Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Mexican

VegetarianFilter: Give me your best veg taco recipes and tips!

pghjezebel — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:31:40 -0800

VegetarianFilter: Give me your best veg taco recipes and tips! I've been a vegetarian for several years now and then one thing I really miss? A good taco.

I've tried meat substitutes (boca crumbles) and find the texture rather gross. They always have a gristle taste/feel to them.

I've seen recipes for lentil style tacos - but my lentils always turn out hard. What about tofu?

What else can I try? Open to any and all recipes, suggestions and tips!

Mexican music!

einarorn — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:14:19 -0800

Can you recommend music for my Mexican restaurant? I run a burrito restaurant and I'm looking for some music to play in the restaurant.

I used to live in Venezuela and Mexico around 12-15 years ago and unfortunately my taste in Mexican / Latin American music is just based on the bands that were popular at the time (Maná, Molotov, etc). I'd like to update this a bit.

So, do you have any recommendations for good Mexican / Latin American music? I'm open to anything that will sound good in a restaurant. I'd like to have different areas of music (different music for Friday nights and Monday lunches).

I'm open to any good music from the last 10-15 years. Both traditional pop music, rock, hip-hop (although not too heavy), salsa, bolero, whatever.

My plan is to buy the music on iTunes

Where can I buy this hot sauce?

tucsongal — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:39:57 -0800

Where can I buy this hot sauce? There is this change of Mexican fast food places in Arizona and Southern California (well, San Deigo area) called Filiberto's. They have all types of salsas and hot sauces but it seems like their signature sauce is this simple 'red' sauce. Its really good and I was wondering if anyone knew if it was something 'off the shelf' and thus you could buy it someplace.

Again, here is a pic of the sauce as it comes from Filiberto's.

or is it a child's half-remembered, lunatic dream?

Allee Katze — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:25:42 -0800

In the early 70's there aired a kid's after school program. Simple to identify, right? Course not, this is where you come in. This show aired on Mexican TV, specifically in Acapulco. It was a dubbed, 30 minute, Asian children's program involving live action/animation; a chubby little boy, his nanny/aunt/housekeeper/caretaker and a cartoon sorcerer. The nanny-ish person possessed magical powers and was often at odds with the sorcerer. There may have been another girl/boy involved but I'm not so sure. The particular episode that stuck with me was sticks and leaves and dirt and such transformed by glamour to appear as a delicious banquet for the children.

I've tried Googling but can't pin down the search terms enough, or maybe I dreamed the whole non-existent thing. Either way, please identify this program so I can finally put it to rest ... I'm spending way too much time picking away at my memories of this!

Help me identify this sushi smoky, potentially Mexican-inspited, hot sauce

cha4 — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:43:23 -0800

Help me identify this terrific hot sauce my local sushi bar offers. What makes it unusual is that it is not creamy, much darker than sriracha, has a thick marmalade consistency, and has this deep sweet, slightly smoky flavor, while still being hot. And in it are darker tiny bits of somewhat grainy/crunchy red specs. Also, I definitely see some sort of oil as part of the mixture (you can see the oil in the crevice under the top in the linked pic above). I frequent sushi places and have not found another place that carries this. One thing that occurred to me: The head chef at this place is of Mexican decent - so there is a chance he created/brought in with him something from Mexican cuisine that I am not familiar with - not sure if that helps anyone. Would love to figure out what it is and be able to but containers/make some of my own!

Where can I find these tortillas?

nitsuj — Sat, 09 May 2009 07:15:05 -0800

At a Walmart in Missouri, of all places, I found some pre-packaged, refrigerated tortillas that were very, very thin pieces of uncooked dough stacked together. You just peeled one off, put it in a pan to quickly cook it, and ended up with a delicious, home-made-tasting flour tortilla. Where can I find these in Chicago? I've tried making my own, and even when I use a tortilla press, I can't seem to get them thin enough.

These pre-packaged, uncooked torts are perfect, but I can't find them in Chicago. So far I've checked Jewel, Trader Joe's, and even Walmart out in Skokie with no luck. I'd rather not (unless it's my only choice) go on a wild goose chase, checking every single Mexican market in town, in hopes of finding them.

So, have you seen these anywhere, or do I need to go back to MO?

Any recommendations for recordings of traditional Mexican ballads by female singers?

Joe Beese — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:11:27 -0800

Any recommendations for recordings of traditional Mexican ballads by female singers? I have no idea what songs Isela Vega is performing here at 5:38 or here at 8:55 [both links may be NSFW] - but I'd like to obtain a collection of similar music. It doesn't matter when it was recorded but authenticity matters - so nothing like this. If no particular recordings come to mind, a singer who specializes in such material would be fine.

Why is the Mexican Nesquik cheaper?

Barry B. Palindromer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:09:53 -0800

Why do items in my grocery store with similar items on the Mexican food aisle cost more at my grocery store? Why does Mexican Nesquik cost less? I'm buying Nesquik at my local Fry's Food and Drug here in central Phoenix. I pick up the 10 ounce container, which is on sale (with my VIP card!) for 3.49. On the Mexican specialty food aisle where I'm picking up my roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (cause the David ones are WAY too salty) I see a 14 ounce container of Nesquik for 2.59.

Now, a serving of the Mexican variety is 3 tbs, and the gringo version is 2 tbs. But even taking the serving differences (I figure the amount of servings per container is roughly equivalent), how can you explain the price difference?

I've seen this in various foods. Another notable difference is the sardines, where the can on the Mexican food aisle contains almost twice as much as the Crown King can on the canned fish aisle, and costs a little less.

As an unrelated aside, the Mexican Nesquik has more sugar and has a richer semi-sweet chocolate flavor, when compared with the milk-chocolate flavor of the US version.

Arepas in Manhattan?

Cogito — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:09:54 -0800

Desperately seeking arepas in Manhattan Where can I find arepas in Manhattan? The closer to West End & 86th the better.

Rice, Rice baby

wordsmith — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:25:55 -0800

What's the secret to making delicious, restaurant-quality Mexican rice at home? Mexican restaurants have delicious, light, fluffy rice. How can I reproduce this at home? Often times my rice will come out bland or sticky or just not that great. But I can make Asian rices with no problem!

The kind I like is typically pink/orange in hue, short grain, and contains little more than just rice. I'm not looking for something with a bunch of vegetables in it. I want plain, simple rice and pairs well with beans. It should look similar to this, and vegetarian friendly. I have a rice cooker.

What's the best type of rice to use, and what spices should I include (and when)? I'd like to avoid buying pre-packaged rice packets with the spices included.

I Can Has Spicy Hot Mango Candy Pleez?

RobotVoodooPower — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:06:09 -0800

Where can I find spicy hot mango Mexican candy online? My coworker recently came back from Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and brought back a bag of tasty candy -- each individually-wrapped treat was mango-flavored, chewy, and hot. I ate it all, and besides being remorseful I'm also craving more. I Googled the name on the candy wrapper (which I forgot to write down) and came up with nothing. Anyone know where I might find such delicious treats online?

Some Like it Hot

Tube — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:41:14 -0800

Where can I buy La Guacamaya hot sauce with lime juice in the Seattle area? Some time back, I discovered a hot sauce that, along with Tabasco's chipotle sauce, has become my co-favorite hot sauce of ALL TIME.

This would be La Guacamaya hot sauce with lime juice.

I discovered it in an Asian market in White Center, a suburb of Seattle several months ago. I've found that Asian markets in Seattle often carry Mexican foods as well. I buy about 5 bottles of the stuff at a time, as you can see that the price is right at $2.19 for a liter bottle!

Suddenly the market I found it at no longer has it! They only have the wimpy little 177ml bottles!

Please, I'm addicted to this delicious stuff...

Where can I buy it in liter sized bottles? Heck, I'd be willing to drive to Skyway to buy it...

Please note, there is a plain version of La Guacamaya that has no lime juice, and I'm not interested in that stuff.

Do you know of any market, bodega, gas station, supermarket, Walmart, Costco, Asian market, farmer's market, Mexican market, or even "dollar store" where I can buy this? I realize that it's available on the Internet, but I'd rather buy in bulk and avoid ridiculous shipping charges.

Kill me with spice.

cjorgensen — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:29:58 -0800

Hot food suggestions. This question got me thinking. I love spice. Love heat. Like proving my manhood with food. I consider the "hot" warning on salsas to be false advertising. I can eat jalapeños straight.

So knock me out.

I've had food so hot, that like Paul Muadib, I thought I could see through time. I want more. Burn me until my eyes turn blue! I am pretty sure I can take it. The higher the Scoville Unit the better.

I don't eat red meat, I consider pork to be a red meat, and I still like a bit of flavor (so pure capsaicin oil is out).

Would love to be able to order suggestions online. Prefer non-perishable. Prefer complete food items, not just spice (but don't limit your answers to these).

Bonus points if it's premade (but don't limit your answers to this). TV dinner type food, dried, in a jar, don't care, as long as I can buy it and pop it in the microwave or boil it on the stove.

I am talking the type of food that you wash your hands three times after eating before putting your hands anywhere near your eyes, and four times before using the bathroom.

I've occasionally gotten food close to being hot enough as some Indian or Thai restaurants, but only after insulting the cook's ancestry. Ok, seriously, never did that, but have had the cook come out and check on me too many times to count to see if the white boy was still a standin'.

I live in Iowa, so "This place on Southwest 14th in New York..." won't be helpful (unless they have mail order).

Berkeley Taco Trucks

stewiethegreat — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:53:21 -0800

Where are the taco trucks in Berkeley? I just moved from Oakland, CA to Berkeley, and I've only found one taco truck (the one next to campus at Bancroft and Telegraph). I've heard great things about it, but it's not open (or, apparently, even there) at night, which is when I generally want tacos.

I *love* taco truck food. I adore it. And I don't want to drive back to Oakland twice a week to feed my nighttime taco cravings. Are there any in Berkeley?

I live on Dwight between Shattuck and Telegraph.

Would-be Paletera

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:18:11 -0800

I want to make popsicles. Actually, quiero hacer paletas. I can NOT find paleta molds. Help?? Good popsicle, ice pop, paleta molds, without this "drip guard" horseshit that makes it a freaking trial to eat the last 8% of your popsicle. Popsicle eating must not feel like a trial. Drip guards? If your kid can't finish their popsicle in a timely manner, your kid shouldn't be allowed to eat popsicles.

The amazon reviews for this style are abyssmal.

Preferably large and rectangular.

How to enjoy Salsa Negra?

ranunculus — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:20:15 -0800

I've recently been given a jar of homemade Salsa Negra. How can I best use it? I hear a spoonful goes nicely with black beans just before serving but that's about all I know. Any help would be appreciated!

Mexican spanish help please.

wilful — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:26:10 -0800

How would you say "bite my shiny metal ass" [sic] in Mexican Spanish?

Ay, caramba!

jonmc — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:00:04 -0800

I've been developing a taste for Mexican/border music. I'm familiar with stuff like the Texas Tornados, Flaco Jimenez, Freddy Fender and a few other acts who have crossed over to rock or country success. I've also read Elijah Wald's book Narcocorrido which talks about the genre. I also know from my time working at a music database company that there are a bewildering array of artists and subgenres involved here.

I should stress that I'm not looking for 'world music' type stuff here. I'm looking for what you'd hear on a bar jukebox in border country. Give me some artists to hunt down. Extra points for narcocorridos.

Where to find La Michoacana paletas in Seattle?

hades — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:45:15 -0800

Where can I get La Michoacana paletas in Seattle? I used to be able to get these wonderful Mexican popsicles at the ticket/concessions counter Grand Illusion on the Ave, but that was years ago. I went there today and they didn't know they'd ever sold them, so that's out.

I've tried many of the fruit popsicles in the freezer case at Whole Foods, but they just aren't the same--I'm talking about the kind you can get from tiendas and paleterias in southern California and Mexico. "La Michoacana" looks like it's both a brand and a generic style, so I'm not necessarily looking for that specific brand--just that type. Bonus points for jamaica/hibiscus flavor.

Do any of the Mexican groceries in town carry these? I don't want to drive out to Yakima with a cooler to stock up for summer, but if I have to, I will.

Do locusts really taste like shrimp?

Ariadne — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:44:19 -0800

Are there any markets in Texas that sell edible insects? I'm looking for Mexican style markets, not a novelty item sold at Whole Foods or Central Market. I've only planned on visiting Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston but I might rent a car and drive a little farther for an interesting market.

Where can I get a set of loteria cards in Toronto?

greatgefilte — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:14:25 -0800

Where can I get a set of loteria cards in Toronto?

Illegal Immigrants in College

madmamasmith — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:04:22 -0800

Can anyone tell me the percentage of children of illegal immigrants who attend college? Specifically in Texas. We are arguing the HB 104 (in state tuition bill) in my government class and I need to know how many children of illegal immigrants who were not born in the US actually attend institutions of higher education....

I'm in Arlington (MA) and I need food and beer wicked bad!

Mayor Curley — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:32:35 -0800

Do you know Arlington, Massachusetts? I need some help finding the best stuff. So I moved to Arlington Heights a while ago and I'm having trouble adjusting to a few things. Most everything is fantastic, we love the neighborhood and the walkability, but we're having only fair luck with food.

We've got the pizza thing covered: a few people recommended Nicola Pizza and it's very good italian-style pizza, awesome salad dressing, and it's going to be walkable when the weather warms. Any other places worth checking out, keeping in mind that I don't tend to like Greek-style pizza?

The other places we've found in Arlington Heights/East Lexington that we're pleased with: Sala Thai for thai, Bollywood Cafe for Indian. Any places you prefer over those?

Here are the things I specifically need help with:

SUBS: We're really close to "I Chef" and my wife and I agreed that what we got was merely decent (mine was tasty but way too soggy). I got a sub from Rick's Place in East Lexington tonight and that was awful. Who's got the good subs?

MEXICAN: We're near Ixtapa in East Lexington. Man, is that bad. You have to reach to be a little worse than Alcapulco's, but they did it somehow. We're big fans of Sol Azteca in Newton. Do we have to suck it up and drive back there?

BEER: My quest to find the region's Best Packie is an Ask Metafilter work-in-progress. But where do I go very locally? I've been to Berman's in East Lexington (weak selection, overpriced), the Kappy's out at Fresh Pond (weaker selection), Busa's in East Lexington (don't get me started) and that really awful place on 2A near the Burlington Mall.

My local place in Newton (Upper Falls Discount Liquor) was reasonably priced with a decent selection. Did I just get lucky?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Fiction book(s) on Mexico or Mexican History to read with my grandma

barnone — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:09:55 -0800

What is your favorite book or DVD series about Mexico? Particularly historical fiction or contemporary fiction. Preferably in English, but if you have a great recommendation in Spanish, I'd take that too! My grandmother thanks you! My grandma is Mexican, and is the 3rd generation of British expats who ended up in Mexico through complicated travels and drama. She's a history buff but doesn't read much in the way of contemporary novels. She's getting on in age, so something in the form of short stories would probably help her concentrate, but I won't limit the responses to that (something like Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies but set in/around Mexico?) She has a great sense of humor, but isn't particularly sympathetic to the Zapatistas at the moment, to give you a sense of her politics.

I'd love love to find her a few books that use historical fiction to tell a great tale, or contemporary fiction that interweaves history into it (like Middlesex), immigrants into Mexico, the Mexican revolution, complicated family histories, or even Mexican immigration to the US or other parts. I saw the other thread on books about Mexican immigrants to the US, and I have a few other ideas there, but other than Sandra Cisneros' Caramelo, nothing totally jumped out at me. It's a little long for her, at 400 pages, I think.

A DVD series might be good too, but she's a little deaf so without subtitles it gets complicated.

I'd like to read these books with her, so we can talk about them over our Christmas holiday and beyond. I'll take as many recommendations as you can suggest - preferably with a few little lines of explanation rather than just the title so I can figure out how to proceed with the massive selection out there!

Really what she wants is more time with her family living all over the world, so I thought if I bought a bunch of copies of a few of these books, some of us could read them together and email our thoughts. She's better on email than the phone anyway, since she's so deaf. Thanks in advance.

But there are many, many Moles, including Green Mole with Tomatillos, Green Mole with Pumpkinseeds, Orange-Red Mole, Red Mole, Yellow Mole and the famous peasant Soup, Mole de Olla.

mek — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:14:27 -0800

How do I make a great mole (poblano)? I've found this website, and I have a great deal of general cooking experience, but I'm not particularly adept at mexican food. I am reasonably confident I can execute a recipe, but I live in the frigid north of Canada (Vancouver), so real mole is impossible to find, thus I am determined to make my own. Ingredient sourcing is not a problem, nor is time or effort required.

What I really want to know are specific tips and tricks, general recommendations for ingredients, serving recommendations, etc. What is best done ahead of time, what is best left to the last minute? Where can I substitute and what is completely non-negotiable? If you have experience making mole, please share your l33t infoz.