mexican cookbook

Brined Chicken with Pumpkin Mole

Brined Chicken with Pumpkin Mole

Brined Chicken with Pumpkin Mole excerpted from Convivir: Modern Mexican Cuisine in California’s Wine Country by Rogelio Garcia with Andréa Lawson Gray. Photography by John Troxell.

Convivir: Modern Mexican Cuisine in California's Wine Country by Rogelio Garcia and Andréa Lawson Gray

From Michelin-starred chef Rogelio Garcia, a collection of over 150 recipes for vibrant, contemporary Mexican food from the heart of California’s wine country

Convivir, which means “to live together,” celebrates the flavourful interweaving of traditional Mexican cuisine with the agricultural and artisanal abundance of California’s Napa Valley.

Born in Mexico and raised in Northern California, Chef Garcia takes inspiration from the local farms, ranches, and sustainable fisheries, and showcases his gastronomical heritage with more than 150 delectable recipes.

Including techniques for making homemade tortillas and tamales, Convivir celebrates a modern take on traditional dishes such as tacos, tostadas, sopes, huaraches, tlacoyos, and tetelas, and features deliciously original recipes like:

• Sopes with Sonoma Artichokes Three Ways
• Pork Rib Carnitas and Carrot Tamales with Spicy Carrot Salsa
• Wild Mushroom Tacos with Al Pastor Sauce
• Prawn Ceviche with Choclo, Garnet Yams, and Pears
• Huevos Motuleños with Smoked Duck and Mushrooms a la Cazuelita
• Agridulce Chicken Wings with Verde Goddess Dressing
• Lavender Custard Pie with Masa Sucrée Crust

(more…)

Cookbook Review: Taqueria 

Taqueria is an homage to the best of Mexican cuisine. Across four chapters (Flavour Fiestas; Salsas, Salads & Vegetables, Taqueria and Margaritas & More), it is a crash course in cooking the food of Latin America right. Its emphasis is on taking the building blocks and showing people that, with quality ingredients, attitude and a little application, they can create an authentic, standout feast.

In total, it includes more than 80 recipes, ranging from corn, prawn and bacon tortillas to homemade chorizo and sweet potato quesadillas. As well, the salsas, salads & vegetables chapter recognizes the ever-growing appreciation for plant-based dishes with a 20-plus recipe line-up of envelope-pushing vegetarian dishes (as well as a nod to the near universal love of guacamole in its myriad iterations).

(more…)