food

Here's the Tastiest Way to Experience Hispanic Heritage Month

Here's the Tastiest Way to Experience Hispanic Heritage Month

Wines of Mexico at Central Market

DAYDREAMING ABOUT EXOTIC south-of-the border flavors? This month, the crème de la crème of supermarkets, Central Market, honors Hispanic food and heritage with its “Really into Comida” series, including global products and guest chefs, through Oct. 11.

First, the shopping: Expect a diverse collection of top-rated Hispanic-owned brands and products from around the world — everything from wines and cheeses to gourmet chorizos, salsas and sweets.

Since 1975, the Flores family has produced its famous Chorizo de San Manuel in the Rio Grande Valley, which is still family-owned and run by Luis Flores III in Edinburg, Texas. Find multiple varieties to experiment with, including pork chorizo, beef chorizo and chicken chorizo.

For something cool and refreshing, La Newyorkina paleta and ice cream brand makes everything from scratch in small batches using only the best ingredients like Mexican vanilla and Oaxacan chocolate. Or pick up Mexican wedding cookies (Polvorones de Canela): buttery, shortbread like cookies with crushed toasted pecans, spiced with cinnamon, and rolled in powdered sugar.

It's easy to cook octopus at home if you use tenderized octopus from Spain, which has been tumble tenderized in the U.S. using purified salt water. This delicacy has been featured by world-renowned chefs, including on the hit TV series Chopped. After boiling, the octopus is great seasoned with olive oil, sea salt and parsley, and finished on the grill.

A little wine with that? Monte Xanic sauvignon blanc Vina Kristel 2021, produced by Mexico’s first boutique winery, is crafted with old estate grapes harvested by hand from the single vineyard Kristel. These vines average 50 years in age and deliver the most flavorful grapes of the Valle de Guadalupe terroir. Anticipate expressive notes of zesty citrus fruits such as grapefruit, Key lime and Meyer lemon, complemented by ripe tropical fruit. Ideal for seafood, fresh salads, grilled chicken, seafood and oysters.

Chef Evelyn Garcia hosts a virtual cooking class in October.

Central Market chorizo

Central Market bakery's alfajores


Now for a cooking lesson or two. In its Virtual Cooking School Series, guests will learn how to make fabulous meals while gleaning new techniques and hearing stories from experts in Hispanic cuisine. Cooking kits are ready for pickup, or attendees can opt for virtual-only tickets, which come with a shopping list sent prior to class.

Chef Adán Medrano, food writer, cookbook author and award-winning filmmaker, specializes in indigenous foods of Texas and the Americas. His online class will be held Sept. 19, 6-7:30pm. The menu includes Agua de Jamaica, albondigas (chile ancho meatballs), cilantro rice and greens beans

On Oct. 6, 6-7:30pm, Evelyn Garcia — Houston native, CIA graduate and Top Chef finalist — is on the virtual deck. Learn how to make chorizo and cheese papusas, herbed curtido (Salvadorian spicy slaw) and salsa de tomate. Find all the class details here. Salud!

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Food
promoted

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less