I recently made a trip to Mexico to visit Tulum, Playa del Carmen and surrounding areas. It was my first time in Mexico so all was fresh and memorable. This trip was my first true trip after the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, I was able to enjoy local street foods the way I did pre-COVID. Luckily, I did not get food poisoning however I found some of the spices and seasoning to be strong for me. At times my stomach did feel upset. The best part about Mexican cuisine is that the food vendors are available almost everywhere and at all times of the day. You can find food stalls open at 2 am or 9 am in the morning.
Tortas
These are a staple to Mexican cuisine. These are essentially the Mexican sandwich. Within a fluffy bun you will find all kinds of toppings combined with whatever proteins or veggies you can imagine. My favorite tortas during this trip had to be the al pastor torta. These are available at virtually any taco stand. They feature a delicious variety of toppings such as avocado, salsa, lettuce, pineapple, and pickled onions on top of thinly sliced pork that has been seasoned to perfection, oftentimes roasted on a vertical spit. Tortas are so hearty and so filling. No matter which area of Mexico I was in, variations of tortas existed.
Tacos
These are no doubt one of the most popular street foods in both Southern United States and in Latin America. Usually, tacos in Canada or the US are on top of a wheat-based tortilla. However, in Mexico, authentic tacos are made from corn flour giving a textured taste. Most locals ate tacos with a variety of toppings including pickled radishes, diced onions, cilantro and red or green salsa. Unlike the spices available in Canadian taco joints, these sauces really are not for the faint hearted. After pouring red chili all over my tacos thinking I could tolerate the spice well I ended up spending an entire afternoon in the washroom.
Marquesitas
This dessert is native to the state of Yucatan, Mexico. The dessert includes a crepe rolled similar to a taco but instead of savory toppings, it is filled with items like condensed milk, Nutella, jam, shredded cheese or an assortment of fruits from strawberries, bananas and mangos. After watching locals line up at these stalls at 10 pm, I decided to try one myself. It was an explosion of flavor both savory and sweet. It is one of the most delicious desserts I have tried, and so incredibly unique.
Creme de coco
I found creme de coco stalls all over Tulum area. This is a sweet combination of coconut cream, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and vanilla essence. In the 20-degree weather, this creme de coco or coconut horchata is both a perfect thirst quencher and dessert beverage. It is not overly sweet but has a strong coconut scent and taste.