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Before we delve into the world of Mexican cuisine, let us be clear on how it differs from Tex-Mex cuisine. Tex-Mex incorporates imported spices such as cumin, a lot of melted cheese and ground beef in addition to Mexican style beans, spices and tortillas. Dishes like chili con carne, chili gravy and fajitas are Tex-Mex inventions. A very common method of serving Tex-Mex food is on a combination plate that will include tortillas, chili con carne, chili gravy, salsa, beans and lots of cheese. Mexican food is not served in this manner.

Authentic Mexican food is derived from Aztec cuisine, which was based largely upon corn, beans, chiles, tomatoes and herbs. There are many other indigenous plants native to the area that became part of the regular diet, including the cacao bean, vanilla bean, avocado, guava, papaya, sweet potato, peanuts, turkey and fish. It was not until the Spanish conquistadors invaded the region that different animals were introduced. Cattle, chicken, goats, sheep and pigs were brought over, along with rice, wheat, barley, olive oil, almonds, and parsley. At the time, the Aztec and Mayan empires were using the cacao bean to make drinking chocolate by roasting, grinding and mixing it with chiles and the vanilla bean.

There is a significant regional difference between traditional dishes in Mexico. The climate and geography play a role, as well as ethnic differences. Depending on how strongly the Spanish influenced the population, the food preparation habits change. For example the northern regions of Mexico are known for their beef and goat meat. Southeastern Mexico has a reputation for spicy vegetables, seafood and chicken-based dishes. Many people see a profound Caribbean influence in dishes from this area. The Yucatan peninsula is home to dishes that emphasize sweet rather than spice. Honey is widely used in Mexico, both in beverages and desserts. If you are looking for dishes that have are prepared in an authentic Mayan or Aztec way, go to the small villages or Pueblos. Traditional dishes often incorporate more exotic ingredients such as iguana, rattlesnake, spider monkey, ant eggs and grasshoppers.

When living in the US or Canada, it is sometimes hard to know what is truly Mexican and what is Tex-Mex food. Very often restaurants claiming they serve Mexican food are really offering a watered down version of a Texan dish. If you are yearning for something truly Mexican, here are few dishes you can make at home.

‘Taco de harina’ or burrito, consists of a wheat flour tortilla wrapped around a filling of refried beans or meat. A truly Mexican burrito is small, hand held, and contains only the two ingredients.

‘Tamales’ are made from a corn based dough, filled with a sweet or savoury filling, wrapped in corn husks or plantian leaves and steamed until firm. The leaves are removed before consuming. These are a favorite comfort food in Mexico and can be dated back to the Aztec culture.

‘Chalupa’ is a platter of tostadas with toppings. Many people refer to Chalupa as Mexican pizza. A thin layer of masa dough is deep fried to make it crisp. The tostada is then filled with chicken, corn, onion, chipolte and salsa. A Tex-Mex version would include beef, cheese, lettuce and sour cream.

For dessert, consider ‘cajeta’. It is most authentically made from sweetened caramelized milk, but juice or goat’s milk can also be used. It is made by simmering the sweetened milk while stirring frequently and until the substance is very thick. Adding a liquor is common, as well as using it as a topping for chicken or seafood.

Mexican food is very indicative of its roots in the Aztec and Mayan cultures. Ingredients are unprocessed and straight from the earth, therefore allowing the natural flavors to speak. As North Americans, we are used to ready-made flavors, but in Mexico, the cuisine is genuine, comforting, and simple. On your next visit, try some new dishes and see if you can recognize the link back to the ancient cultures.

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One of the favorite parts of a Park City, UT vacation for a lot of families involves trying out local spots after an adventurous day in the mountains. Park City`s restaurant scene boasts restaurant choices with a large assortment of cuisine styles. Make reservations for some of these Park City Utah restaurants during your trip.

Park City features a wide array of pizza parlours to hit the Friday (or Thursday, or Wednesday) night pizza hankering. Pick up a pizza from Red Banjo or Davanza`s, both authentic pizza joints found on Main Street in downtown Park City. Maxwell`s East Coast Eatery is another nice option, serving up New York style pies in the Newpark area of Park City. These three dining establishments deliver right to your hotel, vacation home, or condo upon request.

Park City even has a wide variety of sushi establishments catering to the vacationer in search of a lighter option to a heavy three-course meal. Begin at Blind Dog, an award-winning restaurant serving up a variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri. Some other top restaurants include the Flying Sumo & Yuki Arashi, which can be found at the bottom of Park City`s Main Street.

If you or your friends are craving Mexican food, there are quite a few great restaurants to pick from. Baja Cantina, located near the the base of PCMR, has great food and tasty margaritas for the adults in the group. Another delightful pick is Nacho Mama`s, which does a great job with delicious fajitas, tacos, and soups. If your group is interested in something slightly less crowded, try Loco Lizard Cantina, located behind the Chevron by the I-80 exit.

A few of Park City`s most popular Italian restaurants include Cisero`s, Ghidotti`s, and Grappa. Cisero`s is a great pick for vacationers or families on a budget; and make sure to venture downstairs to the bar/dance club to work off that dinner. Grappa is a celebrated Italian restaurant situated at the top of Main Street in a picturesque old house, and is definitely worth a try. Ghidotti`s, located at Kimball Junction, is Park City`s newest Italian restaurant, and combines a unique menu and atmosphere.

In the mood for Asian-inspired cuisine? Park City has many Asian dining options such as Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Thai. Shabu is an fine dining Asian restaurant located at the top of Main Street; after trying the Kobe tenderloin, you might not try any other restaurant throughout your trip. Other great places include Wahso, a couple steps up from Shabu, and The Last Samurai, a family friendly and entertaining restaurant choice located at Kimball Junction.

Don’t forget, travel is great opportunity to create memories and check-out places you may not see again. Select one of the establishments outlined above, and rest easy that your restaurant experience will be a memorable part of your stay!

Sera Seger prefers the www.localtourist.com travel guide for news on Park City Italian food.

The West Coast is famous for many of the rare exhibits of our country. California has the coasts, Oregon and Washington have the lush forests, and even Texas can claim a home in the West with it’s circus of entertainment and adventure. However, I can’t shake the different kind of excitement that is offered by our opposing coastal friends and their culture on the East Coast.

I seem to always have found my home in the Western United States, so my exposure to the East Coast has been limited to visits there. Returning from these visits, I would always feel a loss of the certain charms I saw in the East that were vacant in my own part of the world. Maybe with great effort, we can bring some Eastern delights to our side of town.

One particular delight that the East Coast has mastered would definitely be, pizza. Sure there is the famous California Kitchen with it’s thin crust, that I prefer to call pizza chips. But, what compares to a Chicago Deep Dish? I’m not talking Domino’s either.

You can’t order pizza like this anywhere you go. The East is swarming with the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth pizza that can only compare to Italy itself. If you can’t fold the pieces in half, feel it dripping down your arm, or stretch the cheese across the table, than you dare not claim any quality close to these superb East Coast pizzerias.

Search all you want to in Utah, California, Washington, or even the laughable pizza of Texas, and it won’t hold the tiniest candle to New York City’s or Chicago’s perfected pizza pies. However, man cannot live on pizza alone, and there are other like enjoyments depriving the westerners. Not surprisingly for me, I’m also referring to food in this case also.

Buffalo Wings got their name for a reason. Don’t think I’m talking about Buffalo, Wyoming either. What the South has done with barbecue sauce, the East has done with a chicken wing. The delightful sensation or gnawing chicken bits off the bone has thrived all over, but not to the level of quality of the original in Buffalo, New York. Just give in and order yourself a whole bucketful, and watch it disappear.

I like hot wings just like the next person, especially smothered in bleu cheese, but my all time passion has got to be sandwiches. This passion was founded during my time in a place called Pittsburgh. This town has concocted the most unusual mouth watering creations ever found on a sub. The cheese steak sandwich taking the cake, with steak, cheese, coleslaw and fries — this is all on the sandwich, mind you — is a shame to miss out on.

And for all you Reuben fans, don’t assume you’ve had the best until you come to Pittsburgh. Even widening the expanse to gyros, pitas, or pierogies, Pittsburgh, or anywhere in the East, holds the rights to these culinary treasures. Take a chance of asking anyone in California to make you one of those. You’d be better not to embarrass them.

Too many of my cravings have been left ungratified because I sadly live on the wrong side of the country. However, while we may not have these certain things for ourselves in the good old West, we do have claim to our own luxuries that have no business on the Eastern seaboard. These favorites of the East Coast must make the east what it is, and therefore they can keep it too themselves. I can always come back for a visit.