Alberta has become home to increasing populations of people from Latin America. The Latinos have brought a rich cultural tradition of music, dance, food, and much more that has added a little spice and colour to the province’s rich cultural fabric. Calgary’s Latino community has celebrated that rich heritage since 1995 with the popular Expo [...]

SWAT and police officers surround the Amigo Food Market after it was robbed at gunpoint on Wednesday morning.

Click Here for the full article

Only a few weeks ago, this place used to be a taco stand. When I noticed this new sign above I knew I was gonna have to visit very soon: any place that makes an accurate reference to Mexico City has to have some sort of legitimate connections to the place. And of course, it turned out the food was very much in keeping with the D.F. spirit; tasty, unique, and fresh. This place really just shows the difference between Mex-American food (the stuff that has been known as Mexican Food for way too long) and Mexican food, that fresh but simple fare that actually tastes like food. It turns out this is the 4th of a few restaurants based mostly in the San Fernando Valley, and though I expected this place to suffer from the usual expansion woes, it seems they have hit the ground running.

But how were the Huevos Rancheros?

Unique and totally satisfying! Notice how they put each egg on a separate tortilla, like it’s supposed to be done! Plus, these were fried tortillas, and I could actually lift the whole thing like a tostada to take my big bite. This is how I know HR’s, this represents the form that I consider authentic: if you can eat them with your hand, yer likely at the right place. Considering they gave me flimsy plastic forks that couldn’t cut thru the tortilla, I’m glad I could use my hands. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it somewhere before but I am a fan of hand-to-mouth eating, the tactile intricacies and pleasures of this common food delivery system cannot be reproduced by a knife and fork. I’m aware of the class and cultural tenets that condemn this practice, but if my ‘apa, ‘ama, and abue’ did it, then I’m still in good company. And I don’t give a fuck.

Despite my fondness of the form, I would still prefer a ranchero instead of a tomatillo sauce over my HR’s. It was a good sauce but the acidity of the tomatillos over huevos estrellados is a bit overwhelming, a tomato and chile concoction would certainly be more to my liking. But since I’m not the cook here, I’ll take these HR’s as they come! They also add some nice black beans and a homemade escabeche (pickled jalapeños. carrots, onions) that is just a wonderful explosion of fresh and tangy flavors, it’s the sort of side that makes you realize you are eating actual food! Though my personal preference for HR’s might skew a bit differently, in a few ways that I consider important, this is a perfect plate of Huevos Rancheros.

Though they have a wide menu, there are only a few veggie options. But I’m sure you can ask for a few changes to fit your needs. Having been a vegetarian for almost 20 years, I know it’s possible to train your local eatery to consider your needs. I’ve been laughed at more than a few times because I asked for a “torta sin carne” at an East LA truck, and after sending more than a few friends there, they no longer even blink when that request gets made.

I’ve already gone back a few time to sample their different items, this one above is the huarache con hongos. They add a layer of black beans inside of the masa, and it’s a really good meal. I also tried the quesadilla which has the a bit of epazote in it, which makes it that much more exquisite.

Best of all, from this spot you can contemplate the roof lions of Devon Glass and their changing colors.

Metro Balderas #4 323.478.8383
Sistema de Comida Chilanga
5305 N Figueroa St. 90042

Click Here for the full article

From: http://brownstate.typepad.com

Tags: art, food, mexican

…outbreaks of salmonella linked to Mexican core foods like tomatoes and now jalapeños is a scare tactic to encourage some anti-Mexican feeling?

Click Here for the full article

…of inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration visited five Mexican farms in search …

Click Here for the full article

From: masbakersfield.com
After all these years, ‘band’ of friends from East LA - El Chicano - still keepin’ it real. Appearing at Stramler Park (Bakersfield), June 1!
By Matt Muñoz MÁS staff Author Henry David Thoreau once said, “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” Those famous words [...]

<br>
…changed my life.
<br> <br>
It was a couple of days before Christmas and I was shopping at the Vancouver Costco. I couldn’t help but notice how “un-Christmas” the atmosphere was…parents yelling at their kids to hurry up and don’t touch this or that…or worse, some kids were just being ignored and crying for attention. Civilized adults being rude to each other…and I remember thinking how pitiful it all was. I was in the store looking for a Wii - somebody told me they might be available there. I asked a clerk who very nicely told me I was out of luck - see I only had a vague idea of what a Wii is and no idea of how popular they were - making them scarce. Another Costco “customer” heard me ask and after the cleck left he approached me and offered to sell me one - for $500. After talking to this “gentleman” - it turns out he somehow managed to buy 10 or so units (not sure if they were from Costco or not) and was just hanging out at Costco to find people looking for these games so he could sell them one. He actually said things like “you’d better do this because I am your only hope” and “your kids will hate you if they don’t have a Wii on Christmas morning.” I suddenly felt really sad because I know for some people he was telling the truth. <br> <br>
On my way out I decided to get a Costco hotdog special. That’s when I got the Christmas Spirit again. I was just looking around at all the people hustling, bustling, ignoring, yelling, pushing, shoving and then I saw her and her little boy. At first, I didn’t take it all in - all I noticed was this woman’s happy smile. And then I noticed her son was handicapped. He couldn’t sit up by himself very well. He couldn’t eat by himself and when he had food in his mouth, it would come back out. But at first glance you wouldn’t know it. This Mom was using one hand to hold him up. She was breaking his food into small bits and feeding it to him and wiping his mouth every few seconds. She did this while she was eating her own lunch, whispering conversation to him and gently kissing his head now and then - and smiling both full of happiness and pride the whole time. I found that amazing especially in contrast with what was surrounding them. They were most definitely in their own peaceful and loving world. I watched them for a few minutes and reluctantly went on my way. Her love and peace had touched me, but I knew if I stayed longer and watched, they may have spotted me watching them and it could have made them uncomfortable or somehow taken away from their time there. <br> <br>
Now it’s just over 2 months later and this is still on my mind - as it is everyday. I am more thankful for my kids and I am more at peace and more accepting of things when they don’t work out the way I want. I try hard to be more gentle and kind towards others. I want to smile the way I saw this woman smile. I want that peace and contentment. I want to be able to love unconditionally. I have heard that before - but it doesn’t really have meaning until you see it. <br> <br>
It’s a 100 million to one chance that the person who I am talking about sees this, but I need to say thank you. I want you to know that you made a difference in my life. <br> <br>
Thank you. <br> <br> <br> <br> <!– START CLTAGS –> <br><br><!– DO NOT EDIT these unless you’re really feeling brave and want your posting messed up. You have been warned. –>
<ul class=”blurbs”>
<li> <!– CLTAG GeographicArea=Costco Vancouver –>Location: Costco Vancouver
<li> it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests</ul>
<!– END CLTAGS –>

This article from the NY times discusses an up and coming Latino Comfort food restaurant… If i lived near by i’d be sure to visit. From the New York Time article:

Tags: art, food, latino, school

Thousands of art lovers braved the torrential downpour and showed up at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar for the opening night gala of the 13th annual Los Angeles Art Show. The evening’s proceeds were earmarked for the Art Museum Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for their upcoming spring exhibition, Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement.