The taste of Mexico
/ Patricia Quintana ; photography by Ignacio Urguiza ; Marilyn Wilkinson, consulting editor ; text by William A. Orme, Jr.
- 1st ed.
- New York : ; Stewart, Tabori & Chang : Distributed by Workman Pub. , c1986.
- 303 p. : illus. ; 29 cm.
Includes index.
This gracefully assembled collection of Mexican regional specialties reflects a diverse cultural heritage in the sumptuous breadth of its cuisine. Food writer Quintana offers hearty fare from El Norte (Bahia sea bass stuffed with shrimp and lobster tails; ``drunken'' pinto beans in a sauce of beer, chiles and cilantro) and festive soups from the coast. Meals steeped in traditionblack mole from Oaxaca; baked red snapper assertively seasoned with Spanish olives, capers and mild chiles from Veracruz; and Pueblan chiles en nogada, or batter-fried chiles stuffed with meats, spices and fruits with a creamy sauce of walnuts and pomegranate seeds (the dish, in the colors of the Mexican flag, commemorates Independence Day) provide an intriguing contrast to the more contemporary, European-influenced dishes of Mexico City: squash-blossom crepes with melted Gruyere, sliced fish fillets in pastry shells and a sombrero de chocolate garnished with fig sherbet. Detailed instructions are carefully organized, and Quintana includes substitutions for hard-to-find ingredients, a list of specialty stores and a useful glossary of chiles. Regional histories and bold photographs that balance the autumn colors of fresh produce and the blue hues of Mexican pottery against dramatic landscapesare an inspiring touch.