Friday, October 02, 2009

Food, Sex, Music, anything else?

No. That is THE short list of major worldly motivations. Everything else is a distraction. Now back in sunny, warm California, a certain State of Dreams. Mexican food comes to mind. It's everywhere and a favorite. All of it, anything of it, the flavors, textures, subtle and not so. A party, no, a fiesta for the taste buds. I dearly LOVE the stuff. I was simple at it in the beginning, tacos...folded, fried corn tortillas, tomato, ground beef, onion, a cheddar cheese. Simple, too simple actually.
Needs a kick...add some jalapenos minced or a big slice to each steaming folded beauty. More...braise skirt steak for 4-6 hours in typical flavors of cumin, marjoram, onion, garlic, cilanto leaves, lime, tomato. Then slice thinly and use it instead of the benign and boring ground beast. Chicken, grilled after marinating with olive oil, garlic, cilantro and cumin cut thinly as well or chunked or torn. Delicious! Not cheddar...not typical at all...monterey jack or questo, much better. Now we are getting somewhere. A dollop of mexican sour cream. Ohhhh. Fish...or Shrimp, yes, yes, yes! All good. Enchilladas, rolled tortillas, corn of course, around questo or chicken or pulled pork, beef, goat, whatever. A few leaves of cilantro, diced tomato, red onion coverred by a fresh tomotillo (green) sauce. My or my.
___

I make it all now after such a humble beginning. Sicilian, California, Mexican fusion. Fabulous food with all the ingredients available at Larry's Produce amidst the vines and olive groves outside of Fairfield. Wow, spoiled I am, no...RUINED! I always thought France was for Foodies...and certainly it is a popular thought, but dear friends...THIS is the Holy Grail of Food! The quality has improved oh so very much in the last 10-15 years with the growith of the Slow Food movement and the extensive list of local farmer's markets. We have food on our collective minds now and we are all better for it.