[Moorf]

I know a few of you are keen to find Mexican foodstuffs here so I noted a website from the recent Dish magazine.... I haven't tried their products but will be seeking them out. Has anyone used them?

http://www.tiopablo.co.nz

[clg]

We used to buy their corn tortillas and bought masa from them once. They are fine but a bit dear. I have not tried the seasonings, they are new. We now make our own corn tortillas and they are much better fresh than anything already made.

We got masa and a tortilla press from: http://www.mexifoods.co.nz/

I highly recommend doing your own tortillas if you eat them regularly! It is a higher outlay at first but for us it easily pays for itself, the press is $50. We failed miserably trying to do it without a press.

They have a wide range of other things as well so worth checking out!

Chris

[jen]

I haven't tried tiopablo so can't help there, but I've ordered twice from mexifoods and been impressed with how fast/reasonably priced their delivery was. I get dried chilis, tomatillos, some sauces & hominy from them. I'm too scared to start making homemade tortillas as I'm sure we'd gain several kilos each if we had fresh ones in the house!

For those in Wellington, the Wellington High School community education programme offered Latin American & Mexican cooking classes last year which we took. They were fun & I regularly make some of the recipes we learned, like enchiladas with homemade sauce and Cuban ropa vieja/moro. It's not on the schedule for the rest of 2008 but if you're interested for next year, their website is here: http://www.cecwellington.ac.nz//course/food

Jen

[unar]

Yay! It is good to know we can get good ingredients in NZ. It is hard enough in London.. but it is getting better.

-una

[JasonS]

i really miss being able to go out and have good mexican food with a nice cool margarita...:wah i will have to take a look at getting a tortilla press. we buy them all the time, and they are not cheep.

for those of you in the wellington region, there is a place called the "chilli patch" just south of otaki on HWY 1. we stopped there in late summer and picked our own chillies, including jalapenos, to make homemade salsas and cook with. i wish we would have picked more, our stash that we kept in the freezer is gone now. so we will have to wait until summer...

they also sells some homemade bottled chilli sauces which are great to add to homemade mexiacan dishes.

laurel

[DanFromCali]

mmmmm. mexican food. i'd kill for a carne asada taco and a chile releno. Last time my friend went back to California, he brought back a suitcase full of tortillas. I make sure i stock up on tapatio as well.

i did find a local restaurant in Matakana that has access to good tortillas - they apparently tried it as a mexican food restaurant, but discovered there is little demand for it in NZ. owell.

[Moorf]

It's strange, Dan, the Kiwis I've met really aren't in to hot and spicy food, I find... I made some savoury muffins for a neighbour with a pinch (v. small pinch) of cayenne and she complained it nearly blew her head off - I couldn't taste it!

[BkyMonster]

Yes, I've noticed that hot stuff is hard to find.
My OH is after me to buy a deep fryer to I can make him some hot wings but I'm pretending I don't hear that... :D

I figured I could make my own tortillas and if I can get these pepper seeds to sprout and grow I should be able to make some lovely salsa (have I gone on enough about Nz tomatoes? Yuuummm). I found beans at a BinInn and with rice and a slow cooker I'll be in business.

Have seen some mexican restaurants but a bit afraid to try them :uhoh:

[Familyofmonkeys]

Tortilla press sounds really interesting......so how exactly do you used them :confused:

We used to eat loads but as they are so expensive here we rarely buy any. I did have a go at making our own follwing the instructions on the side of a box of cornmeal last year......if I remember right it said to roll between 2 sheets of clingfilm, peel of the film and cook straight away, but it didn't work at all and they just disintegrated :o

[peebles16]

Maybe we should instigate the great Mexican tortilla hunt and find a good restaurant for a wee forum gathering in CHC - I'm up for some hot stuff :p :laugh

Karenx

[kanatakiwi]

whats the best Mexican food place in Wellington? ( we're there for a day soon)
KK

[M-Squared]

^^ Dunno! Haven't tried them all yet. ;)

Laurel, have you been to The Flying Burrito Brothers yet on Cuba in Wellington? I've not been there yet (they're not open at lunch, which is the easiest time for me to go). I sometimes get quesadillas from the Mexican food place in the foodcourt under the State Insurance Tower (1, Willis Street) but I have to say it's the only Mexican place I've seen run by Asians. :laugh The place we lived in in the Chicago 'burbs was 31% hispanic, so I'd grown rather used to being spoilt for choice when it comes to good Mexican food. :D :nice1

[sweetpea]

Flying Burrito Brothers is fine, decent margaritas the couple times I've been there. Still nothing like the hole-in-the-wall Mexican places in Chicago or the burrito places in SF's Mission District.... sigh

There's also a Mexican place opposite the hospital in Wellington (totally blanking on the street name, but it's one of the main streets in Newtown). I haven't tried that one yet.

[Tiggergirl]

:laugh This thread is making me feel so hungry!

Clg when you make your tortilla do you just use corn flour. I can't eat anything with wheat in & the packet one's here in the UK have wheat in them.

I have found a gluten free version once, but it was very expensive, so I would love a receipe for making my own tortillas.

Anyone got & any gluten free receipes :D

Many Thanks

Tiggergirl

[IanW99]

Flying Burrito Brothers is fine, decent margaritas the couple times I've been there. Still nothing like the hole-in-the-wall Mexican places in Chicago or the burrito places in SF's Mission District.... sigh

There's also a Mexican place opposite the hospital in Wellington (totally blanking on the street name, but it's one of the main streets in Newtown). I haven't tried that one yet.

That would be the Mexican Cafe on Riddiford Street

See Dineout review (http://www.dineout.co.nz/restaurant.php?rest=4064&Restaurant=Mexican_Cafe) for details.

Ian

[JasonS]

Laurel, have you been to The Flying Burrito Brothers yet on Cuba in Wellington? I've not been there yet (they're not open at lunch, which is the easiest time for me to go). I sometimes get quesadillas from the Mexican food place in the foodcourt under the State Insurance Tower (1, Willis Street) but I have to say it's the only Mexican place I've seen run by Asians. :laugh The place we lived in in the Chicago 'burbs was 31% hispanic, so I'd grown rather used to being spoilt for choice when it comes to good Mexican food. :D :nice1

i have heard of the flying burrito brothers, but have not been there yet. good to know they are not open at lunch time. yes, i agree with you, coming from arizona, and only being about 4 hours north of "south of the boarder" we were pretty spoiled with all the options for mexican food.

has anyone tried the Mexican Cafe on Riddiford St that Ian mentioned?

laurel

[jeffanar]

I don't know about Wellington but for anyone in Auckland check out Mexican Specialities on Marua Rd in Ellerslie. It's a shop which is run by a mexican family, selling mexican products, jewellery art etc. and a mexican deli. Then Thur-Sun they are also a restaurant open for lunch. It's very basic and unpretentious, and the food is delicious! Check out
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/food/news/article.cfm?c_id=206&objectid=10470025

[Kerry and David]

We have a Mexican restaurant in Orewa it only has a small menu but we do plan to try it:cheers

[Caniwi]

Maybe we should instigate the great Mexican tortilla hunt and find a good restaurant for a wee forum gathering in CHC - I'm up for some hot stuff :p :laugh

Karenx

Will be interested to hear your findings.....looking forward to going home, but would love to know where I'm gonna get my Mexican fix!?!?!:yes

[Moorf]

Have been to the Flying Burrito Bros in Chch a few times now. Food is great - huge portions - and a good selection. Mojitos are yummy, too. There's a voucher for discount in the Entertainment Book if you have one.

[Xaviera]

It's strange, Dan, the Kiwis I've met really aren't in to hot and spicy food, I find... I made some savoury muffins for a neighbour with a pinch (v. small pinch) of cayenne and she complained it nearly blew her head off - I couldn't taste it!

Just to let you know Moorf, there are kiwis out there who love chilli hot food! I know this because I am one of them. :) We grow our own - halapenos, habenaros among others - lovely. Oh for some mexican restaurants in Napier! :)

[Moorf]

Ah, you're the one! :D

[clg]

Tiggergirl, I use masa which is basically corn flower with a little bit of lime so no wheat problems there. It takes a bit of practice but we have gotten quite good at making them now.

As to Mexican restaurants in wellington here is my take:

Mexican cafe (in Newtown) went there once while my wife was in labour, it is a short walk from the hospital. So-so, we have not gone back.

Flying Burrito Brothers - best atmosphere by far food is good for what it is, great kid meals and my daughter loves them. Not quite what I am used to but we go a couple times a year

Viva Mexico in left bank (used to be in the old food court) they have very good sauces but again not quite the style I am used to. But very authentic in many ways, just a different style of food. Good value and worth a visit.

There is a place in Petone on Jackson forget the name but I think that has a really interesting looking menu, the best looking menu I have seen but they are only open for dinner and we never make it down that way so I have yet to try it.

We are at the point where we mostly just make our own, that way we can get it to the taste we want. You can buy everything you need here it just takes some practice to get it all figured out. Our local new world is now selling flour tortillas made in Los Angeles, they are the good chewy ones that don't fall apart when they get wet!

Chris

[Brian]

I tried out the Mexican Cafe tonight and it was so-so. The menu actually called things by their proper name which was a good sign, and it looked like Mexican food alright but didn't quite taste like it. The ingredients just weren't right.

There's a little place in that side street in the Cuba street mall that I haven't tried yet. They had a menu with pictures on it and things called tacos that look like enchilladas and things called enchilladas that look like tacos.

I found an Indian market in Newmarket with cheap pinto beans and all sorts of spices. As someone else mentioned, New World has tortillas and corn chips. If I can find some fresh jalepenos and suitable cheeses I should be in good shape to make my own.

[clg]

The little Mexican place on cuba street is Viva Mexico at least I think that is still their name, they used to call themselves that at their old locations. They are good for what they are but not like your typical US styles Mexican food. The women that run it are great. Moore Wilsons has fresh jalapenos, but they tend to be seasonal. You can freeze them though.

[jen]

I tried out the Mexican Cafe tonight and it was so-so. The menu actually called things by their proper name which was a good sign, and it looked like Mexican food alright but didn't quite taste like it. The ingredients just weren't right.

That's exactly what we thought. The food LOOKED like it should, but the tastes were all wrong. My plate of enchiladas had a red sauce all right, but it just tasted like plain tomatoes and I think the cheese was tasty cheese - strong chedder-y & didn't go with mexican food. The shredded beef had no seasoning, it was just beef. The place always seems to be full when I go by, so it's probably just that as ex-Californians we are really picky about Mexican.


There's a little place in that side street in the Cuba street mall that I haven't tried yet. They had a menu with pictures on it and things called tacos that look like enchilladas and things called enchilladas that look like tacos.

It takes some getting used to - the two ladies who run it are very nice and definitely Mexican expats. It's open kind of erratic hours, though; last time we tried to go for dinner it was only open for lunch that day (wednesday?)

I don't think anyone mentioned Arizona on Featherston Street which has pretty good burritos (if you can stand the over-the-top "wild west" decor!) The place in Petone was "In The Cactus". They closed down a while ago because the building they were in needed work & I don't know if they ever re-opened. It was actually pretty decent IMO. Better then Mexican Cafe, not as good as Burrito Bros but much cheaper.

Jen

[IanW99]

Another possible option in Wellington (and Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga) is Coyote Bar (http://www.coyotes.co.nz/web/index.cfm?fuseaction=dine.welcome). Not just mexican food but they do have some mexican options.

Ian

[drew]

Last week I was couchsurfing in Raglan and I made my host (really bad) tacos for dinner... because he'd never had a taco before. Good God, some tragedies are just too great to bear. And to think they grow such tasty avocados out here.

[kanatakiwi]

That's exactly what we thought. The food LOOKED like it should, but the tastes were all wrong. My plate of enchiladas had a red sauce all right, but it just tasted like plain tomatoes and I think the cheese was tasty cheese - strong chedder-y & didn't go with mexican food. The shredded beef had no seasoning, it was just beef. The place always seems to be full when I go by, so it's probably just that as ex-Californians we are really picky about Mexican.

Jen

I don't think that Kiwis get that Mexican food really is a religion for us. My experience in Auckland has been much the same--looks like mexican food but could be Mum's casserole in a tortilla. One place that looked promising turned out to have put soy sauce in its refritos (which were made with black beans). I have come to the conclusion that Kiwis think Mexican can be treated as Mexican fusion, in other words Mexican/Asian, Mexican/Turkish, you name it. Scary. But then nothing prepared me for the first time I was served a kebab in a pita, with yogurt, tomato sauce, mustard and chili!
KK

[jubjub]

OK, you mexican folks, & mexican food lovers...

give me your refried bean recipes....

I used to make it with canned Pinto beans but I can't get them here, only dried, so I used them and it just doesnt come out "quite" the same

Help/advice/tips please :)

[YouMeAndThree]

They were fun & I regularly make some of the recipes we learned, like enchiladas with homemade sauce and Cuban ropa vieja/moro. It's not on the schedule for the rest of 2008 but if you're interested for next year, their website is here: http://www.cecwellington.ac.nz//course/food

Jen

Jen, any chance of a copy of your enchilada sauce recipe please, pretty please? :D

Lx

[Brian]

OK, you mexican folks, & mexican food lovers...

give me your refried bean recipes....

I used to make it with canned Pinto beans but I can't get them here, only dried, so I used them and it just doesnt come out "quite" the same

Help/advice/tips please :)

I've never made them using canned beans so I don't know what the problem could be. The key seems to be to boil, drain, then slow cook them for several hours. Here's the recipe I used last weekend and plan to continue to use:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Vegetarian-Refried-Beans/Detail.aspx

I also made up some of this but with lime juice instead of lemon:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Carne-Asada-Marinade/Detail.aspx

Add some sour cream, diced tomatoes, rice, a little onion, and it made many nice burritos. Once I get my hands on some decent peppers and avocados go down in price I will be able to perfect them :)

There's an Indian grocery store in Newtown called Moshims with bulk beans, spices, etc. Much cheaper than New World for the base ingredients.

[Tui2too]

This thread is making me hungry!

I think the best nachos I've ever had were in Palmerston North! LOL

[Tui2too]

double posted by mistake!

[kanatakiwi]

I can report that my recipe is much the same as Brians.... But there is a type of canned beans I get (sorry I am going to have to go and hunt them down to tell you what they are) They are not pinto but close, sort of a light red kidney bean. I will let you know when I go to the store. Anyway I drain and rinse the salty water off them, mash them in a pan with a large tablespoon of salsa, some cumin, chili and garlic, a little oil if they are dry and sticking to the pan.

on the topic of Chili powder, I find the stuff here is not very good, it is more like Cayenne powder, I am used to the very dark red chili powder which is not all that spicy.
I had someone bring some from Canada.

[kanatakiwi]

on the topic of Chili powder, I find the stuff here is not very good, it is more like Cayenne powder, I am used to the very dark red chili powder which is not all that spicy.
I had someone bring some from Canada.

I have answered my own question about Chili powder...

Before you embark on your next grocery shopping trip to stock up for that big pot of chili you've been craving, note that chili powder is not the same as chile powder. Chile powder consists purely of dried and ground chile peppers, while chili powder is a combination of ground dried chiles, oregano, cumin, garlic and salt.

Uses
Chili powder is most commonly used to season chili. It also shows up in enchiladas, spice rubs, and other Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes.

From the same website as Brian's refrito recipe

[dilanium]

I think the best nachos I've ever had were in Palmerston North! LOL


What??? Where?

[jen]

Jen, any chance of a copy of your enchilada sauce recipe please, pretty please? :D


Sure! We learned this in the cooking class we took from Wellington High School's community education programme:

Red Enchilada Sauce

4 small chili peppers*
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
3 garlic cloves
1 T oregano
1 T cumin
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 T vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste


*the peppers would ideally be serranos, but we use thai green chilis since they're available in the groceries here.

Heat the oil in a pan and add chopped peppers. Cook for 60 seconds. Cover with the chicken stock and simmer ~ 20 minutes. Place in a blender with cilantro, garlic, oregano, cumin, tomato, and salt/pepper. Blend until very smooth.

Cook the mixture in a heavy skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes. Can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.

[jen]

I think the best nachos I've ever had were in Palmerston North! LOL

The only good nachos we've ever had here were at the Mussel Inn in Golden Bay. Though possibly they tasted better due to the amount of their home-brewed beer & cider we drank along with them :laugh



on the topic of Chili powder, I find the stuff here is not very good, it is more like Cayenne powder, I am used to the very dark red chili powder which is not all that spicy.
I had someone bring some from Canada.

We inherited a lifetime supply of Mexican chili powder from Canadian friends who decided to move back to Vancouver. It works a lot better than kiwi chili powders for our "Cincinnati chili" too.


Jen

[jess]

clg - thanks - that mexifoods site is handy to have! :)

[JasonS]

I have answered my own question about Chili powder...

Before you embark on your next grocery shopping trip to stock up for that big pot of chili you've been craving, note that chili powder is not the same as chile powder. Chile powder consists purely of dried and ground chile peppers, while chili powder is a combination of ground dried chiles, oregano, cumin, garlic and salt.

Uses
Chili powder is most commonly used to season chili. It also shows up in enchiladas, spice rubs, and other Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes.

From the same website as Brian's refrito recipe

yeah, we found that out pretty quick the first time i made chili here :o i have come across recipes to make your own "chili powder" or here you can buy what they call "chili seasoning" (greggs brand in the little cardboard boxes). it is pretty close to chili powder, but i add a little more paprika and cumin to my recipes since this chili seasoning seems to be missing something.

laurel