Latin fmerican Culinafy Identitg in West Tampa


 (Continued from page 2) their examined.
 Award winning chef and Find Mexico on Armenia
author Steven Raichlen Avenue, & Central America
makes the claim in his book, Occupies MLK
Healthy Latin Cooking, that The only country in North
"all Latin American countries America considered an unde-
also make extensive use of the niable and distinct member of
four primary foods of the New Latin America is Mexico. Its
World: com, beans, squash signature dishes are consid-
and chiless" ered by many Americans to be
 Danny Hernandez, owner the embodiment of Latin cui-
of one of West Tampa's pio- sine salsas, tamales, enchi-
neering Cuban eateries, Pipo's ladas, empanadas and the list
Caf on N. Armenia Ave., ex- goes on.
pressed admiration for the Yet Mexico's culinary iden-
art of Latin American cuisine, tity is unique in a way all its i
saying, "It's funny, because own, due primarily to the
I think Latin America is the substantial indigenous in- "-
only culture to have taken fluence felt throughout its ;
what is effectively peasant's cuisine. Indeed, 'many of the
food you know, cheap pro- dishes prominently featured
visions like rice and beans on a modern Mexican menu
and turn that into viable and are the direct descendants of The des,
popular cuisine." Meso-America's Mayan and without
 Apart from a few key, simi- Aztec cultures, arguably two freshly c
lar ingredients, however, inte-" of the most advanced ancient
gration amongst'different Lat- civilizations to ever walk the It is the
in American regions has been earth. They tamed southern of Mexico
limited and remains contained Mexico and northem Central responsible<
by its three chief
provinces: Mexico ... /]hexi&o'6 U 6& o +te 16 -kik ( o 4 3i el (0, 1i Me6'
and Central Ameri-
ca, Northern South T<i.fnI0 <M[I e 114 c, C6 [t6N it 4 UM 0W4.
America and the
Spanish Caribbean. These are America long before Spanish varied in i
lenses through which Latin conquistadors sailed the seas is prevaler
American cuisine will be fur- in search of gold. can menus


sert bar at Don Pancho Villa is full- of Mexican favorites that are sweet
being too filling. There are small cakes, puddings, dessert empanadas and
ut fruit.


e indigenous tribes
who are actually
e for a number of
Latin American
dishes that are en-
joyed on a regular
basis today. Mol,
a brown sauce as
ts ingredients as it
it on Latin Ameri-
s, is one example of


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traditional indigenous fare, as
well as guacamole, tamales,
tortillas and the ever-present
salsa.
 While salsa is touted here
in the United States, as a
Latin American staple, most
Americans are unaware that
salsa, as they perceive it, is
unique to Mexico. Red-based
salsa, which can vary from
the choppy and onion-heavy
pico de gallo to something
as sweet and pured as the
bottled miscellany sold in lo-
cal grocery stores, is found
almost exclusively in Mexico.
While other Latin American
countries produce their own
model, these variants hardly
resemble the stuff Americans
are used to.
 "Costa Rica's encurtido
(pickled onion relish...) is sort
of a salsa," says Raichlen. "So
is Puerto Rico's aji-li-mojili
(cilantro pepper and 'pesto'),


as is Guatamala's chirmol (to-
mato salsa) and Chile's pebre
(parsley garlic 'pesto')."
 Although the invention of
salsa has managed to trick-
le down and find its place
throughout Latin American
cuisine, Mexico's use of the
highly flavorful yet at times
terrifying chili pepper is in a
class all its own.
 "For Mexico," says Ra-
ichlen, "Ichili peppers] are the
very lifeblood of the cuisine."
 As well, Dothe Tejo, man-
ager of Don Pancho Villa, one
of West Tampa's premier Mex-
ican eateries located at 4008
N. Armenia Ave., acknowledg-
es the distinctive use of chilies
in his restaurant's cuisine.
 "Mexican food is so spicy,"
Tejo said. "That's why people
like it. It's why they come
here."
 Even Mexican rice, with its
 (Continued on page 4)


1915 West a mpa looking South on Howard Ave.


 Heritage Bank


WEST TAMPA OFPICE






 Serving Hillsborough & Pasco Counties


 Lutz/ Land O'Lakes
 23000 State Road 54
 Lutz, FL 33549
 (813) 909-8663

www.heritagebankfl.com


 West Tampa
3015 W. Columbus Dr.
 Tamp', FL 33607
 (813) 873-8663


 Wesley Chapel
 28909 State Road 54
\Vesley Chapel. FL 33543
 (813) 907-3256


Se habla Espaol


Member
FDIC


LA GACETA/Friday, May 8, 2009/Page 3 Section B


LENDER


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