Maybe you are compelled to sing “If you like Cinco
de Mayo” to the tune of “If you like Pina Coladas” each time the season rolls
around, I salute you. This Taco Tuesday fan is ready for the hot stuff
mentioned below from Mexican and other cultures.
Holy Mole – Mole is a personal favorite
and I think of all the traditional gathering and grinding of so many components
each time I open a modern jar of the paste. I’ve used the same jar brands for
years, as they are easy to access from the market. Now I’ve been exposed to something
new that tastes very “ancient,” in the best sense. Hernan Mole Poblano is based
in Del Rio and it comes from a line of pride. The founder’s back story includes
fashion, trade and flavor at www.hernanmexico.com. The succinct part of what I’d like to convey is the ease of preparing what
comes from these jars into your pan and forming it into a divine sauce for chicken
or whatever else is on your stove. One version combines four kinds of chiles
with raisins, nuts and sesame seeds, cacao, plantains and raw cane sugar. Another
has a pumpkin seed focus that is green from epazote and spinach with other
earthy flavors. They’ve made a favorite even better.
TWANG – You can take things slow, or you can Twang them. A whole new world of beer salt opened up to me and I am… intrigued. It’s a big dill, as in dill pickle seasoning is trending. That’s just one option. In addition to Michelada cocktail mixes in several ranges, you can rim your glasses and beer bottle necks with intense salts in lime and unexpected flavors. Twang-A-Rita is a thing. Paloma Love, Clamato, Safari Spice and other blends would be talked about at your next gathering. Mango Chile Twangers are intriguing topping fruit salads are adorning fruit on the side of mocktails. Rimming salts make it all look and taste “extra.” I enjoyed lime salt on popcorn. Do your own Twang. Www.twang.com
Black Garlic – Just get hot for Cinco de Mayo, but you can accent from other cultures. West African peppers go into Hot N Saucy Black Garlic N Peri Peri sauce. I love that this pours out in such a deep, dark color you could artistically paint a corner of your plate with it for culinary décor. Proudly Black-owned, this business Maybe sweet potato and habanero is more your thing. These are all my thing. @hotnsaucy.co
Smoke + Honey – More heat from other cultures: Rainier Foods is a family business in
the shadow of Mt. Rainier and they’ve surprised me. I’d never have guessed they
like the heat as much as we do here in the south. When I heard of combos such
as Smokey Honey, Blackberry Smoky Honey, Gochu with roasted garlic and chilis and
The Essentials, with sea salt, garlic and pepper…. I thought these would match
my husband’s passion for Sunday afternoon ribs. While I learned cook new stuff
on Korean Gochugaru chilies, my instinct was right on: the blackberry heat is
my fave of faves. Here’s to the heat! www.rainierfoods.com
Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie
ready for the next Taco Tuesday. Share with her at darraghcastillo@icould.com
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