Mexico City Architecture

While looking for the taco stand photo I used in the last post, I came across a few photos I took years ago of doors and windows in Mexico City. I loved the grand architecture and enclosed courtyards, and took probably a whole roll of film just of buildings.

So to make this in accordance with the theme of the blog, I will discuss my culinary experiences in Mexico City. Basically I had altitude sickness for the first two days out of the four that I was there, and could only manage apple soda from Carls Jr. Not very adventurous. Fortunately, I eventually recovered and experienced the wonderful and famous Cafe Tacuba as well as some delicious mole sauce at a restaurant that had a rooster crowing from somewhere in the back the entire time we dined.

Tacos 101

Mexican taquerias seem to be springing up everywhere. I have seen them in even the smallest of towns right here in Tennessee. Taquerias offer an opportunity to try an authentic taco that is more flavorful than the Taco Bell knock-offs that most people are used to.

An authentic taco is typically served open faced with fresh cilantro and onions on top. No cheese, no lettuce. There is a wedge of lime for squeezing and maybe some radish slices on the side. Red or green salsa may also be provided.

You will be asked if you want flour (“harina” in Spanish) or corn (maiz) tortillas. Authentic tacos tend to be smaller than the Taco Bell version so you may want to order a few more than you normally would. Typically people will order a few at a time, and then a couple more if desired. Filling options include chicken (pollo), carne asada (grilled beef), chorizo (sausage), barbecue (which may be chicken or pork), carnitas (chunks of pork), or al pastor (flavorful pork cooked on a rotisserie skewer). Tacos al pastor are the ultimate taco and an art form in and of themselves. They deserve a post of their own and I shall oblige this in the future. You may also see ingredients such as lengua which is cow tongue, or tripa which is cow intestine. On the streets of Mexico City, you will see vendors selling tacos of eyes, brains, and a variety of other cow parts.

(above) A taco vender in Mexico City prepares cow head meat for tacos.

I have discovered at a few different taquerias around the Tennessee area that there may be two menus available—one in English with the typical Americanized Mexican food options such as fajitas and crunchy tacos; and one for Latin Americans with authentic tacos, tortas, and aguas frescas (juice drinks). I think that the taqueria owners assume that most gringos will not be interested in the authentic food and just want the Tex Mex version they are used to. I would encourage them to give us gringos a shot because by offering the authentic tacos, I think sales would increase.

Often at taquerias, the bill is not brought to your table but you must instead go up to the counter to pay. So, if you have been sitting, waiting patiently at your table for quite a long time after most other customers have come and gone, trying to send subliminal messages to the waiter, hoping that the check will arrive, this may be why.

I met the ultimate taco aficionados on vacation in Puerto Vallarta recently. A nice couple that seemed to know of all taco selling locations in the city and in their home city of Houston. Mention a taco location in either city and they would immediately be able to provide a full review and list of other locations with better tacos. True adventure dinners these two were, who even dropped off their suitcases at the airport and then ran across the street for one last taco fix, arriving back at the airport just in time to board the plane. They declared the taco stand across from the Puerto Vallarta airport to be the ultimate, and given their passion for all things taco, I would believe this opinion.

Mennonite Bakery

The Swiss Pantry

Belvidere Tennessee

The Swiss Pantry in Belvidere Tennessee is known for its freshly baked goods, bulk groceries, and cheeses. The store is owned by a family of individuals who are of the Mennonite faith. Belvidere Tennessee is rustically located about 20 miles off Interstate 24, over a hour away from Chattanooga, and approximately 15 miles from the Alabama border.

On my most recent visit a fellow customer purchased an entire shopping cart of cookies. I guess with high gas prices, he wanted to stock up. I purchased what was probably the best pecan coffee cake I have ever had. Although they do not use preservatives in their bakery, it remained fresh for days and was just as good three days later as the day I bought it.

They will also prepare a sandwich for you, and have chili, as well as a homemade soup option which changes daily. This would be a great place for a picnic lunch if you happen to be driving in the central, southern part of Tennessee. Get yourself a ham sandwich and an old fashioned sarsaparilla root beer in a bottle and sit outside at the picnic table, enjoying the quiet view of the Tennessee countryside.

Mongolian Cuisine

(above) My approximation of a Mongolian meal with frozen dumplings made in Atlanta, looseleaf jasmine tea from China, dumpling sauce from Taiwan, Japanese tea cup, grape tomatoes from the Bi-Lo, and plate from Pier 1.

My Mongolian meal was inspired by a photo from the book Material World by Peter Menzel. The photo, taken inside a gher (round tent, like a yurt) of a Mongalian family dinner consisting of Mongolian mom made dumplings and cherry tomatoes. Mine were not homemade but purchased at the local Asian grocery store, in the frozen food case. It should be noted that if you go to your local Asian grocery store and it appears that they do not have any frozen dumplings, you should ask. At the one closest to my house, the store is rather small and some frozen items are kept in freezers that do not have glass, so you probably wouldn't know they are there.


These Asian dumplings are ridiculously easy to make because all you have to do is add the dumplings to boiling water. When they float to the top, they are done.

I recommend dipping them in dumpling sauce which can also be found at your local Asian grocery in a small bottle, near the soy sauce section.

In Mongolia, boiled dumplings are known as "bansh." A typical ingredient in Mongolia would be mutton, as the diet of that country consists of lots of meat and not a lot of vegetables. Mine are vegetable, leek, and pork flavor, with the pork flavor being barely discernible. I've had better flavors in the past and this one will probably not be purchased again.

I personally have never been to Mongolia although I did once have a long discussion with a former Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years there. What I remember most from that conversation is that the typical Mongolian greeting is translated as "How is your body?" What a bummer to live in that country where I would spend most of my day saying "Still sagging, thanks. How's yours?"

Mongolian cuisine myths: Mongolian barbecue restaurants, fun though they may be, are not actually Mongolian. They are actually more similar to a Japanese style of cooking. Mongolian beef served in Western restaurants also has nothing to do with Mongolia.

I found this link to a site with lots of mongolian recipes:

http://www.mongolfood.info/en/recipes/bansh.html

Celebramos! (Wordless Wednesday)

As the Blog World Turns

Here is a summary of some recent goings on in the blogosphere:



The ghetto fab boys are back after a long absence (*cough*prison?*cough*) at Ramendays with more remedial cooking lessons for culinary tards. I think they are cleaning up the language a bit, which is appreciated by us prudes. Their mama must have slapped them around a bit. I would link to their site but actually I think their hip hop music far outshines their culinary skills.


Now that Angelika is sleeping more than two hours a night, people seem to be giving her presents. She has gotten a new fridge (but not one that I can write on, so this is useless to me), stove, and this from her Mommy Dearest (but I bet she is pretending that Hugh Laurie gave it to her).


CLEAR THE ROADS! And keep all potted plants, young children, and any other breakable objects inside!!!!!! Just kidding. I'm sure L will be a great driver.


Ya know how on TV when someone goes blank or is absent they play cricket sounds to signify the emptiness? Has knitwithcats.blogspot updated her blog? Click here to find out.


Oh, if only my cat would tolerate this from Small Dog Stuff without spending the entire time hissing, crying, and plotting revenge. It is so cute! I think my next cat is going to be a poodle.



I find this funny. And either I haven't seen it before in an email or I have early onset Alzheimer's. Either way, it made me laugh.



Kitty porn. (how many times have I mentioned cats in this post???)



Oh the sacrifices this person has made for the greater good, and for her blog. A true patriot and team player.


My noisy neighbors seem to have moved. Sorry to the new neighbors, whomever and wherever they may be, that have to put up with them. Why would someone think it a good idea to play a musical instrument at 1:30 in the morning when you live in a townhouse and your neighbors are two feet away on either side? I like quiet. I don't care if my neighbor is a serial killer as long as he's quiet about it.





Tune in next time for more...(dramatic pause)....As the Blog World Turns. Still not sponsored by Target.