A wild fusion of flavour
Mexicali’s Chinatown embraces the food of two cultures
Mexican culture is amazing enough, with its delicious chilies rellenos, danceable Norteño and Tejano music and a rich and agile language, but why not kick it up another notch? Go to Mexicali, the famous border town in the Mexican state of Baja California, and head into La Chinesca—Chinatown.
It is here that you can hear people speaking in Cantonese and Spanish, order a taco made with Chinese barbecue pork and experience Baja California unglossed by the homogenizing brush of the tourist economy. While the fusion of Mexican and Chinese culture at first sounds bizarre, it is a genuine reflection of regional history—and is every bit as legitimate and rich as Creole culture in Louisiana.
In the early 1900s, Chinese immigrants to the area were drawn to work on the irrigation systems in the Valle de Mexicali. Names of landmarks reflect the early presence of the Chinese, and often commemorate sad events—such as the mountain El Chinero, which is the final resting place of 160 Chinese immigrants who died while seeking work on foot.
Go to El Rincon de Panchito and try the chicken in pineapple bittersweet sauce, or make a reservation at El Dragon to experience their signature beef ribs done in a clove sauce. Chinese-Mexican food results in such wonders as chimales and foo yung huevo.
Chinese-Mexican fusion cuisine has established a foothold in the American food world—it’s on the menu at several restaurants and vendors, including Don Chow Tacos in the Los Angeles area, Barrio Chino in New York City and the Chino Bandido restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona. Embrace cultural fusion—the result is surprising, fun and very tasty.
Guacamole chino
Mash together the following:
- 1 large, ripe avocado, pitted
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 ml (1/2 tsp) ginger root, minced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 ml (1/4 tsp) five-spice powder
- 1 dash each: Asian chili paste, sesame oil, soy sauce, lime juice
Transfer in to a serving bowl and garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips and/or dried chow mein noodles.
