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tomgibbs

Dec 22, 2002, 9:46 PM

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New developments in Mexican culture and cuisine

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Today's chatter from a small town in Veracruz:

A man returned from 5 years of working in el Norte and married his longtime hometown girlfriend. At the wedding party 3 days ago he prepared all the food.....except the cake, thank God. Having worked for 5 years for Kentucky Fried Chicken he duplicated the whole kit and kabuddle from the Colonel's secret recipe right down to the details like dab of butter on the mashed potatoes, and the littlle biscuit.

Only a few days prior another fellow did all the cooking at a 16th birthday party for a young lady, I think his niece. Also having recently returned from working in el Norte, he cooked pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs. True to fast food business practice he farmed out the making of the hamburger buns and pizza dough to the local bakery.

Boy, imagine! Some people in town still are able to speak Totonaca.

While Walmart et al are making a frontal attack on Mexican culture, there are some 5th columnists working the center.

On the other side of the coin Mexicans working in the kitchens of some fancy Jewish and Italian restaurants in Manhattan have been steadfastly eating only Mexican food they cook up on the spot during their afternoon lunch break. Now it seems they've got the owners and fancy chefs sitting with them in the back room eating Mexican food rather than their own fare.

(This post was edited by tomgibbs on Dec 22, 2002, 9:50 PM)

jennifer rose

Dec 23, 2002, 8:49 PM

Post #2 of 5 (848 views)

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Re: [tomgibbs] New developments in Mexican culture and cuisine

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Fusion cuisine is an integral part of what we now regard as “Mexican” gastronomy. Just think what Mexican food would be without the products of foreign influence: no bolillos, no flour tortillas, no cheeses, no sopa de fideos, no mole Poblano, no sugar, no Coca-Cola, rice, no carnitas, no carne asada. And, of course, no Maggi sauce and Knorr Suiza. Or the ubiquitous street fair favorite – Ramen soup?

Even pizza takes on a different flavor in Mexico, where a version called the "Hawaiiana" reigns supreme.

The supermarket shelves bear versions of foreign products, retooled to Mexican tastes: Campbell's Cream of Chile Poblano soup, Kellogg's bran flakes with mango, sushi with queso Filadelfia and avocado.

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Dec 23, 2002, 9:07 PM)

Mike

Dec 23, 2002, 9:04 PM

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Bran flakes with mango?

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Sounds good to me, I love mangos. Maybe we should import some back into the U.S.
"No matter where you go, there you are"

Jim in Cancun

Dec 24, 2002, 5:34 AM

Post #4 of 5 (812 views)

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As if Wal-Mart, McDonald´s and Burger king weren´t enough now the World....

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...Health Organization is down on Mexican "cuisine!" It seems that Mexico (hard to believe from all those huge Americans I see in thongs on the beach but...)has now beaten out the U.S. as world champion of percentage of overweight and obese inhabitants!!! And as if Domino´s, Denny´s and Outback together with the international globalization conspiracy are not enough, now the W.H.O. and associated health organizations are suggesting that Mexicans should eat more veggies and less Vitamin "T" (tacos, tortas, tamales, tortillas, tostadas)!!!

What is the world coming to when health, colesterol control, carrot sticks and weight loss (along with the the corresponding longevity and higher quality of life) are replacing our solid institutions like Colonel Sanders, Rigo's Tacos, Hot tamales, chocolate cake, French pastry, chalupas, tortas de cochinita and baked ham. Next they will be suggesting EXERCISE!!

Will we survive? Probably. Longer? Probably? More happily? Probably--but only with periodic relapses at special times! imho

Happy Holidays to All.

¡Feliz Navidad! Un Abrazo.

tomgibbs

Dec 24, 2002, 8:57 AM

Post #5 of 5 (787 views)

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Re: [Jim in Cancun] As if Wal-Mart, McDonald´s and Burger king weren´t enough now the World....

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Back in the middle 60's when I was living in Roswell, NM and traveling to the border as much as possible I don't remember seeing obese Mexicans on either side of the frontier. The Anglos in New Mexico were not heavy either at that time. I do remember how impressed I was moving back to Iowa after those few years in the Southwest and seeing so many overwieght people. I think the Midwest was the epicenter of the upcoming explosion.