REPLAY: Too Good Not to Miss
Eva Longoria’s recently concluded multi-part travelogue/food CNN series, Searching
for Mexico, introduced millions of viewers who think Mexican cuisine is just beans,
tortillas and the ubiquitous taco, to the spiral galaxy diversity of regional Mexican
delicacies, flavors, and traditions which consist of pre-Columbian indigenous, Spanish
and other European influences and then magically transformed into something distinctly
“Mexican.”
Those of us of Mexican heritage belong to a marvelous hybrid group of people unlike
any other on the planet. In many ways, the iconic Mexican mole is emblematic of
Mexicans and our beautiful culture.
Mole is made from a myriad of varying ingredients (indigenous and imported) that come
together to form a unique, singularly delicious new creation. Similarly, Mexico over the
centuries has welcomed, absorbed, and adapted DNA “ingredients” from people from
Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The people of Mexico have taken these many
different ingredients from all these cultures, blended them into the greater Mexican
cultural tapestry into a singularly unique, proud Mexican identity, and blessed our tables
with the greatest world-class cuisine.
Eva Longoria’s Searching for Mexico went a long way to open hearts, minds and
palates to that delicious cultural revelation.