On Food & Culture
Grouper is a very large, some would say gigantic, fish that can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, close to Texas and Florida. The Spanish name for grouper is mero. It has a distinctive but mild taste and here I serve it with a […]
Achiote green beans, Ejotes Con Achiote, is a unique way to prepare green beans when you want to add brightness to your plate. The achiote brings out the sweetness and astringency of the orange juice and Jalapeño infused into the green beans. This is an […]
When I was growing up, new year’s eve was always festive, exciting. Amá would celebrate every new year by making buñuelos. They’re crisp and light. I serve them with no-dairy chocolate. I recall having a sense of wonder at how she made ribbons out of […]
This fresh corn skillet, Guisado De Maíz, is all about simplicity and the importance of basic cooking techniques. “Do the basics brilliantly” was the constant mantra of one of my chef instructors at the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Hinnerk Von Bargen. It was also […]
I was 10 years old when I first tasted a quesadilla, cheese melted inside crisp wheat flour tortillas. It’s a cliché to say so, but it was love at first bite. In the more southern regions of Mexican cuisines they use corn tortillas, but here […]
When you want an aromatic salsa on the table, use this Chile De Arbol. Its flaky and fiercely tasty. Native Mexican, of course, its flavor is very mild, a bit similar to that of the Serrano. But unlike the Serrano, chile de arbol is used […]
Green Salsa, Serrano chile, is a classic Texas Mexican table salsa. If you’re from this region, send me an email or comment about how you’ve savored this in your home. Amá (we did not use the Spanish word, mamá) always had this salsa on the […]
Three native ingredients make this traditional Mexican salsa a delectable culinary heritage: tomato, chile and salt. Each provides important nutritional elements, and the combination is, well, fresh and delicious. There is much to be said for simplicity. My mom, amá, made this salsa everyday, using […]
These fish tacos are a variation of the famous Baja California fish taco. I omit the wheat flour batter, thereby focusing exclusively on the flavor and texture of the freshly-made corn tortilla. It also foregrounds the sweet fresh fish. I use tomatillo salsa to continue […]
Cilantro Rice, Arroz Con Cilantro, is aromatic, light, and it foregrounds cilantro. The story of cilantro is the story of how human beings constantly interact with each other, often in unexpected ways, exchanging ingredients, traditions, and the love of food. Cilantro, also named coriander, is […]