Food Culture in Mexico: Eating in Mexico
When eating in Mexico, be sure to remember these tips to make things easier for you:
- Eat light at first, so as to get yourself accustomed with Mexican food
- Never drink tap water (water from faucets or drinking fountains)! Drink bottled water instead.
- Steer clear of unpasteurized or raw food
Food Culture in Mexico: Dining Etiquette
Of course, different cultures have their own customs, even when it comes to eating. In Mexico, here are some dining etiquette pointers to keep in mind.
- Keep your hands on the table at all times. Never under the table!
- When invited into a Mexican home, it is better late than early. Try to arrive 30 minutes late or more.
- Wait until you are invited to sit and sit where you are told to sit.
- Wait for the hostess to start before eating.
- When it comes to toasts, only men are expected to give them.
- Don't eat all the food in your plate. It is polite to leave some after a meal.
- When you are finished eating, place the fork (prongs facing down) and knife across your plate, with the handles facing to the right
Food Culture in Mexico: Gastronomy Festivals
Mexico is rich in culture – this is also very true when it comes to food. Here is a list of some food festivals you may catch when in Mexico:
May
- Vineyards Flowering Festival (Ensenada, Baja California) – Here, there is wine tasting and regional food is served.
- International Wine and Cheese Festival (Tequisquiapan, Queretaro). This annual affair serves up cheese and wine from cheese and wine producers all over the country.
August
- Mid-August Mushroom Fair (San Juanito, Chihuahua) – Mushrooms galore! Discover the many types of mushrooms and the myriad ways to cook them.
- Late August Chili in Walnut Sauce Festival (Puebla, Puebla) – Mexican's staple food is served up in walnut sauce at this festival. Here, entries for the world's largest chili is judged by representatives of the Guinees Book of World Records.
October
- National Mole Fair (San Pedro Actopan) – This rich sauce is cooked up in a thousand and one ways. There is a competition for the best sauce.
November
- Shrimp Festival (Guaymas, Sonora) – Forrest Gump can hold nothing to it. This is a gastronomic feast based on shrimps.
- Candy and Nut Festival (Parras, Coahuila) – Sweet lovers unite! This festival aims to take a crack at the world record for the largest candy made of nuts.
- Festival Gourmet International (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco) – Sample the culinary talents Mexico and the world has to offer.
- Festival of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Oaxaca State) – Radish in many forms – not just as food but art pieces as well!
