Foodie 101 Series: Mexican Takeout
Sunny days call for tacos with fresh salsa and guacamole. And if we can’t jet off to a Mexican beach, why not bring a taste of the holidays to your home?
When you think of Mexican food, a few staples may come to mind: corn tortillas, beans, avocados, tomatoes and chili peppers. Plus, so much more. Their dishes are fresh, hearty and full of flavour.
Esteban Cuevas, operations manager and executive chef of Mercado Mexican Market & Taqueria in Coquitlam, gives the Foodie 101 on Mexican food.
Interesting Facts about Mexican Food
Mexican food is steeped in history and tradition, with recipes passed down through generations. Some traditions date back to the pre-Hispanic era, with dishes such as tortillas or pozole found in the old civilization from 700 years ago.
“I find that a key element that describes Mexican food is in its dried chilis,” says Cuevas. “You can find marinades and sauces that are truly unique in Mexican food thanks to these peppers.”
Mercado, which is a sister company to Port Moody’s Originals, produces authentic cuisine focusing on fresh ingredients.
“We use traditional techniques mixed with new cooking equipment. Adobo, fresh salsas and traditional barbacoa are some examples of traditional Mexican cooking that customers can try.”
Top 3 Dishes
Here are three dishes to try, as recommended by Cuevas.
1. Tacos
Fresh homemade corn tortillas topped with your choice of protein or vegetables, including steak, chicken, pork in adobo, pork in pineapple adobo or slow cooked pork (carnitas).
2. Burritos
A simple yet fulfilling option. This is a flour tortilla filled with rice, black beans, cheese, your choice of protein or vegetarian, topped with lettuce, crema and fresh pico de gallo.
3. A bit of everything
No Mexican meal would be complete without a side of guacamole or pico de gallo (a chunky type of salsa, freshly chopped). Can’t decide on what to order? At Mercado, Pa Que Ten Taques (family pack) is a popular option, consisting of 1 kg of protein, rice, beans, salsas, limes and tortillas.
How and Where to order Mexican
Most Coquitlam Mexican restaurants are offering takeout and/or delivery. If you choose Mercado, you can order online for takeout, with for delivery through mobile ordering apps such as Uber Eats. Mercado also offers catering services for businesses or private parties.
For other takeout, dine-in and patio options, check out our growing list of restaurants.