A bit of Mexico

August 10th, 2008

We were recently contacted by the lovely Karina Gonzalez, a Mexican living in Swansea, who wanted to tell us about her view on food:

I was born in Mexico City and I decided to come to study in Swansea for two reasons, the first one is because my boyfriend is Welsh and when I came to meet his family I fell in love with Swansea because it is a place full of natural beauty and full of multiculturalism and contemporary restaurants. As you may know Mexican food is extremely popular all around the world and one of the reasons why is because of its original delicious flavours and textures that identify it.

Mexican food comes from the fusion of traditional indigenous food such as corn which is a vital ingredient in Mexican cuisine, together with beans and chillies and with the arrival of the Spaniards to the New World, rice, citrus fruits and exotic spices from Asia were introduced and incorporated into the diet and cuisine of the people living in Mexico giving birth to what is known today as Mexican food.

Every region in Mexico has contributed to shape the Mexican culinary world since each province has its own signature dish and the same dish can be prepared with more or less ingredients and can be more vibrant in different regions of Mexico. For example in the north of Mexico we can find cabrito which is goat meat and it is very popular in that part of Mexico, you can make some tacos with it together with guacamole or a salsa it is absolutely delicious. In the northwest in the Jalisco region pozole is found which is found all over Mexico but the one in this region is very popular and delicious. Pozole is basically big white corn grains and you can mix it with chicken, pork or if you feel adventurous beef or lamb, then you add lettuce, raddish, red chilli power, lettuce, onion, lime and oregano and you have a side order with it of tostadas, sour cream and fresh cheese, all of this is optional but missing one of these ingredients is not a very good idea since you miss part of the experience of trying this delicious dish. This dish is eaten especially in independence day’s eve .It is a tradition since you can do pozole verde, pozole blanco and pozole rojo which are the colours of the Mexican flag green, white and red pozole , but you can also eat whatever else you want in that Mexican holiday.

In the centre of Mexico mole poblano is just a delicacy. Mole is a mixture of chocolate with pasilla , ancho and mulato chillies with some nuts, sesame seeds, pepper, cinnamon and so forth, any way it is a complex blend and this blend is the best example of the fusion of traditional indigenous with the ingredients that the Spanish people brought to Mexico. This dish is eaten with turkey or chicken mainly and it is served with red rice, it could be a rather sophisticated dish nowadays and eaten in special occasions. Finally In the south of Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula (near Cancun) you can find pollo pibil and other traditional Mayan dishes that are full flavours and eating them is a very pleasurable experience. Pollo pibil or Pibil style chicken is made by a paste called achiote , orange juice, orange zest, vinagre,cinnamon, black pepper and wrapped in banana leafs this dish make fantastic tacos and you can prepare it with pork as well along with an onion , orange and habanero peppers salad as a side order .

In Mexican diet tortillas, especially corn tortillas are really important and corn in general. Corn makes more than half of our dishes. I could tell you about so many other Mexican dishes but I would never finish. I absolutely love Mexican food and at the beginning when I arrived to Swansea I thought that I was going to have a really hard time with the food since I thought food here was tasteless and mild, but I had a great surprise going around the shops to find ingredients to prepare my Mexican meals and also going around the restaurants, since there is a very wide range of shops and restaurants where you can find whatever foods you like.

Shops like Exotica and other Asian shops sell very similar products to what I look for when I want to cook my Mexican meals. I love all the restaurants in Swansea and I am very adventurous talking about food, I enjoy trying new dishes and flavours. Asian restaurants, especially Indian restaurants are fantastic since their food is very similar in favours and textures plus we cook with sauces made from the combination of different spices and chillies. I love as well the Spanish restaurants in Swansea and I think they are great with great food. What I like as well is Swansea market, I enjoy to go shopping over there, their fish shops, butchers, fruit and veg shops are really good and fresh and when I cook I always look for fresh and organic ingredients.

Mexican food is absolutely amazing and full of history but it is very sad that hybrids such as Tex-Mex food have been mistaken with Mexican food especially in Europe. Chilli con carne is often associated with Mexican gastronomy but the truth is that it is mainly an American dish with Mexican influences not Mexican. I definitely think that with the food of a country you can learn about its history since it has been transmitted from generation to generation and it will always be.

I love food so much, it is definitely one of my weaknesses and I am always looking forward to try new flavours. Since I came to Swansea have had a great time tasting new foods plus my boyfriend has taught me so much about the Welsh culinary traditions and I think welsh food is fantastic, full of quality and flavour. I like very much Welsh cheese, lamb, conserve, honey, cookies and Welsh organic fresh milk.

Karina Gonzalez

Thanks Karina!

Smuggler’s Haunt, Port Eynon

August 10th, 2008

We’ve just received this letter from a visitor from London:

Dear Food Passion

We’d like to suggest that you include more information about Smugglers Haunt restaurant in Port Eynon.  A young team, the head chef previously at Fairy Hill in Reynoldston, and on our visit, really showing Welsh produce at its best.  We enjoyed Gower Sewin, lots of fresh Gower vegetables (peas, beetroot, potatoes, spinach), Welsh Salt Marsh lamb with salsa verde and perfect Welsh Black Beef with oxtail ragout.  Pan fried prawns with fresh gower peas and prawn bisque was another highlight.  For dessert, a lavender crème brulee was light and scented.  The wine list is fairly priced, notably a 2005 Givry, but there was plenty well under £20.  The service was also a highlight – friendly, informed and generous.

We were sorry to see so few people eating at Smugglers Haunt, given the quality of the food and wanted to do our bit to publicise it.  Certainly for anyone in the vicinity of Port Eynon, it would be a wonderful choice.  Our only quibble would be the quality of the cheese – we think there are some much finer examples of Welsh cheese than the ones they serve – but cheese is hard to get right unless you’re busy.  Overall, a lovely restaurant, trying hard and deserves to succeed.

Lynne

Glamorgan Pub Offer

June 10th, 2008

The Glamorgan pub, well known for its great selection of spirits and liqueurs, and a wide range of classic and contemporary cocktails, is launching their summer cocktail menu this Thursday June 12th, and what better way to compliment their great cocktails than with one of their tasty pizzas.

Quote the reference Food Passion, to get a great deal on your first round, buy a cocktail and get a free shooter or buy 2 cocktails and get upgraded to a 2 pint pitcher.”

Food Passion photography - weddings and food

May 28th, 2008

Combining the editor’s two passions, we’ve been picking up some really good commissions lately taking pictures of food at places such as the Dylan Thomas Centre restaurant and  The Brecon Mountain Centre to name a couple, as well as venturing further afield taking some wedding photography. You can check some of the images on www.tonykluge.co.uk!

Food Passion Blog features in BBC Olive Magazine

May 17th, 2008

The trendy BBC Olive magazine has featured food bloggers from around the UK, and chosen me and the FP blog as the Wales blogger. After an interview and a very enjoyable photo shoot, I recently picked up the June edition of the magazine and was over the moon with the result ( I normally can’t stand pictures of myself, but this photographer did a great job -so much so that I had a full page shot!)
Anyway, you’re probably not interested in seeing pictures of me, but you might want to read about one of my favourite restaurants throughout South Wales - The Cors in Laugharne. This is one man’s dream come to life - owner Nick puts his passion into the buidling, gardens, and food like nowhere I’ve ever been. Get yourself a copy of the June magazine (strangely out usually until the end of May) to read the lowdown on this little treasure of a place (and to check my ugly mug!)

Llangennith Local Produce Market - spuds, apples, herbs and spices

May 17th, 2008

New on the Llangennith Local Produce Market  - June 28th

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Special events this month are a Welsh cider tasting with Toloja cider (based in Lampeter) and a Gower potato festival celebrating Gower potatoes.

Also featuring are Stuart’s breads, The Olive bar and a new stall selling herbs and spices called Spicethyme set up by a 12yr old boy called Tom, who has had a lot of national press!

Food Passion Online Voucher Scheme Launched

May 17th, 2008

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Lots of you will have read about the online voucher scheme with Food Passion through the new 2008 magazine. Well, its now up and running -just check the Food Passion Homepage.

The homepage is chocca full of offers, and they couldn’t be easier to take advantage of. No membership cards, no vouchers to print - just quote ‘Food Passion offer’ for the relevant business and you’ll receive your discount, free food or drink or whatever the corresponding offer is. For restaurants, we advise mentioning the offer on arrival or booking. There’s Butchers, Cafes and Restaurants on there - its a great way to get the best food in Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower for less!

Banyan Tree Deli a local food hero!

May 17th, 2008

This great little deli in bohemian Bryn y Mor Rd just outside the Swansea city centre is a must stop for any real foodie. Owner Vicki simply loves her food and her experiences from around the world play an obvious theme in her approach to food. And as you would expect from a business owner who set things up as a result of their passion in life, she’s great to have a natter with about her favourite topic - delicious foods.

UKTV food obviously think the same, as they have nominated her as a local food hero for the thrid year running. You can see what other foodies have to say about the place by clicking here on this link.

You can also leave your own comments, but either way I’d get down there and check the place out. You can get all kinds of goodies, and even homemade ready meals that are healthy, delicious, and perfect for those times when you just don’t want to cook. You can read more about The Banyan Tree on the main Food Passion site.

Another chance for any foodies to get on TV - this time with Raymond Blanc in ‘The Restaurant’! with the BBC

February 6th, 2008

Do you dream of running your very own restaurant?
Raymond Blanc is once again on the lookout for a couple to join him in opening and running a restaurant.

Couples will be chosen to compete for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the second series of BBC2’s The Restaurant.

If you are a married couple, in a relationship, members of a family, good friends or work colleagues and share a dream of running your own restaurant – even if you don’t think you have the right experience – we’d love you to apply. Applications available from www.bbc.co.uk/restaurant

Host and Hostess needed for ITV series - ‘Be our Guest’

February 5th, 2008

You read it first on Food Passion - if you think you have what it takes to host the perfect dinner party - read on!

ITV are looking for new contestants in the Swansea area to take part in the new, daytime series, ‘Be Our Guest’. We are looking for couples to entertain together. They could be married, related, workmates, friends, or any other combination!

Over five days, each couple will take turns to host the perfect dinner party for their guests. The winning hosts will then go through to a finals round, and will have the opportunity to win a prize and the title of ‘Britain’s Best Host’.

We will soon be filming in your area and are looking for people with a passion for good food or who like entertaining to take part in the show.

If anyone springs to mind (even yourself!) then please do not hesitate to get in touch either by phone on 0207 261 3903 or by email. It would also be much appreciated if you could spread the word amongst your family, friends and colleagues - please feel free to forward on this email – in case any of them may like to participate.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give us and please do not hesitate to get in contact if you have any further queries.

Sam Forsdike