I’m no Rick Bayless, but I know Stuffed French Toast isn’t an authentic Mexican dish. I thought my son knew that as well, but when I asked him what his favorite food in a foreign country was (and Mexico is the only one he’s been to) he replied, “Stuffed French Toast.” I knew we had some culinary catch-up to do.
Technically he did eat Stuffed French Toast while in Mexico…at an American-style restaurant in a mall, but we ate so many other types of food while visiting family in Mexico last December.
Whenever we visit my sister-in-law she loves to introduce us to all things Yucatan. Food is a major part of that. We pretty much eat our way through the Yucatan Peninsula. Much of the food is pretty distinct and definitely different than what Americans associate with traditional Mexican cuisine. You’d think P would choose at least one Yucatecan dish as his favorite “foreign food”.
Here’s what we ate, devoured, and (some of us) already forgot.
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
We started out in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. While we didn’t come across much food that would qualify as Yucatecan, we did have some edible field trips, like this pizza stand.
Not Yucatecan food, but we don’t have all these seasoning choices in Wisconsin pizza joints.
Seriously, look at all the choices– more than Parmesan and red pepper flakes!
Later we had crispy coconut shrimp at a seafood place on Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen.
The waiter told him not to touch the habanero sauce, but he did anyway…and promptly rubbed that cute eye. Ouch!
Breakfast at La Cueva– with turtles swimming in a pond surrounded by plants and vines, it really felt like a cave..and like a monkey might swing through at any moment.
Progreso, Yucatan
Grandma’s spaghetti- though not Yucatecan cuisine, you can’t leave out grandma’s cooking!P’s aunt drove us to a local bakery to pick out some treats.
Merida, Yucatan
Salbutes and panuchos for a late supper at Terracita de Aleman
OMG. MIW. (Mouth is watering)
Filled with nutella and cheese, marquesitas are my *absolute* favorite when we visit family in Merida.
Followed closely by champolas and fun at El Colon on Paseo de Montejo
Motul, Yucatan
I can’t remember what these were called, but all you need to know is they were deep-fried delicious!
And now for some breakfast- Huevos Motuleños
Huevos Motuleños is a combination of foods I would never have come up with, but they are delicioso.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Mexico without a few glasses of horchata.
We were too full from breakfast, so we made sure to get tapioca pudding to-go from the open air market in Motul.
P decidedly did NOT like knowing this much about where his food came from.
Outside Merida
My sister-in-law and I drank an entire pitcher of agua de chaya while eating the sweet potato “salsa” in the background.
What to order, what to order? SO many choices.
Huevos Loch, breakfast for me at Hotel Misne.
But for P, you guessed it, pancakes.
Fiesta!
Pretty similar to an American birthday cake before…
But it was a little bit different after his cousin smashed his face in the cake!
I devoured these while chatting at a family birthday party– veggies with chamoy, chile pepper, and salt
More (spicy) birthday party snacks.
And Still…
We ate all of these dishes and more and he still answered “Stuffed French Toast.” Is there any hope for this child with mild taste buds? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s my pleasure to keep introducing him to new flavors near and far.
Food looks fabulous.
It was!
Curt would like your sister-in-law to take him on a culinary trip through the Yucatan. He promises stuffed French toast won’t be his favorite.
I’m glad to hear stuffed french toast won’t be his favorite! No doubt my SIL would love to show off the wonderful flavors of Yucatan.