Our Mexican Journey

Our Journey into Latin American Cuisine CUL221 Mexico South American Caribbean

Mexico

Mexico • The Land • The History that form the culture • Regional cooking – Northern Mexico – Central Mexico – Southern and the Gulf of Mexico – The Yucatan Peninsula – The Pacific Coast – The Baja California Peninsula

The Land • Borders: – North: United States – South: Guatemala and Belize – West: Pacific Ocean – East: Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

• Mountains: – Sierra Madre Occidental in the west – Sierra Madre Oriental to the east

• The Plateau in the north is a dessert • Yucatan Peninsula and Baja peninsula

The Land of contrast • • • • •

Borders Scorching deserts Snow capped volcanoes Lush tropical rain forest One of the 20 riches nations, but many are poor. • Home to some of the greatest civilization in history

Mayan Indians –Very advance civilizations • Built large cities out of stone • Writing and arithmetic • Beautiful works of art • Strong agriculture –Corn, beans, squash, chili peppers, papayas, lentils, kidney beans, fava beans, many peppers, pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, cacoa bean (chocolate)

Influences • Aztec empire thriving in the 1300’s – Honey, vanilla, salt, and chili peppers • Domesticated turkeys and ducks

• Cortez invades in 1513 • Spain conquered mexico in 1521 – Livestock: cows, pigs and sheep – Diary products – Moors influences – Spice trade – Citrus, figs, cinnamon, cloves, melons, garlic, eggplants, carrots, dessert form nuts

Mexican Regional Cooking

Regional Mexican Cooking • • • • • • •

Northern Mexico Central Mexico Southern Mexico Gulf of Mexico Yucatan Peninsula The Pacific Coast Banja California

Northern Mexico • Ranching influences – – – –

Cattle Sheep Pigs Goats

• Cheese – Chihuhau – Mennonites

• Flour Tortillas as a bread stable

Central Mexico • Distrito Federal or Mexico City (capitol) • 20 million people, second most populated city in the world, behind Tokyo • Aztec city of Tenoctitlan was destroyed converting the Indians to Christianity • Michoacán • “place of fisherman” • “central breadbasket”

Michoacán • Largest producer of avocados • Sugar cane, rice, coffee plantations, macadamia tree. • Corn, beans chickpeas and potatoes • Fruit: Mangos, strawberries, papaya, bananas, lemons, limes • Agave: to produce syrups, vinegar, an pulque (alcoholic beverage) • Pulque: predecessor of mescal and tequila • Maguey plant: Mezcal is the double distilled spirit

Southern Mexico and Gulf of Mexico • Between gulf of Mexico and the pacific ocean • Pamppantla- vanilla pods form orchids • Veracruz- busy port in the country – Red Snapper Veracruz, whole fish covered in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, capers, spanish olives and pickled jalepenos

• West African influences- peanuts, plaintains, yucca, and sweet potatoes

Coffee and Chocolate

• Chiapas is the state of the largest producers of cocao and coffee beans • Xocoatl or Chocoatl – When the aztecs conquered Central America they demanded the cocao was seen as a tribute.

Yucatan Peninsula • States of Campeche, Yacatan and Quintana Rol • Mountainous terrain surrounding it • Mayan civilization began, 2500 B.C. • Black beans, pit cooking, banana leaves, wrapped meats, serville oranges, chilimole (made of annato) • Spainish introduced pork and frying

The Pacific Coast

• The home to Hollywood stereotypes of Mexico • Mariachi music, Mexican Hot dance • Broad-brimmed sombrero hats • Mexican Rodeo and Tequila • Crops: Peanuts, sugar, and agave

The Land of the 7 MOLES Oaxzca • Mole Negro (black)- using chocolate, complicated • Mole Amarillo (Yellow) • Mole Coloradiot (little red) • Mole Almendrado (with Almonds) • Mole Chichilo (local name without a translation) • Mole Verde (green) • Mole Colorado (red)

Baja California Peninsula • Two states: Baja California, Baja California Sur • Baja California Tijuana is the most visited border cites in the world. • Festivals Region: Paella Festival, Fish Festival, Seafood Festival, Tequila Festival, Wine Festival • Caesar Salad Festival and the birthplace of the famous Caesar Salad

Mexico • The Land • The History that form the culture • Regional cooking – Northern Mexico – Central Mexico – Southern and the Gulf of Mexico – The Yucatan Peninsula – The Pacific Coast – The Baja California Peninsula

Our Journey into Latin American Cuisine CUL221 Mexico South American Caribbean