MY FAVORITE FOODS
Most people who migrate to another Country long for the food they grew up with. Just like the Israelites longed for food they enjoyed in Egypt mentioned in Numbers 11:5 “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.” Of course, it would be difficult to find all the ingredients in your new home country. You have to do your best and make the taste as close as you can to what you are used to. The only few places that you can find real Mexican food would be where there is a large Mexican communities like in Chicago, IL, and bordering towns with Mexico. After a month and a half of being in Fusagasugá, Colombia in South America in 1984, I craved for Mexican food. I traveled to Bogotá and checked the few Mexican Restaurants. After seeing their prices, I desired that I could wait another month and a half until the end of May and eat all I wanted in Chihuahua for a cheaper price. The only thing I could not wait was for the Salsa. I asked the Colombian students as to where I could find hot peppers and was told that Colombians did not eat that They call it Ají. I was sad to hear that, but I did not give up. One day I went to the open market in Fusagasugá better known for just Fusa. I walked around and lo and behold I saw something that look like Chile Piquin that was freshly picked because it was green and is supposed to turn red. I bought some and did not wait for the ají to turn red.
I boiled the ají and cooked two tomatoes on a grill. I crushed both ají and tomatoes on a plate with a glass and made salsa. I cooked pork meat on a pot and when it was done, I added the salsa to it. I let it boil for a bit and then I served it on my plate along with just freshly cooked pinto beans and something like Italian bread because I did not have tortillas because that is something Colombians do not eat. Mexico is primarily the only country where tortillas are part of the food staples. I then invited the students to eat some of it. They told me that no Colombian would eat that kind of meal. I insisted for them to at least taste it. They agreed to that and ended up finishing the rest of the food. From there on I would cook the same thing every Saturday that I did not have to go to Bogota to Preach. The students would stick around until it was ready. I had a lot of fun with them.
As I grew up, I noticed that I was not like most kids. I never bought any candy for myself. I prefer salty foods. I never liked cakes, but I did eat a piece for my wedding as well as for my other four kids’ weddings. I like hot or cold chocolate but not as a candy. I have always like “Greñudas.” They are coconut and sugar candies. Since I was a kid, I always ate and still do, “Camote con leche” as cereal. It’s cooked sweet potato with sweet piloncillo. You have to know what is good to like it. My Grandma Poncha used to make “Caldo de res.” An incredibly special Mexican beef soup. She would also make “Sopa de fideos” which is the Mexican noodle soup. Homemade Enchiladas Rojas Chilaquiles Rojos, Carnitas de Puerco, Chicharrones en Chile Verde, Taquitos filled with mixed mash potatoes and ground beef. I also enjoy: Mexican rice (Please notice that this is not the Spanish rice known to Americans) and beans. Chicken Tostadas and Tortas Piolines. Especially Tortas with Chorizo and Chile relleno but using the Chile Chilaca from Chihuahua. I also learned to like “Enchiladas Verdes” that my wife makes and her delicious Flautas. My wife makes excellent Quesadillas. I eat tamales and barbacoa de res, but they are not my favorite foods. I have to be honest; this is torture for me because I can have everything I want until I go back to Mexico. Now I understand the Israelites better. Well, let me continue with my torture. While I lived in Puebla City, I ate foods that people from the Central or Northern parts of Mexico never heard of such as: Memelas, Pambazos and Huazontles. They are delicious. I loved to eat Tacos Arabes too . It`s like dying and going to heaven. As far as I know, Puebla City is the only place you can buy them. I mean the real ones. I want to take a trip down there just to eat those four foods.
When I was 11 years old, I came to the States with a tourist visa and the first thing that I like was the milk in a milk carton. It tasted really good, and I like ever since. Hamburgers were the next thing and shrimp that I liked to eat, especially since my mom worked at the fast-food place called “The Quick Bite.” In Laredo Texas.
I migrated to the States when I turned 18 and I really didn`t do much for a time. Then the Lord in His Mercy led me to Waukesha as I explained before. There my first job was at a foundry two blocks away from where my brother Arturo and I lived. I worked 10 hours a day, from 3:00 pm-1:00 am. After taking a shower at work I would go to Jimmy Grotto`s Stand at 1:30 am. I was his last costumer of the day. Sometimes I would place my order ahead of time. Sometimes it was the largest pizza of that time (larger than today`s) two orders of large French fries and two large strawberry molts. I loved that pizza and still do. Other time I would order two Italian sausages with the rest of the stuff I would order for pizza. Yes, after a long day I was hungry, and that food was delicious. Lasagna was another excellent food I was introduced to, I`ll eat it anytime I have a chance.
I had saved plenty of money to pay my way for the next two years. Yes, I was trusting in my money, but something happen when I was at the Boot camp in the Missions training in Oviedo FL Most of my roommates did not receive any financial support and were struggling. I began to use the money I had saved for them and finally I had to start selling my silver coin collection. I run out of money at the beginning of the second semester. Then the food was not the greatest and as a boy’s dorm we began to eat spaghetti with no meat just tomato sauce. That was the first time that I had tasted that meal and I did not like it. I began to lose weight and soon I lost 15 pounds. Hunger made me like spaghetti so much that today I need to have it more often. While I was at the Boot camp, I learned to bake chicken and rice. That is something that I still love to eat and since my wife is now the cook, I just have to ask her to make it and she always gladly makes it. One of the main and easy food to prepare is Chicken and rice
It is so difficult to choose favorite foods. Why did I ever choose this topic? It makes me hungry for all of these foods at once. Out of all this short list of foods that I like there are: Four Mexican, that I like the most: “Caldo de Res” (Mexican Beef Soup) Tortas Piolines, Montados, and “Enchiladas Verdes” the way my wife makes them. Two American, Chicken with Rice and Hamburgers with no mayonnaise. One Lebanese, Tacos Arabes 8Only from Puebla City, Mexico
Two Italian American, Pizza and Lasagna. Whenever, we get to go to Olive Garden I always order “The Tour of Italy,” it is a real tour.
There are some desserts that I really like and enjoy even though they are sweet. Pumpkin Pie, Banana Cream Pie, Coconut Cream Pie and Strawberry Shortcake. I don’t have to wait for any special day to eat any of them.
