Comida Mexicana

‘Rosa Cienfuegos’s Comida Mexicana is a much-needed vacation to Mexico, or the closest you’ll get to one right now. It’s not region-specific (Cienfuegos actually lives in Australia now, where she has a Mexican tamaleria and deli); it’s more of an overview of Mexican street food favorites, from esquites to mangonadas. Cienfuegos’s enthusiasm pops off the colorful pages with help from avocado-slinging lucha libre characters. You can sense a hint of homesickness, but she knows that the best cure for it is to bring Mexico wherever you are—in your kitchen.’

‘From mayo-slathered ears of corn to bulbous torta sandwiches, many of Australia-based Cienfuegos’s recipes evoke the late-night roadside fare beloved after an evening of drinking. Lard-rich tamales are a pandemic-ready project, well worth the time it takes to swaddle dough into corn husk wrappers.’

Rosa Cienfuegos is a Mexican-Australian restauranteur based in Sydney. She travels regularly to Mexico to gain more knowledge and insight into her beloved cuisine.