Mexican Culinary Week
CALLING ALL TASTE BUDS…
MMMM Mexican Culinary Week coming to Houston from November 13th to the 19th
MEXICO CITY, November 13, 2006 – The Mexico Tourism Board is proud to present the First Annual Mmmm Mexican Culinary Week in Houston from November 13th to the 19th. Endorsed by Houston’s Mayor Bill White, the week will celebrate Mexico’s rich culinary history and diversity, with the participation of three local restaurants; El Tiempo Cantina, Las Alamedas and Pappasito’s Cantina.
El Tiempo Cantina (www.eltiempocantina.com), a quaint traditional Mexican dining experience will be offering 10% off Parrilada Mixtas, their famous mixed grill with fajitas, carnitas (pork), shrimp, and chicken. The special will be offered at both locations: 5602 Washington Avenue and 3130 Richmond Ave all week long.
Las Alamedas (www.lasalamedas.com), an upscale Mexican Hacienda-styled restaurant located at 8615 Katy Freeway, famous for their delectable traditional Mexican cuisine, will be offering a 15% discount on all food and Happy Hour prices for all drinks. Make sure not to miss their delicious Margaritas which have made Houston’s Top Ten list for the past 26 years since Las Alamedas has been in business.
Pappasito’s Cantina (www.pappasitos.com), a Tex-Mex favorite in Houston, will be offering their Plato Del Mar Brochette-Style Shrimp for $19.95 at all their Houston locations. Come for a true Tex-Mex experience, and some of the best guacamole in town.
The Mexico Tourism Board will be providing live dinner entertainment at Pappasito’s Cantina (S. Loop West at S. Main location) on Friday, November 17 and at El Tiempo Cantina (Washington Avenue location) on Saturday, November 18. Mariachi bands will be performing at both restaurants offering a truly authentic Mexican experience.
Also, the Mexico Tourism Board will be hosting a gastronomy event, in conjunction with the University of Houston on November 15, open to special guests by invitation-only and the media. The event will feature the participation of acclaimed Mexican chef Yuri de Gortari and notable historian, Edmundo Escamilla. While Yuri prepares delicious Mexican fare, Edmundo will explain the use of traditional ingredients in the country’s cuisine. Following the cooking presentation, the audience will be invited to taste the different dishes created by the chef. For more information on Mmmm Mexican Culinary Week, please contact Sandra Munoz at (713) 772- 2581 ext.109, or via email at Sandra.Munoz@bm.com.
Mexican Cuisine Mexican cuisine is diverse and varies from region to region, a product of the country’s varied geography and history. Due to Mexico’s wide variety of climates and bordering oceans, the national cuisine utilizes countless varieties of vegetables, fruits, animals and fish. Spanish and French colonizers also brought with them many culinary traditions, resulting in an eclectic blend of prehispanic, colonial and modern-day influences.
Prehispanic elements that have represented the staple of Mexican cuisine are very much present today. In Mexico, eating chiles is an age-old tradition. According to archaeologists, chiles were one of the first plants cultivated in Mesoamerica, with their consumption traced back to about 7000 B.C. The high vitamin A and C content of the vegetable made it an important component of the indigenous diet. Today, while chiles have gained worldwide recognition, with more than 120 varieties in Mexico, they are still highly underestimated by the rest of the culinary world. Corn is another example of a staple that has been around for thousands of years. Today, from tortillas to soups to corn-based drinks, corn or maize as it’s often called, is here to stay.
Aside from the ubiquitous taco and Mexico’s newly discovered haute cuisine, other “basics” originating in Mexico have also made their way to the world’s kitchen, and we’re not talking Corona and nachos; try chocolate, tomatoes, peanuts, avocados, squash, turkey and vanilla…further broadening the question, “Do you feel like Mexican food tonight?”
