies, they are sold in almost every Panadería in Mexico.
I bake mine and can
barely get them out of the oven without devouring them.
Mezcal
Will get you in
trouble...just ask anyone who has innocently spent an evening sampling it.
While Tequila is made
from blue agave and ONLY blue agave, Mezcal is made from several different
agave cacti. 42 species to be exact.
Mezcal, the oldest
distilled spirit in North America, is produced in 8 regions in Mexico, Oaxaca
being one of them and the center where many of the great Mezcals are made.
These photos are from
La Mezcaleria in SMA,La Azotea in SMA, and AzulCONDESA in Mexico City.
Michelada
A cerveza mixed with
tomato juice, freshly squeezed lime juice and hot sauce. Some people believe
Michelada's are a good remedy for for a hangover.
Variations include a
Clamato made with clam juice; a Chelada made with lime and sea salt; and a
Cubana containing Worcestershire, hot sauce, chile, and salt.
In some regions of
Mexico, a Chelada is a Michelada, and vice versa.
This one's from The
Restaurant in San Miguel.
Mixiotes
Mixiotes, a specialty
dish from Hidalgo, is a traditional pit-barbecued meat dish made of lamb that
is cut with the bone and seasoned with pasilla and guajillo, cumin, thyme,
marjoram, bay leaves, cloves and garlic. It is then wrapped in small bundles
and cooked in the ground all night. The result? One of my favorite dishes in
Mexico.
Nothing is better than
the bowl at El Pato in San Miguel.
Mole
Who doesn't love a
rich mole sauce made from scratch? It's the cornerstone that defines Mexican
cuisine.
Does it really need 30
ingredients? Beautifully complex with notes of smoke and undertones of chiles,
the depth of flavor in a mole has such an authenticity that even I am amazed at
how few ingredients can go into a mole and still deliver that wonderful, rich
taste.
This was my own mole,
photographed at Lesson 1 of 3 in San Miguel and at Biznaga
Restaurant in Oaxaca.
You don't need a
holiday as an excuse to prepare it.
The flat leaves of a
cactus, they are stripped of its spikes and are best cooked on the grill.
This pail was being
prepared at San Juan de Dios Market in San Miguel.
Pico de Gallo
Pico de Gallo or salsa fresca is made from chopped tomato, onion, chilies, coriander leaves, salt and key lime juice. It's used for tacos and grilled meats
and is a basic for Mexican food in the states as well.
This healthy bowl was
at Saturday Organic Market in SMA.
Pollo Asado is simply
grilled chicken and is cooked at roadside stands and in markets all over
Mexico.
This one was an
afternoon temptation at the Talacoula Market outside Oaxaca.
Pozole
Nothing like a bowl of
freshly made Pozole with a hot stack of tortillas when you're starting your
day.
Pozole is a soup made
with hominy. It's usually made with pork or chicken, heavily garnished and is
served at Mexican tables and in restaurants worldwide.
These delicious bowl of
both red and green Pozole were photographed at La Pozoleria in San Miguel.
Pulque
Pulque is a milky,
alcoholic beverage made of fermented agave nectar. At one time in Mexican history it was considered
sacred to drink it.
This pulque was my introduction
to the Ocotlan Market outside of Oaxaca where vendors told me it is best to drink it before breakfast. Of course, I had to
agree.
Quesadillas
A flour tortilla - you
can use corn too- filled with cheese and other ingredients such as mushrooms.
This Quesadilla is shown on an appetizer
platter at Hecho en Mexico in San Miguel.
Queso Fundido is
melted cheese that is served bubbling hot and is spooned out on warm, flour tortillas
and topped with salsa verde. It's sometimes laced with spicy chorizo. Don't
forget your salt shaker.
It's the first thing I
ate in Mexico at a restaurant near the University of Guadalajara and I've been
addicted to them ever since.
This Queso Fundido is
from the kitchen at La Posadita in SMA.
Red Rice
Mexican rice is known
as "Arroz Rojo" or red rice. It's frequently served as a side with
mole or a plate of Carne Asada.
Dig in to this tasty
pan from the Tuesday Market in SMA.
Red Snapper Veracruz Style Photo:allrecipes.com
This is one of my
favorite dishes to prepare when I'm anywhere in the neighborhood of good
snapper.
The sauce beautifully
marries olives, jalapeños, and capers.
Beyond delicious.
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Salsa
Salsa = Sauce
Roja, Verde, Pico de
Gallo...salsas are the most common condiment for most Mexican food. You can
walk into almost any restaurant and there are bowls of salsas on the table. In
fact, many restaurants are defined by their Salsa.
Salsas were originally
made with a Molcajete, like this one made in Paco Cardenas's cooking class in
SMA.
Sopes
My new, favorite dish
for Brunch: Sopas with Chorizo, Black Beans, Ranchero Cheese and a Poached Egg.
The base is made from a circle of fried masa with pinched sides.
This one was
my Sunday brunch at The Restaurant located in San Miguel.
Squash Blossoms
Edible flowers from
zucchini plants.
The blossoms are often
served fried – a dish I never turn down.
Expert home-cook,
Melissa Barnett uses Masa Harina and lets them dry before frying.
These were
photographed at the Tuesday Market in SMA.
Ask anyone what
Mexican food is and they will tell you a taco. No utensils needed here because
it's eaten with your hands.
It's simply a tortilla
that is folded around a filling. It's the most popular item on the menu and
often served from the street.
My Mexico fix in
Chicago? Maxwell Street Market, where at Rubi's on Sunday morning you
could close your eyes, smell the aromas and swear you were back in Mexico they
were that authentic.
La Azotea's ever-so-famous Jicama Tacos in SMA;
Casa de Cocinas delicious Tacos al Pastor in San Miguel;
A plate of Arrachera
tacos from MuRo in SMA;
Tacos from the Tuesday Market in San Miguel;
Tacos from Burritacos in San Miguel
Tacos from Burritacos in San Miguel
A tamale is made of
masa and steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper and filled with meats, chilies,
cheeses, fruits or vegetables.
In Michoacán, called a
Corunda, they are wrapped in a long green corn leaf and then folded to make a
triangular shape.
This tamale is from La
Bonita in SMA where there are 27 types of tamales on the menu.
A beverage made with
maize flour, fermented cacao beans, mamey pits and flor or rosita de cacao.
Grind it and mix with water. When it is ready, the cocoa rises to the top to
form a foam.
It's served cold in
tiny ceramic pots in just about every market in Oaxaca.
Lot's of things on
this list to cure a hangover and this is another one caught on digital at the Tlacolula
Market outside Oaxaca.
A distilled beverage
made from the blue agave plant, tequila is the national drink of Mexico.
It's used to make a
Margarita, the most popular mixed drink in the US.
This tequila Queen
changed up her basic formula for Margaritas this past year by adding an ounce of
Liqueur.
Formula: The base is
tequila and lime juice with two modifiers: Cointreau and simple syrup.
The ratio 2:2:1:1 or 2
parts tequila, 2 parts lime juice, 1 part Cointreau, and 1 part simple syrup.
The Tequila: Use only
100% agave tequila. Although most people swear by Blanco, a Reposado will also
bring out the roasted agave flavors.
The bar at Hotel
Sautto uses some of the least expensive (87 pesos a bottle) and oldest (1879)
made tequila in Mexico: Orendain Tequila Blanco. They are classic.
Lime juice:
Fresh-squeezed only. In Mexico I use the small, Mexican limes that come off the
trees in my back yard. They are much sweeter and less acidic. 2 ounces = 6
limes.
Liqueur: I have yet to
taste a Margarita made with Grand Marnier that I love and only use Cointreau or
the Mexican version Controy. Why Cointreau? It is not very sweet and has an intense
bitter orange flavor.
Simple Syrup: In
Mexico, I buy Madrilena Jarabe Natural. In the states I make it from scratch.
2 parts sugar
1 part water
Bring the water to a
boil. Dissolve the sugar into the boiling water, stirring constantly.
Once the sugar is
dissolved completely, remove the pan from the heat. Do not boil for too long or
the syrup will be too thick. Allow to cool completely and thicken. Bottle. To
prolong the shelf life add a little vodka.
Another drink that's
widely popular in Mexico: The Paloma. I've been told that Mexicans drink these
instead of Margaritas.
Mexico's version of
the sandwich.
This Americanized
version was a BLT made on a roll baked by MiVida and prepared at El Tucan. It
totally satisfied my summer craving for a great BLT.
The mainstay of the
Mexican diet, there is nothing better than a corn tortilla hot off the comal.
Just watch the women in the markets pull them off with their hands. Have you
tried it? Ouch!
Making them from
scratch? This batch was at Petit Four’s cooking class in SMA.
We find beautiful,
homemade tortillas in every market in Mexico, including this basket of Rosa
colored ones made by Vanessa in the San Juan de Dios market in San Miguel and a tortilla stand outside the Ignacio Ramirez Market in San Miguel.
There is a difference
between these two but they are very similar.
To achieve that
simmered-for-hours flavor, a dried chili pepper can be placed in the oven to
release the oils before adding it to the soup.
Everything but the
kitchen sink can be used to vary your textures in the tomato-based broth.
This one was made at
MuRo in San Miguel.
A tortilla that is
deep fried flat and topped with a variety of ingredients.
This one was prepared
by Alex at El Tucan in San Miguel.
It's Mexican wine
country, with new tasting rooms and fine dining restaurants springing up
throughout the Valley in Baja.
My excuse for drinking
them? It's on my list to go to the wine harvest in 2015 so I feel I have to try
them all before the trip.
Call it "the
other Mexico", you'll go back in time because Valle de Guadalupe is what
Sonoma and Napa Valleys were like 50 years ago.