Trying some new food in Mexico

When most people think about mexican food, they think "burritos" but real mexican food (not tex-mex) is diverse and almost every state has there own style of cooking. Don´t leave Mexico City without trying the following:

• Tacos al pastor

Perobably the best tacos you will eat are Tacos al pastor (shepard style). The started in Mexico city and are thought to have been a take on the kebab served by many lebanese in Mexico. The pork is marinated in spices and chilis and the tacos are served usually with onions, cilantro (coriander) pineapple, guacamole and lime on a small tortilla.

• Pozole

Pozole is a famous mexican stew or soup made from hominy and pork with various garnishes, very ppular in the state of Guerrero.

• Quesadillas

Everyone in Mexico eats Quesadillas wether for breakfast or a light evening snack. Tortillas are filled with chihuahua or oaxaca cheese, folded and cooked until melted and usually served with a spicey green salsa. A favourite especially with kids. My favourites come from a stand behind the sanborns on paseo de las palmas in Lomas de Chapultepec where many people go for a quick lunchtime snack.

• Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles are a poplur dish to eat at breakfast or at brunch. The crunchy tortilla squares are topped with spicey green salsa, refried breans,cheese, sour cream and often chicken.

• Huevos Rancheros

Mexican scrambled eggs including chili, pepper and tomato.

• Arrachera

You can find Arrachera houses and takeouts all over serving this marinated beef.

• Micheladas

This is a "prepared beer", popular in Mexico since the 1940s and comes in a few ways but most commonly is a mix of beer, tomato juice, chili, worchester sauce, lime and salt.

• Huaraches

Originating in Mexico city in the 1930s, Huarches take there name from the sandal shaped masa. Huaraches are a fried corn base with various topping which you can find all over the city.

• Tamales

A "tamal" is a mix of corn dough with a filling either sweet or savoury which is steamed in a corn husk. In Mexico city the "torta de tamal" is popular, which is a tamale of your choice in a fresh white bread bun and is filling enough as a small meal on the go or for breakfast. Many latin american countries have something typical to the tamale but it is estimated that over 1000 versions with various fillings are to be found in Mexico.
Mexican Tamales that you find in the USA are usually not very good and its hard to find places that make Tamales in Europe so don´t forget to try one whilst you are here.