I'm interested to know if it's a common trend that foreigners with Mexican partners think the Mexican Christmas dinner is nothing short of disappointing? I've had xmas dinners in England, Australia, and America - all very delicious indeed! For me it seems like the xmas dinner here is not such a big deal. This year they took the Turkey straight out of the oven, didn't let it rest and sort of hacked it up, I mean it's common knowledge you have to let it rest before trying to carve it! Then there was a cold pasta and cold potatoes, and apple salad! Hardly a feast for the taste buds! Some random other stuff and that was it. I've spoke to a couple of others and they too said there's was (quote) "sh*t" as well. Anyone have a traditional Mexican xmas dinner that they thought was absolutely outstanding?
I think that an actual traditional type dinner is more of a middle class and up kinda thing. My in-laws never and all the village Maya I know tend to only prepare a large pot of food on Xmas Eve and any other special day. Usually mechado, puchero, escaveche, or relleno. The only difference with these dishes is that they are time consuming to make and you have to kill a pig, chickens, and a turkey to make them, thus making them pricey. Nothing else but this pot of food! And my husband is consistently horrified by our custom of eating carved turkey. He can't understand why anyone would ever find it tasty.
Never been here on Christmas, but my husband's family (from Yucatan, mix of middle and lower class) does a dinner followed by lots of drinking. While there is a meal, it's not the focus of their evening. Here's what I understand about some traditional Mexican Christmas dishes: Bacalao: expats don't seem to like it Romeritos: mixed reviews from expats Ponche (punch): rave reviews from expats, but I'm not a fan. (Hot fruit punch? WTF?) This Christmas in Virginia we had crab dip, cheese dip, bean dip, pizza rolls, cocktail shrimp, sausage and cheese balls, bruschetta, Christmas punch and lots of fudge... basically a meal made up entirely of hors d'oeuvres. It was awesome.
I cooked mine pibil style, the workers families prepared, vaporcitos with turkey, turkey in tomato sauce and relleno negro--one of my favorites. Turkey is native to the Yucatan peninsula but too bad they can't do it the way you like it but you're not in Kansas anymore.
Hope you're not refering to me, Jim in Cancun! And your last comment is pretty much what I tell my husband twice a year (Thanksgiving and Xmas) when he complains about how we prepare turkey in New England. I personally can only stand to eat a bowl of the dishes I mentioned once or maybe twice in a 24 hours period....just can't stomach the zillion recalentados that usually happen! And I can definitely do without relleno though I don't mind it every couple of years.
The last two years I have gone to my bf's friends house on the 24th, and their dinner was amazing. Kicked any dinner I've had in the US in the ass. They had ham and turkey, both of which sat and were juicy and delish. Lots of sides...lots of variety. So, no complaints here!!!
We had a huge traditional Thanksgiving dinner...and you were invited Matkirk. You missed out on some awesome food! We also did a smaller version for Christmas for family only.
