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If the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, the same could also be said for places. For many people, the best way to know a place is to enjoy its food.... |
If the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the same could also be said for places. For many people, the best way to know a place is to enjoy its food. If you’re planning to join a food tour in Southwest US, here’s what you can expect.
Hot, Hot, Hot!
Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, California, and Arizona, states which are located west of the Mississippi River, make up the Southwest region of the United States. Something hot is what all of them have in common and we’re not just talking about the weather, but their specialty dishes, too!
Oldest of All
Southwest cuisine is said to be the oldest living indigenous cuisine in the United States. You can trace its roots beyond Plymouth Rock. People in the Southwest are vastly proud of the past so
if you’re joining a food tour in the Southwest US, don’t be surprised if you get a brief history lesson along the way!
An Amalgamation of Everything
If you want to be really specific, you should know that the term Southwestern cuisine is just too broad to define the rich variety of food compromising it. Food from the Southwest can be distinguished among various classes such as American Indian, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and nueva Latina, which is one of the newest additions to this growing regional cuisine. Knowing the difference is something natives always appreciate, maybe enough for a free beer!
Major Characteristics of Southwestern Food
If you’re familiar with Mexican cuisine, you’ll probably notice immediately how similar Southwestern food is to it. The differences between both cuisines are subtle, from lesser use of brain, tripe, and other select ingredients to use of larger cuts of meat.
The Difference between Chili and Chile
It’s crucial that you know the difference between the two or you might be in for an incredibly hot surprise and one that will get you running for the nearest gallon of water. Now, chile pertains to pepper native to the Southwest; these have long been considered a staple by the locals. Chili, on the other hand, pertains to a soup or stew containing meat and beans. Either way, be sure to let your server know if you’re not ready to have smoke come off your ears. Better safe than sorry!
Noteworthy Dishes from the Southwest US
Your Southwest food tour could introduce you to a number of spectacular dishes, including but not limited to salsa, chimichanga, chili con carne, taco salad, rattlesnake fillet, pozole, burrito, sopapillas, rice and beans, menudo, chile relleno, nachos, stuffed peppers, taquitos, and King Ranch chicken.
Traditional versus Contemporary versus Upscale
Now, food tours in the Southwest US can be generally classified into three kinds: traditional, contemporary, and upscale.
Those on a budget could choose between traditional and contemporary Southwestern cuisine. Food tours focusing on traditional dishes often come with history-related side trips.
For those willing to shell out more for a better and greater variety of food, there are high-end tours for contemporary and traditional Southwestern cuisine and of course, there are always the upscale and innovative restaurants to visit. New Mexico, which is the largest producer and consumer of chile in the country, also prides itself as the best state to go for upscale Southwestern cuisine.
Ultimately, however, however you choose to explore the Southwest, a food tour is sure to give you more than a delicious taste of what this part of the United States has to offer.