On Food & Culture
This video was produced by The Southern Foodways Alliance and screened at the annual symposium where I spoke about “The Art of Cooking.” Filmmaker, Ethan Payne, succinctly, visually, shows the differences between tex-mex and the Mexican food of Texas, an important distinction. Making this distinction […]
Salt Aire Margarita is topped with a foam created by Chef José Andrés. It’s the specialty margarita served at his Oyamel restaurant in D.C. The first time I tried it I fell in love with it. I think it’s a great way to add a […]
I’m making the iconic Texas Mexican dish, Calabacita Con Pollo, squash with chicken, and I’m relating it to a dish from central Mexico, chicken poached in a garlic-cumin broth. It’s from the state of Hidalgo, in the central Eastern region of Mexico, the homeland of […]
This chile poblano and chayote soup turns any dinner into a celebration. Roasting and peeling the chiles poblanos is a technique that you will use over and over again, to make other recipes like Rajas, Chile Relleno and Chile Poblano Con Papas. Omitting the crema […]
An enchilada feast marked special occasions in our home. To understand the enchilada is to understand our community. This classic Texas Mexican dish is made with Chile Ancho and Chile Pasilla, blended with oregano and other spices. Bottled “chili” powder is a new invention, a […]
Chicken poached in a garlic-cumin broth is from Hidalgo, in the central Eastern region of Mexico, the homeland of the great Toltec culture. Toltec art and the huge monuments are well-known and iconic of MesoAmerica, but a lesser known fact is that the region has […]
Salt “Aire” is the foam created by Chef José Andrés for the margarita served at his Oyamel restaurant in D.C. The first time I tried it I fell in love with it. Some of my friends eschew it, though. They are orthodox and demand the […]
Squash Blossoms abound here in Spring and Summer. Not surprising since the squash is native to Mexico where the flower, Flor de Calabaza, has many delicious uses in tamales, quesadillas and soups. The Europeans fell in love with them and were delighted that this little […]
Dominga Medrano, my mom, was an excellent and creative cook who every Holy Week would gift us with Capirotada. Our kitchen overflowed with aromas of cinnamon, cilantro and piloncillo and even now I can see her face serving us this bread pudding on Good Friday. […]