otlski
Gold Member
BBQ'd iguanaIt’s iguana
BBQ'd iguanaIt’s iguana
Not sure what you mean by "white bread America", but I'm in N.H., about as far as you can get from the Mexican border in the lower 48.If you live in 'White Bread' America, it can be difficult to find. You can order it, though. If it were me, I'd tell you to start with 'Complete Seasoning' from Badia. Good stuff.
Every Region of the US has its own culture, its own cuisine. Usually more than one.Not sure what you mean by "white bread America", but I'm in N.H., about as far as you can get from the Mexican border in the lower 48.
I'll take a look for the complete seasoning.
Good summary. But a bit of additional information regarding New Mexico. In our state, there is “Mexican Food” and “New Mexican food.” New Mexican food is heavily influenced by Native American foods and we use red or green “chile” not chili. In NM chile is the pepper, and chili is a bowl of stew. All NM dishes are usually smothered in either red or green chile sauce (or both - this is known as Christmas). There are a lot of dishes that are very different in Mexican and New Mexican cooking, and some are similar, but the sauces are different. Some of the Native American influences include fried breads and squashes that are a staple of NM cooking, along with corn. A bit of trivia: New Mexico chile was actually developed here by the NM state university college of agriculture in the early 1900s. It is a much larger pepper than most chiles found around the world and has a distinctive flavor. We consider it the gold standard for peppers and the university still holds patents for each pepper and new releases.Every Region of the US has its own culture, its own cuisine. Usually more than one.
Middle America is Meat and Potatoes. If you don't want meat and potatoes, you can have meat and potatoes. And Green Beans.
I live in SW Florida, which has a lot of different cultures and cuisines. But not much in the way of Jewish food or ethnic Polish or German food (especially miss their Deli's) but a lot of Latin and Caribbean foods. Sweet, fried plantains are new to me and I like them. Seafood is a way of life down here. Love it.
As much as I dislike NYC (and trust me, I do. I really do) they have the best food in the world. Or, at least, they did at one time.
I have dear friends that live in Michigan and they don't even know what Sea Food is. Well, not really, but they never eat it. And you take your life in your hands if you order it at a Restaurant up there. Meat and Potatoes. And Green Beans.
They're (the whole area) is just now starting to discover Latin/Mexican food. Thankfully. And they're pretty good at it. I wanted to make some chili when I was up there so I went looking for my starter base of Rotel Chilis and Tomatoes. Couldn't find it. Anywhere.
Some friends of ours came in from New Mexico and, I guess according to them, they use a lot of chili powder in their Mexican cooking out there. Around here, that could get you shot. We use the peppers, grind the oregano, add in the paprika ourselves, etc. It doesn't hurt that we grow most of the Country's hot peppers near Tampa, so..... Everybody everywhere thinks they're the best grillers and smokers on the Planet (they're not, we are ) so I won't even go there.
Every place is different. I grew up in "White Bread' America. So did my Wife. So I'm basically just snarking. No harm intended.
Lived in Albuquerque in the late 1950's and really enjoyed the food. I think the Chile Rellenos (sp?) were my favorite. I think the food is the thing I miss most about NM, but did stumble on to a great Mexican restaurant called Enriques...it's at the airport in Ponca City. I'm told that there are private pilots from all over the SW that stop just to eat there.Good summary. But a bit of additional information regarding New Mexico. In our state, there is “Mexican Food” and “New Mexican food.” New Mexican food is heavily influenced by Native American foods and we use red or green “chile” not chili. In NM chile is the pepper, and chili is a bowl of stew. All NM dishes are usually smothered in either red or green chile sauce (or both - this is known as Christmas). There are a lot of dishes that are very different in Mexican and New Mexican cooking, and some are similar, but the sauces are different. Some of the Native American influences include fried breads and squashes that are a staple of NM cooking, along with corn. A bit of trivia: New Mexico chile was actually developed here by the NM state university college of agriculture in the early 1900s. It is a much larger pepper than most chiles found around the world and has a distinctive flavor. We consider it the gold standard for peppers and the university still holds patents for each pepper and new releases.