Cooking Mexico – Andrea’s passion for Canberra

Andrea Rodriguez started Cooking Mexico to share her passion for Mexican cuisine with Australia. Now based in Canberra she launched her Cooking Mexico cooking sessions today at the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets. Participants were treated to Mexican coffee and a two course lunch as Andrea demonstrated and served Black Bean Soup and Green Chilaquiles, two simple, traditional dishes using classic Mexican ingredients sourced in Canberra.

Andrea demonstrating and sharing Mexican culture and tradition

Epazote herb used in the Black Bean Soup

Tinned green tomatoes

Green Chilaquiles with Pulled Chicken

Mexican coffee flavoured with cinnamon and vanilla sugar to start

Warming black bean soup garnished with sour cream, Avocado, corn chips, feta and a roasted smokey/chocolate flavoured dried chilli

My thanks to Andrea who included me today in her cooking session as a guest.

Cooking – a lovely part of food travel

An easy and fun way to ‘unpack’ the cuisine and food culture of a country when travelling is to join a small local cooking class. The leader is usually a great source of local and regional food knowledge, but often happy to also talk about food in a wider cultural context. But there are many other lesser known opportunities if you ask around. Guest houses, bed and breakfasts and home stays are often more than happy to allow you into their kitchen to watch and chat.

The Penguin Food Guide to India – an excellent read for food lovers travel

I am truly loving Charmaine O’Brien’s Penguin Food Guide to India. An Aussie author, her style is infinitely readable and it really is like having as good friend to guide you through the delights of Indian food. I’ve used it to plan each meal for a visit to Mumbai later this month, based on the best spots for the best dishes.

From Charmaine recommendations I know to go to Sassoon Docks early to see the historic fish market of Mumbai’s original Koli inhabitants who supply Mumbai’s seafood, to visit Victoria Station at noon to catch the city’s dabba-wallahs in full swing delivering tiffin lunchboxes to office workers and not to miss India’s best street food, easily explored at Chowpatty beach in the evening.

I’m told Mumbai is famous for Parsi cuisine and I’m heading to the iconic Brittania and Company for their berry pulao and to Jimmy Boy for a full Parsi wedding feast.

Cheaply available from iBooks ($15) (an easy version to take with you) or the Book Depository ($19), I agree wholeheartedly with Penguin Books who say:

‘This first-ever comprehensive guide to regional food across India takes you on a mouth-watering journey through the homes, streets and restaurants of each state, exploring exotic and everyday fare in equal measure.…..Laden with historical information, cultural insights and personalized recommendations, The Penguin Food Guide to India is your ideal companion to the delightful world of Indian cuisine.’

Cooking Mexico – A food travel opportunity without leaving Canberra!

Sometimes you don’t even need to leave home to explore the world through food.

Next Saturday 5th July, I’m looking forward to getting to know Mexico with Andrea Rodriguez who promises ‘a great opportunity for Canberrans to experience authentic Mexican Culture at their doorstep.’

Andrea says we ‘will learn Mexican kitchen stories and customs, heat up our winter Saturday with some tequila and gather multicultural ideas for our menus.’

Sounds wonderful!

The joys of exploring the world through food

Exploring a country through food can be a wonderful way to engage with local people and culture and a window into family, social, religious and economic life. Whether choosing a specialty food tour or designing your own itinerary good food-themed opportunities are endless including local markets, festivals, street food stalls, small family run restaurants, home-stays, cooking lessons and opportunities to watch cooks at work.