This interview is an accompaniment to our article on all the different ways to say ‘lunch‘ in Spanish; make sure to check it out if you haven’t already!
Stay put if you wanna learn all about Mexican food culture and learn some Spanish in the process 😉
Entrevista con el chef y enólogo David Solórzano, creador de @mexicoamordidas y co-creador de @exquisitasletras
¿Qué representa “la comida” en México?
La comida en México representa familia, legado, tradición e identidad. No solo como país si no como localidad, pensando en que cada familia tiene sus secretos culinarios. La comida es cultura en un PLATILLO. Puedes saber de dónde viene alguien o cómo la está pasando.
¿Cuándo y dónde se come?
En México se come todo el tiempo y donde sea, jaja. Dónde de hambre y cuando de hambre. La regla es: en la mesa 3 veces al día…pero la vida cotidiana lo impide por obligaciones laborales, es por eso existen tantos PUESTOS DE COMIDA callejera que abren a diferentes horas del día.
¿Qué es lo que normalmente se come?
Tacos, TAMALES, comida de la calle. Cuando se trata de familias, está la clásica comida de FONDA: sopa, GUISADO, ensalada y postre, acompañada de AGUA DE SABOR o refresco. La clase alta, por su parte, gasta millones en restaurantes.
Tú viviste en Suiza y has viajado a otros lugares; ¿qué hace diferente a la comida mexicana?
Hay muchísimas diferencias. Los horarios, la rutina y el ritual de la mesa es bien distinto, sobre todo la cantidad de condimentos que usamos. En otros países ECHAN MENOS RELAJO cuando comen fuera de casa. Además, la sobremesa es mágica en México.
¿Qué es la sobremesa?
La sobremesa es cuando, una vez que todos acaban de comer, se quedan sentados y platican de lo que sea. México es el rey de la plática. Hay veces en que la sobremesa supera por mucho en tiempo a la comida misma.
¿Qué es un refrigerio/lunch en México?
Cualquier cosa que quepa en la bolsa, que podamos comer en 10 minutos, o un alimento que llega fuera de horario convencional (mañana, mediodía, tarde-noche), y normalmente consiste de fruta, sándwiches, PAN DULCE, barrita, BOTANAS, o sobras de comida.
¿Qué es una fonda?
UNA FONDA es un lugar que abre solamente para atender a la hora de la comida. Es literal como si alguien abriera su casa a sus clientes y les cocinara lo mismo que comen de forma cotidiana. De hecho, muchas fondas se abren en terrazas o habitaciones de casas.
En el menú siempre hay 2 sopas, 3 platos fuertes (o GUISADOS), ensalada, pasta o arroz y un postre…que normalmente es muy chiquito, jaja. Se sirve AGUA DE SABOR, ¡y listo! Es para la gente que trabaja y no tiene tiempo de volver a casa. Por lo general son menús muy económicos.
¿Crees que “la comida” es importante en México?
La hora de la comida en México sí es la más importante de todas, ya que hay gente que no desayuna y hay otras que apenas y cenan algo…pero nadie se salta la del medio día/tarde.
En términos de importancia podría decirse que el desayuno y la comida tienen mucha importancia cotidiana, mientras que las cenas son más para ocasiones especiales o festejos…¡o personas que comen mucho, como yo!
Interview with chef and wine expert David Solórzano, creator of @mexicoamordidas and co-creator of @exquisitasletras
What does “food” represent in Mexico?
Food in Mexico represents family, legacy, tradition, and identity. Not only on a national level but also within local communities, because every family has its culinary secrets. Food is culture on a plate. You can tell where someone is from or how they’re doing [from the food they eat!].
When and where do you eat?
In Mexico, people eat all the time and literally everywhere, haha. When and where hunger strikes. The rule is that we’re supposed to eat at a table three times a day … but everyday life normally gets in the way, which is why there are so many street food stalls that open at different times of the day.
What’s usually eaten?
Tacos, tamales, street food. In the context of family dining, there’s the classic home-style meal: soup, stew, salad, and dessert, accompanied by flavored water or soda. The upper class, on the other hand, spends millions on eating out.
You lived in Switzerland and have traveled to other places. What makes Mexican food different?
There are loads of differences. The time [at which food is eaten], the routine, and the “table rituals” are quite different, especially the amount of seasonings used. I’d also say that in other countries people are more chilled when eating out.
Also, the after-meal conversation (the “sobremesa”) is magical in Mexico.
What is the “sobremesa”?
The “sobremesa” is when, once everyone’s done eating, they remain at the table and engage in some good old-fashioned chit-chat. Mexico is the king of conversation. There are times when the after-meal conversation far exceeds the time spent eating the meal itself.
What is a snack lunch in Mexico?
Anything that fits in the bag and can be eaten in 10 minutes, or food that’s eaten outside of the “conventional” hours (i.e., morning, noon, or evening); it normally consists of fruit, sandwiches, “pan dulce”, snack bars, snacks, or leftovers (from the day before!).
What’s a “fonda”?
A “fonda” is a place that only opens for lunch. It’s literally as if someone opened their home to customers and cooked for them as they would their own family. Many “fondas” are set up on terraces or in houses.
The menu always includes a choice of 2 soups, 3 main courses (or “guisados”), salad, pasta or rice, and a dessert … which is usually very small, haha. Flavored water is served, and that’s it! They’re mainly for people who work and don’t have time to go home and cook. Generally, they’re very affordable.
Do you think “la comida” (i.e., lunch) is an important meal in Mexico?
Lunch in Mexico is the most important meal of the day, as some people skip breakfast, and others barely eat dinner … but nobody skips the midday/afternoon meal. In terms of importance, I’d say that breakfast and lunch are the essential “everyday” meals, while dinners are more for special occasions or celebrations … or for people who eat a lot, like me!
Glossary of useful words/expressions
platillo
This is the diminutive form of ‘plato‘ or ‘plate‘. Diminutives are a hallmark of Mexican Spanish, so are bound to make you sound more native!
puesto de comida
A ‘puesto de comida‘ is basically just a street food stall … yummy!
tamale
A ‘tamale‘ is a traditional Mexican food that is made from ‘masa‘ (a special dough derived from corn) and is usually filled with yummy “stews” (‘guisados‘), such as chicken in green sauce (‘pollo en salsa verde‘), poblano peppers (‘rajas‘), mole (a SUPER traditional Mexican sauce!) fruit, or beans.
echar relajo
‘Echar relajo‘ literally translates to ‘mess around‘ or ‘joke around‘, and it’s often used to describe situations in which people are having fun, teasing each other, or engaging in light, informal conversation.
pan dulce
Literally ‘sweet bread‘, ‘pan dulce‘ refers to a variety of sweet pastries and baked goods that are popular in Mexico and much of Latin American. ‘Pan dulce‘ comes in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and flavors, and is often enjoyed as a breakfast treat, snack, or dessert.
botana
A ‘botana‘ is a snack or appetizer in Mexico; it can describe anything from a packet of chips from the local OXXO to a plate of olives and cheese!
fonda
In Mexico, a ‘fonda‘ is a type of small, family-owned restaurant or eatery that typically serves home-cooked, traditional Mexican food.
guisados
‘Guisados‘ are delicious meat or vegetable stews; they’re a culinary staple in much of Mexico and are normally served with rice, tortillas, or other accompaniments.
agua de sabor
‘Agua de sabor‘ (literally, ‘flavored water‘) is a type of beverage made by infusing water with various natural flavors, often derived from fruits, herbs, or flowers. The result is a refreshing and lightly sweetened drink that’s SUPER popular all over Mexico.