We’re currently in Honduras and we just spent 2 1/2 months in Guatemala. We eat well and eat out often enough. But so far, I have to say, nothing compares to the Mexican cuisine. I still dream of and crave the variety, the uniqueness, the spice. It seems like a long time ago, but the flavors are still fresh on my tongue.
One of our favorite aspects of Mexican culture is the importance placed on food. This starts in the home, or the peoples land, with the growth of corn, or maize, and beans. Maize is the fuel and force of Mexicans, their blood. This can equally be said for Guatemala, but since we worked on farms and grew the corn for a tortillería, I feel like I was more connected to the corn, the blood, and the people.
After the corn base, and more recently with the introduction of wheat, the meals diversify. There are staples that appear throughout the country, though each region has a slightly different twist, whether its in the preparation, cooking style, spice, or presentation. With the appearance of unknown items on the menu, we were consistently drawn to eat out.
The day we cycled across the border from Mexico to Guatemala, my mind wandered to all of the places we went, got to know, people we met, experiences we had. Nine months in Mexico seemed like a really long time, but there is still so much of the country we didn’t see. But on this day, I felt so filled with the richness of the culture and people, and completely content with what our Mexican adventure was. More importantly, I had eaten every dish that I had heard of and wanted to taste. I left the the country feeling I had savored and knew what sustains the people and its culture, what supports Mexico, its blood, its and pride.
I have placed a caption and description for each photo in the album, so take a minute, let your mind wander, and drool.
-Emily
I finally had a chance to go through the food pics. My mouth is watering!! I am so jealous of those foods and even your avocado feasts. Nothing beats a little salt and pepper on sliced avocado!