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From a Mexican Kitchen to Yours – Chiles Rellenos
As a follow up to our story on the chiles rellenos and other delicacies served at El Cardenal, here is a recipe straight from another Mexican kitchen for you to prepare your own while you get there. This is a great option for a vegetarian dish and you can be creative by adding your own sazón.
Verónica, a mom in México City, sent us a few ideas to create this family favorite:
Time Required: 30 minutes.
Serves 5
You will need:
- 10 peppers (fresh Guajillo, Anaheim or Poblano will do)
- 1 cup of refried beans
- 2 plantains
- 1 cup of sour cream
- 5 eggs
- ½ cup of flour
- ¼ lb. of cotija cheese
For the sauce:
- 5 medium Roma tomatoes,
- 1 clove of garlic
- ¼ chopped sweet onion
- Salt to taste
- Roast the peppers on a grill until skin is blistered. Remove from heat and let cool off. Once cool, peel the skin delicately not to tear the peppers. Handle very carefully as not to burn yourself! Some like to put the roasted peppers in a plastic bag as they cool to make the skin-peeling process easier. Alternatively, skip and boil the peppers
- Using a spoon, remove the seeds and white membrane. The membrane is the spiciest part of the pepper! Be careful not to touch your face or eyes.
- Fry the plantains and mix them with the beans and cheese. Stuff the peppers with this mixture.
- Whip one egg white per pepper to create a batter. Coat the peppers with flour and then dip them in the batter.
- Fry the peppers in a pan and drain.
If you chose to add a sauce:
- Boil the onions, garlic and tomatoes in salted water until soft, blanch and peel the tomatoes.
- Put in the blender and mix with a little bit of water.
Serve with the sauce and sour cream. Add a side of white rice.
¡Buen provecho!
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Chiles Rellenos with a Twist
RUTA MEXICANA
El Cardenal in Mexico City, uses chipotle chilis instead of poblano peppers to create an absolutely remarkable chile relleno dish. The sweet and smoky taste of chipotle offers a very creative take on a traditional plate. The peppers are stuffed with a blend of two cheeses.This restaurant makes its own bread, tortillas, cheese and chocolate; its a wonderful place for breakfast and has many locations throughout Mexico City. This photo was taken at the Polanco location.Reservations are suggested, but not required.Not in Mexico City? No worries! Make your own chiles rellenos. -
Drink Your Veggies, Eat your Coffee
Julio Cortázar is one of my favorite writers. I particularly enjoy the way in which he is able to unravel the story he made you believe he had woven, and then, in one or two sentences, he turns it around to put an entirely new book in your hands.
This came to mind when I visited Moto this weekend. If you have never experienced molecular gastronomy, a style that got notoriety in the land of Dalí, no less, I highly recommend it.
In the heart of Chicago’s meat-packing district, Moto Restaurant, seems understated. It should, as the food at this cozy, chic-yet-unpretentious establishment, is an incredibly stimulating multisensory event for both mind and palate.
From an edible zen garden, to a dessert that looks like egg drop soup complete with an egg yolk that is actually mango, the 15-course meal is an adventure that comes with specially-designed utensils that hold aromatic herbs, and a leather glove smoked with vanilla beans to accompany a treat called “smell the glove”. The aromas, while not in the food, are designed to enhance the flavor of the dish on the plate.
If you plan on going, forget everything you know about food. Really. Moto is like a short story by Cortázar; a place where you know you will be surprised- you will get to drink your veggies and eat your coffee.
Moto Restaurant, 945 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 312.491.0058
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Saliditos del Comal – Estampas de mi Ciudad
La Casa de las Sirenas, República de Guatemala No. 32, Centro Histórico, México City, Mexico
RUTA MEXICANA
Sopes and quesadillas fresh of the comal delight tourists and locals at “La Casa de las Sirenas”. At this restaurant, food comes with a side of history- the eatery is located inside a 16th century building.
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Pura Vitamina T – Estampas de mi Ciudad
La Dosis Nuestra de Cada Día.
Tamal-stuffed tortas or guajolotas are quite ubiquitous in Mexico City. These delicacies are served street-side, usually accompanied with atole, a corn-based drink.
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Mexican Restaurant “Pujol” Among World’s Best
¨Pujol¨ Francisco Petrarca 254 Polanco, Mexico City (01 55) 5545-4111
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qKNfxwDJZ0?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]
Just like movies sketch the reflection of a society in celluloid, Enrique Olvera captures a piece of Mexico in every single one of his dishes. Complex, surrealistic and magical, his cuisine catches the soul of an ancestral culture, and artistically presents it through the lens of modern, world-class gastronomy.
For those fortunate enough to be familiar with the extraordinary array of delicacies that make up Mexican food, Olvera’s flagship restaurant Pujol, offers a haute-cuisine take on a culture that bends time and overlaps the past with the present. Pre-Hispanic ingredients such as insects and chiles, interact with other elements through the alchemy of modern techniques to delight guests with a piece of this fascinating country.
For those of you with the impression that Mexican food does not go far beyond your chain burrito establishment, a stop at Pujol is a must if you are interested in experiencing authentic Mexico in one single bite.
Pujol is the first restaurant in Mexico to be inducted into the prestigious San Pellegrino List of the World’s Fifty Best Restaurants, by Restaurant magazine. The private, understated establishment is a treasure to be found in the heart of Polanco, Mexico City’s financial district.
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Receta del Chef Enrique Olvera: Elotito Asado
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“En la Milpa”: Un compendio de Recetas del Chef Enrique Olvera
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¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Vitamina T!
These amazing cupcakes and the best coffee in town delight locals and tourists at Pierrot Gourmet (The Penisula Hotel, Chicago).
Tired of trying to find “authentic” Mexican restaurants to give my soul a respite from my homesickness, I stopped looking for culinary embassies for fear of being disappointed. Luckily, as I desperately looked for the flavors of my youth, I discovered in food, an incredibly interactive cultural artifact. Food eventually became my connection to my new world. This is how Vitamina T (Vitamin T) was born.
Mexicans talk about “la Vitamina T” (Vitamin T) to refer to tacos, tortas, tamales, tostadas and other carb-loaded delicacies. In this blog, I will share my unbiased findings and recommendations on local and not so local eateries, often served with a side of Latin America. Enjoy!