Quote:
Originally Posted by Otter74
Or Chicago. I'd say that Chicago has the best Mexican food in Anglo North America after the greater LA area. Certainly more and better than New York. I wouldn't rank anything in Chicago above Guelaguetza, though.
Mexican food is a very sophisticated cuisine and there's a lot of variety. If you're really interested in it, it's worth getting a book and studying it. One of Diana Kennedy's books would be a great start, though Rick Bayless's books are probably easier for beginners.
One of my good friends had a birthday party the other weekend - she is from Jalisco, and her husband is from Guadalajara. He had made a torito de guayabana, a drink from Veracruz that I hadn't had before (though I'm familiar with guayabana.) It used guayabana juice, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and white rum (though it would normally be made with the agaurdiente.) Also commonly made with peanuts (!), parchita or mango.
|
Agree with most of this, although I'd rank Rick above Diana...
He's got a bunch of books out there, plus a zillion seasons of his cooking show.
If you're in Chicago, eat at one of his restaurants.
That said, his Mexican food isn't going to be what most people think of as Mexican, which in this country isn't really Mexican. Even Tex-Mex is hugely regional. Some is good, some is not.
There are a million mom and pop Mexican restaurants in the Texas/Oklahoma area, as there are many million Mexicans. Few are really any good, it's hard for me to find one I want to eat at twice. Hard to believe but there it is...