History of the The Mexican Table
Most people are not aware of the Mexican Cuisine that combines the Flavors of Mexico with the Finesse of European Cooking and Presentation, or the European Influence and Culture in Mexico
Before the Industrial Revolution in the United States took place, the economy of Mexico and the United States was similar, because of the Aristocratic Spanish and French Influence, as well as the European Culture that existed in mexico, many wealthy Europeans preferred to Immigrate to Mexico instead of the United States.
Mexico has one of the most colorful and interesting histories in the Americas, Our Goal is to provide you with brief interesting facts regarding the culinary history of the aristocratic society of Mexico, beginning in 1519 when Hernan Cortes and his Conquistadors invaded the Country.
However, before we begin our journey into history, lets take a quick look at the events and get to know the people of the first four hundred years of the History of the Mexican Table.
The First Four Hundred Years
The Spanish Conquistadors invaded Mexico in 1519, and soon after that the Spanish Viceroys arrived.
The Spanish Viceroys were representatives of the Spanish Monarchy; they brought with them the luxury and customs of the aristocracy of Europe, as well as cooks and servants, fine china, silver, etc. required for the Elaborate Banquets they were accustomed to.
It was not unusual to serve twelve main courses and twelve dessert courses, have several fountains with perfumed water, wine, milk & honey flowing into large wooden tubs of flowers, music and theatrical events when entertaining visiting Royalty.
Mexico’s Conservatives, unhappy with the ruling body of Mexico appealed to Napoleon III of France to intervene in Mexico’s politics.
In 1864 he sent troops into Mexico and installed Maximilian
as Emperor: his wife Empress Carlota brought a Hungarian Chef and a staff
that specialized in Austro-Hungarian, Italian and French Cuisine. Thus
began another influence on Mexican Cuisine, she also brought her table
setting, which consisted of over 5000 pieces of silver, 60 centerpieces
and 5000 small pieces and candelabras, her personal staff of eight chamberlains,
15 footmen, two stable squires and 25 coachmen, grooms, etc.
In 1876 Porfirio Diaz a general in the Mexican Army who was a military hero in the war against the French intervention.appointed himself President of Mexico and ruled
Mexico until 1910.Historians have written that the
Porfirian society may have been one of the most elegant and opulent in
the modern world
As an example Porfirio once had a centennial celebration that had a table service of 13,000 plates, 1000 salt and pepper shakers, 12000 wine glasses 2000 pieces of silver and over 1500 crates of wine, champagne and cognac
The Aztecs
By the 1500’s the Aztec Priestly and ruling class had
developed fairly sophisticated table manners and cuisine “ actually they
did not yet have tables”, but would spread a blanket on the floor and
serve food in baskets and clay bowls, they had a wide variety of foods
to choose from. Their diet consisted of Corn, Beans, Squash, Peanuts,
Sweet Potato, Nopal, Jicama, and various types of nuts, herbs, fruits,
and mushrooms Avocado, Tomatoes, Onions and peppers.
For fruit They had Pineapple, Papaya, Coconut, Cactus Apples, various types of Berries and other fruit, for meat they had Deer, Bear, Squirrel, Raccoon, Monkey, Turkey, Duck and a multitude of sauces.
The Great Moctezuma, whom was the Aztec Ruler at the
time of Hernan Cortes’s invasion of Mexico would eat behind a wooden screen
with four Elders, have four beautiful and clean women hold his finger
bowl, gourds and towels to wash his mouth and hands. On special occasions
he would have dwarfs or hunchbacks do tricks or dance, at the end of the
meal he was offered a variety of fruits with Cacao served in cups of fine
gold, after that they would bring him golden tubes containing tobacco
mixed with sweet gum balsam which he would smoke before taking a nap.
An example of the Aztec’s ingenuity is how they would
capture a Duck; they would take a pumpkin cut a hole large enough so they
could put the pumpkin over their head, wade into the lagoon where the
Ducks were and submerge themselves until only the pumpkin was above the
water, there they would wait patiently until a Duck would get curious
enough to investigate the strange object, once the Duck would come close
they would grab him and take him to the cook.
Hernan Cortes Arrival
Hernan Cortes and his Conquistador’s came ashore on
the Yucatan Peninsula in the spring of 1519 on horseback with firearms
and swords, the local Indians had never seen a horse nor firearms before
and initially thought that man and horse were one and the same and were
some type of supernatural beast.
The Spaniards easily defeated the local Indians, and
in tribute they presented Cortes with twenty female slaves who were used
as cooks and concubines. Shortly thereafter they came across a Spanish
Priest named “Jeronimo de Aguilar” who had been shipwrecked years before
and was being held as a slave by the local Indians
Aguilar spoke Spanish, and the local Indian language,
which was Mayan, he began to act as interpreter for Cortes, however as
Cortes and his men went on with their expedition they came across the
Aztec Indians which spoke “Nahuuatl”, the language of the Aztecs.and could
not communicate with them.
Cortes was informed that one of the women slaves could
speak the Aztec language, she was immediately brought to Cortes and used
as his translator. She would translate the Aztec language to Mayan to
Aguilar whom would translate the Mayan language to Spanish for Cortes.
This slave woman who was called Dona Marina by the
Spanish and “ La Malinche” by the Aztecs quickly learned the Spanish language
and Cortes no longer needed Aguilar to translate for him.
In a short period of time Dona Marina went from being
Cortes’s slave to his interpreter, secretary and mistress.some historians
have called her a Harlot others a Heroine.
(To find out more about this remarkable woman go to www.mexconnect.com)
These women slaves became the first to combine the
flavors of Mexico with European Finesse, shortly thereafter the Catholic
Nuns began to arrive and brought the art of baking pastries as well as
their experience in preparation of European Cuisine
We will be featuring recipes of this Nouvelle Mexican
Cuisine that combines the flavors of Mexico with the Finesse of European
Cooking and Presentation, hopefully this brief history will help you understand
the people that brought it about
D.J.Flor