Curious and bizarre things we don’t know about Mexico!

When we hear the word Mexico, there are many things that pop in to our minds. Chilli is probably the first one we mention, followed by tequila, Margaritas, Mariachi,tacos and definitely Speedy Gonzalez.

Some people with a deeper cultural knowledge will  mention the Aztecs, teotihuacan, the Mole sauce and Chespirito. Anyhow, Mexico is a culture that has many hidden, bizarre and curious facts within its history, indigenous background, legendary heritage and amazing cuisine.

Here are some of the most  interesting fun facts about Mexico that we could find:

1.  The word “chocolate” originates in Mexico’s Aztec cuisine, derived from the Nahuatl word xocolatl.

2. The word Mexico means ” moon’s belly button”, from the  Náhuat ”Metztli” (luna/moon) and “xictli” (belly button).

3.  On November 2010 Mexican cuisine was added by UNESCO to its lists of the world’s “intangible cultural heritage”

4. Mexico is the country with the largest number of taxis: 60.000

5. Mexico city has the largest number of museums in the world.

6.Mexico has the world’s smallest volcano. The Cuexcomate, in the city of Puebla, is only… 43 feet tall!. It is considered to be inactive now, and it has a spiral staircase inside, just for tourists.

7. A Mexican tamale called the zacahuil is three feet long and weighs about 150 pounds.

8.  If you stand by the pyramid Chichen Itza you will hear a bird singing.

9.The name “tomato” derives its etymology from the sacred Aztec language

10. The caesar salad was first created by Caesar Cardini in Tijuana, Mexico

Hope you enjoyed it!

Pretty intereseting right?

Tamales in Los Amates!

Hola amigos! In Los Amates we made  TAMALES  by our 3 wonderful Mexican ladies: Susana Tovar, Lupita Rogel and Maria del Roble Castaneda, it is a wonderful experience watching them doing Tamales, from the first step of making the Pork broth to making the MASA PARA TAMALES, which is Susana’s job, then Lupita making the “Guisados” or “fillings” to put in each Tamal; this week they’ve “VERDES” which has Pork with Salsa verde; also “DE MOLE” which has Chicken with or now famous “Mole” sauce, also “DE RAJAS CON QUESO’ which has cooked strips of Poblano Chiles and Cheese. They are made individualy wrapped in banana leafs, normaly we would use Corn leafs but the ones from Australian corn are very thin, the Corn husks from Mexico are very wide and therefore easier to use. by the way, when you are refering to Tamales individualy, you call it TAMAL only, in the USA they say tamale, WRONG!! if you ask for one only say TAMAL and we will know what you mean. ok amigos we hope to see you soon!

El arroz con frijoles Poem by Ricardo Castrorrivas

¡Qué alianza tan hermosa!
¡Cerealera!
La del negro frijol
con el nevado
arroz,
que muestra ufano piel de cera,
contraste de un charol engalanado.

Fraternidad de moros y cristianos
en común religión alimentaria.
Abecé de condumios ciudadanos.
Alfabeto total del hambre agraria.

Límpida reunión de dos cereales
con distinto color y afín doctrina,
que al hermanar
sus dos sangres vitales

¡qué claro ejemplo dan a los humanos
cuando entonan a dúo en la cocina,
su Vegetal Canción de los Hermanos!

 

 

Why do we love Frijoles!

We love frijoles because:

1: There are part of a nutritional diet.

2.They are delicious

3. They come in different varieties: Black, red, green.

4. We can eat them with anything (enchiladas, carne asadas, tacos y quesadillas)

5. They’re high on fibre.

6. They remind me of my childhood

7. Not all Mexicans love frijoles.

8. My ancestors loved them.

Tell us why you love Frijoles! or if you haven’t even heard of them what are they?