This was a pleasant surprise! I loved Stanley Gucci's series showcasing Italy and the beautiful regions of that country, it was only fitting that Mexico would be up next. I was a bit apprehensive that it would be a Mexican-American that would do it, but if an Italian-American can do a good job, so can she!
The first batch of episodes were great. Starting with the cosmopolitan Mexico City, where she talks about the street food culture to the hip scenes in La Roma and Condesa to the immigrant communities finding a home there today from the global south to the older communities like Italian and Japanese in Roma and Little Tokyo neighbourhoods.
Yucatán episode was a delight, with the Mayan presence and the majestic Merida and the influences that came from the sea like Dutch cheese and Spanish techniques and architecture.
Nuevo León was a standout. With its Sephardic Jewish roots and cowboy culture, the kings of Cabrito made a splash with urban and modern Monterrey and the beautiful towns outside the city surrounded by orange groves.
Oaxaca was the least interesting episode but it was saved by the Muxe culture (2 spirit people) which was very interesting. It was the least interesting cuisine in my opinion.
Jalisco was up next. Guadalajara is such a beautiful city and the surrounding areas are just as impressive! Even though she went to the town of Tequila...the real heart and soul of Mexico are in the beautiful Los Altos de Jalisco region where the charro bravado is the symbol of Mexican resilience!
Closing with Veracruz...one of the most diverse states in the country! Where millions of people entered Mexico in the last centuries to make Mexico their home, either by choice or not, since they talk about Mexico's African roots and the beautiful La Huaca neighbourhood and cuisine. The Spanish influence in the cuisine can't be denied. The indigenous roots. But I was pleasantly surprised when she went north to see the vainilla plantations where the Gaya family have become the kings and queens of vainilla and they come from a legacy of Italian immigration into the region that is still very strong today! And the mansion they show in the end is from the French migration in the region as well, el Proal. I was very surprised but they should have delved more into that!
I can't wait to see more of this series! Mexico has 32 states so this should be interesting and hopefully we see more! I'm very excited to see Eva showcase states like: Sonora, Michoacán, Aguascalientes, Baja California, Puebla, Sinaloa and Querétaro! Cheers!
