Lively but Accessible

The food of Veracruz is one of the most accessible regional cuisines, appreciated even by people who think they don’t like Mexican food. If you do have a passion for far-flung Mexican kitchen adventure, you’ll find much in Veracruz to stimulate (and gratify) your curiosity. But the strong Spanish and Afro-Caribbean roots of the Veracruzan kitchen make for a remarkable range of different culinary choices. I find that some cooks gravitate at once to dishes with the Mediterranean notes of olives, raisins, and almonds, while others are surprised and delighted to encounter something as African as peanuts.