Eva Longoria: Mexican meals is ‘a lot extra’ than tacos and tequila | CNN

Editor’s Observe: The CNN Authentic Collection “Eva Longoria: Looking for Mexico” premieres on CNN at 10 p.m. ET/PT Sunday, March 26. Join CNN’s Unlocking Mexico publication for extra.

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Pans clattered within the background as Eva Longoria looked for her earbuds so she might speak whereas cooking lunch for her household within the kitchen of their Mexico Metropolis residence.

“There’s not a wasted second that occurs in my day,” Longoria mentioned. That features gearing up for the March 26 premiere of her new CNN TV sequence “Looking for Mexico,” a present that takes an immersive have a look at the meals and tradition of six very totally different areas of the nation.

“Lots of people assume Mexico is tacos and tequila, proper? And it’s a lot extra — it’s so numerous and it’s so elevated,” Longoria mentioned. “I feel persons are going to not solely fall in love with the meals, however the folks. … It’s a jewel of a rustic.”

Longoria has many private connections to Mexico — she’s a self-described “Texican,” born and raised in Texas, the place her household has lived for generations, and she or he’s of Mexican heritage. Her husband is from Mexico, the place they reside with their 4-year-old son.

But there have been nonetheless issues that stunned her — and her husband, who joined her throughout the filming of “Looking for Mexico” — concerning the nation and its multifaceted tradition.

“There have been 100 issues he didn’t know,” she mentioned. “He had by no means actually been to the Yucatán. … He had by no means actually skilled Veracruz. And he did that with me. So it was very enjoyable to even present him a aspect of Mexico he didn’t know.”

Meals has at all times been a connection level to her household, Longoria says. She grew up on a ranch the place they raised their very own meals, and she or he took pleasure in studying to cook dinner at a younger age — one thing she’s passing on to her younger son.

“He’s at all times within the kitchen,” she mentioned. “He likes to bake — you recognize, cookies, cake, Jell-O — and he does a number of the chopping. He’s my sous chef.”

That’s why she has at all times made time to arrange meals for, and with, her household, at the same time as she maintains a super-busy life as an actress, producer, director, activist and, now, a culinary tour information on “Looking for Mexico.”

Longoria discovered time to speak to us about what she realized from the present. Right here’s what she instructed us:

On the distinction between US and Mexican tradition: “Mexicans, typically, actually worth life and dwelling, the place I feel right here in the USA we actually worth work and standing, and accomplishment and attainment, and job and profession — and we work very onerous. Should you have a look at Europe and different nations — particularly Mexico — they worth household and dinner time. That’s why there’s siestas within the afternoon and all of the shops closed as a result of their tradition is, ‘Take your time, eat lunch, take a nap.’ “

Actress and her husband reminisce about their first date

How these cultural distinction are mirrored in the way in which People and Mexicans eat: “We’re (People) are like go, go, go. Seize a sandwich. We invented espresso to go. Should you go to Italy, they don’t also have a to-go cup. They’re like: ‘What are you speaking about? No, you can’t have espresso to go — sit your ass down and luxuriate in it!’

“That’s the most important lesson I feel I realized from Mexico and Mexicans: Meals is a automobile to collect and to speak and to bond. It’s to not solely nourish. It’s to savor what you’re what you’re tasting, to be within the current. Have a look at the colours in your plate and have an incredible appreciation for the individuals who ready this meal.”

The individuality of Mexican delicacies: “Mexican delicacies as a complete is without doubt one of the solely cuisines that’s protected by UNESCO as a cultural heritage. And what which means is you possibly can hint Mexican meals again to itself. Italy is understood for pasta, however noodles truly originated in Asia. Switzerland is understood for one of the best chocolate on this planet, however chocolate truly originated in Mexico. There must be direct origins to be protected by UNESCO.

“Now, there’s a number of affect on Mexican meals due to colonization. It was a extremely vegetarian weight-reduction plan till the Spaniards got here and introduced pork, cows and dairy. The most important asset to Mexican delicacies is its elements — the avocado, the tomato, chili, beans, corn. That’s actually the premise of that delicacies, and no one grows it higher than them.”

Her favourite episode of ‘Looking out For Mexico’: “Most likely my favourite episode was Veracruz, which they name “the port of spice” as a result of, traditionally, every part got here into the Americas via that port: Chinese language affect, Caribbean affect, African affect such because the plátano (plantain) — that’s an African affect, that’s a Caribbean affect, and it’s a giant a part of the weight-reduction plan there.

“It’s fascinating to see what has survived and what has been folded into Mexican tradition after which what was rejected. I hope folks reply to it, as a result of it’s only a lovely culinary journey. There wasn’t an episode I didn’t cry. It’s an exquisite storytelling of Mexico.”

On what she hopes the present’s affect will likely be for tourism in Mexico: “It will be superb for the nation of Mexico for folks to expertise what I obtained to expertise in ‘Looking for Mexico.’ A giant motive why I needed to do that present is to enhance relations with Mexico and the USA, and I feel the best method to do this is thru meals.”

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