Stereotypes vice versa

Some days ago a Mexican friend told me about a common stereotype regarding the French: They use their perfumes so extensively as they never shower.

I was so erm... delighted about such a well-reasoned and logic stereotype, that I had to do some investigation. And guess what? Asked for the stereotype about the French, all the Mexicans I asked told me the same: They don't shower.

German stereotypes? Punctual and serious.

Hrm, better not to probe into this one more extensiveley... I think, Mexicans know very good, what kind of information they give to whom.

To be honest, this was the most interesting fact I could share with you for now. Things are not exactly calm here, as there's a lot of homework and exams, but apart from that nothing exciting. Weather's fine, but becoming much colder than before. Think I have to buy a new jacket. And yes, I will ask for it using the Mexican word chamarra, instead of the Spanish version chaqueta. Mexicans really love to attribute filthy meanings to everyday words. I mean, banana and chili I still can understand, but jacket? Come on, grow up!

So, to end with something more down-to-earth, here some pictures of my recent culinary findings.

Cemitas are a local specialty of Puebla, basically a brioche-like bread (the specialty), normally served with milanesa (breaded cutlet, like a Schnitzel). You can literally find it everywhere, but it's not that easy to find somebody who can take away any meat and still make a proper Cemita. Now I've found a shop with the humble name Super Cemitas Martín, which makes heavy use of chipotle (smoked jalapeño chili), avocado and pineapple for it's vegetarian version. Guess what - they even feature it on their menu. And the alien concept vegetariana is spelled correctly! Decent one.

Cemita Vegetariana

With Mexican bread it's always a surprise. As mentioned in an earlier post it's really dry sometimes, but pretty often it also just appears to be, but actually is pretty soft. Like in the cemita case. Or also in the case of the ever-present conchas (shell), which apparently contain such a hefty amount of shortening, that they practically melt in your mouth:

The Concha is the one picked with the tongs (Source: Wikipedia)

Even the inside doesn't look as soft and fluffy, right? What a misjudgement! (Source: Wikipedia)

Apart from trying Mexican specialties, I also use the vicinity to the US, in order to get some authentic American cuisine, that is - of course - hamburgers. Well, as authentic as a vegetarian hamburger can be. First I had one, which used huge portobello mushrooms to resemble the patty. A good idea by itself, it was much too juicy - I was more occupied with cleaning my hands, rather than with enjoying the food.
The second one was a black bean patty, prepared by a guy who calls himself "Crazy Gringo". When he finished the cooking, he shouted with an ear-splitting voice "Veggie burgaaaaaaa". Oh yeah - intense! This one was much better, but I think I will never become a big fan of hamburgers, anyway. What I was hoping for was that perhaps the authentic taste would be different, but apparently it's not: A wobbly bun with some kind of patty and some pseudo-veggies. Nice to try, but done with it.

Please pay attention to the carefully designed artwork of lollipop and knife... Crazy gringo, indeed.

So, the best one at the very end: I created my own bagel. As at my favourite bagel shop they are somewhat flexible when it comes to topping compilations, they happily realized my imagination of the perfect bagel. What do you think of my F-Bagel?!

My very own creation - the F-Bagel!

Dried-tomato bagel, filled with avocado, creamed spinach, goat's cheese, cream cheese, tomatoes, olives, and tomato sauce. Epic!