While Mexico has got to be in my top five best countries for street food - tacos al pastor with pineapple and loads of cilantro at the market in Mexico City, huitlacoche (corn fungus) and squash blossom quesadillas in the park in downtown Cancun, steaming chicken tamales wrapped in wet green banana leaves sold out of an empty oil drum in Villahermosa - one of my very, very favorites has to be elote. I first tasted elote - corn on the cob slathered in mayonnaise and sprinkled with cotija cheese (like Parmesan) and chile powder, topped off with a squeeze of lime - in the city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas. Sold by an old lady who sat on the steps of the church with a vat of corn cobs floating in hot water and an economy-sized jar of mayo, it was sweet, sour, cheesy and spicy all at once. I was in love. Here in Santa Fe, there's an elote cart that shows up from time to time in the parking lot of the defunct Pepe's Tacos, serving de-cobbed elote. The vendor layers corn kernels, mayonnaise, butter, cotija, lime and chile in a Styrofoam cup, served with a plastic spoon. Stir it all together and it creates a super-addictive spicy cream of corn soup. I find myself cruising the street outside Pepe's, like a scorned girlfriend staking out her ex's car (will it be there? Oh, I hope it's there!), three dollars already folded in my pocket just in case.
What are your favorite street foods? And where do you find them?
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
Iced Tea 101
Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-07-2008 @ 3:21PM
Phil Peterman said...
That takes me back. My elote experience was in the mercado centro of Oaxaca city. The corn was grilled and not boiled and to this day is one of the best things that I have ever put in my mouth
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4-07-2008 @ 5:02PM
Branwine said...
we have the best little mexicn market here in our out of the way little town in california that serves those corn on the cob dealies. I have never tried one but now I want to. Thanks for writting about it! They always have them by the register when I am checking out. I thought they were kinda gross looking. But never judge a corn cob by it's mayo!
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4-07-2008 @ 11:52PM
JP said...
Emily, you said Pepe's is now-defunct. Did they go out of business? I took a trip to santa fe two years ago and fell in love with the place. I just got back from Puerto Vallarta a few weeks ago and subsisted almost entirely on tacos all week. Coincidentally, the best tacos al pastor in Puerto Vallarta are from a place called Pepe's
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4-08-2008 @ 2:05AM
Kitt said...
I don't think I've ever seen this exactly, though corn on the cob sprinkled with chile is popular at street fairs here in Denver. Maybe I jut haven't noticed it, but I'll look for it now!
I do like the paletas (Mexican popsicles) sold out of little carts. The rice ones are my favorite; they're like frozen rice pudding on a stick! The cantaloupe ones are good, too, with fresh chunks of fruit in them. And the cucumber chile ones are an interesting flavor. Surprisingly good.
I miss the street food in China, especially the grilled mutton on a stick and jianbing (scallion crepes with hot sauce).
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4-22-2008 @ 3:42PM
Jorge said...
¡Esquites! That's what they are called in Chiapas where I'm from. They are great. The cheese used in Chiapas is actually called "Queso Fresco" which is prepared locally. I don't know if Cotija cheese is the same style, but usually this "Queso Fresco" has a very strong flavor, much stronger than parmesan, and when it is fresh it is moist and after it dries it is very good for use on all kinds of foods like Esquites. I always ask family to bring me one of these cheeses when they visit. It's good on black beans, with a tortilla or just by itself. It's even made with chili powder or special chiles and eaten as a "botana".
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