Cooking
or culinary holidays, vacations, tours to Mexico:
MEXICO
.
. . food is probably the most important element of Mexican
culture
 Mexico
is a country of paradoxes. It produces more corn than
India, more beer than Australia, more steel than Sweden,
more glass than Austria and more oil than the United
Arab Emirates. It has more millionaires than Germany,
yet half its population is supported by traditional
low technology industry and agriculture!
With
nearly half of the country being over five thousand
feet above sea level its geography plays a major part
in its regional variations in weather. Most of the country
is exceptionally dry, particularly in the northern regions
and the Baja Peninsula. Southern Mexico and the Yucatan
Peninsula experience pronounced rainfall. As most of
Mexico lies south of the Tropic of Cancer it has two
weather seasons - rainy and dry. Generally, rainfall
and temperatures rise from June through October, leaving
November to May as the more temperate and drier season.
Mexico
remains a nation where the past plays a prominent role
in shaping the nation's present day development. Discovered
by the Spanish in 1519, Mexico was home to an estimated
ten million native inhabitants living in feudal but
highly disciplined and organised societies. These people
became the foundation upon which the Spanish conquerors
built their colonial empire. Even today, Mexico is rich
in ethnic diversity, with nearly fifteen million of
the population being pureblooded Native Americans, speaking
nearly fifty languages.
Mexican
culture is a fascinating blend of Native American traditions
and Spanish colonial influences. Long before the Spaniards
arrived in the Sixteenth century, the indigenous civilisations
of Mexico had developed arts such as ceramics, music,
poetry, sculpture and weaving. After the conquest, the
intricate designs and bright colors of many Native American
arts were often mixed with European techniques and religious
themes to create a hybrid and uniquely Mexican artistic
style.
Ancient
Mexico and Central America were home to some of the
earliest and most advanced civilisations in the western
hemisphere. With names such as Teotihuacans, Toltecs,
Mayans, Zapotec, Mixtec and Aztecs this country brings
to mind many of the world's famed early civilisation
and even today there are many historical sites which
bear testimony to the scale and achievements of these
ancient civilisations.
Food
is probably the most important element of Mexican culture.
This is a country which has given the world many of
its favourite dishes and ingredients such as salsas,
tortillas, tacos, Chile con Carne. Its cuisine is varied
and full of flavour with beans, chilis and flour made
from corn playing a big part in the Mexican style of
cooking. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico they liked
what they saw in the local food and added a few ingredients
of their own, such as domestic animals, sugar and cheese.
Mexican cuisine is further enhanced by an incredible
array of fruits and vegetables which seem to taste better
in Mexico than anywhere else . . . tomatoes, squash,
sweet potatoes, avocado, coconut, pineapple, papaya
and prickly pear cactus, to name just a few. Herbs and
spices like cinnamon, clove, anise and cumin are an
important part of the culinary flavours, whilst cilantro
(or coriander), thyme, marjoram and the pungent tasting
native herb known as epazote are also popular.
| : :
Cooking
in Mexico with On The Menu |
| With
On The Menu, you learn to cook sensational
food in spectacular locations. Their carefully
chosen venue is the heritage city of Oaxaca
in southern Mexico. Chefs Carlos and Sylvette,
both gastronomes and culinary writers, with
a vast knowledge of the culture of this country
share their culinary skills with you. |
|
|
|
| : :
Culinary
Tour of Mexico's Colonial Cities |
| Join
Jane Butel for exciting international culinary
adventures including trips to Oaxaca in Mexico,
Mexican Colonial Cities and Spain. Tour participants
delight in visits to local markets, culinary
classes and historic landmarks while being
immersed in the Mexican or Spanish culture.
Groups tour together while personally guided
by Jane Butel. |
|
|
| |
|
| : :
La
Villa Bonita School of Mexican Cuisine |
| Named
one of the five best culinary vacations worldwide
by The Food Network, La Villa Bonita is a
combination of hands-on instruction and informative
culinary and cultural field trips. Chef Ana
Garcia, your host and chief instructor, learned
Mexican cuisine from traditional family methods.
Her specialties are traditional central and
northern Mexican cuisine and experimental
nouvelle Mexican cuisine. |
|
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
