Sotol: This Chihuahua Spirit Is Getting Hot

Sotol: This Chihuahua Spirit Is Getting Hot

Author: Heritage Radio Network November 9, 2022 Duration: 42:04
On this episode, Sandro Canovas sits down with Aarón and Zarela to discuss Sotol, the state spirit of Chihuahua. They outline how it is made from plants of the dasylirion genus, close relatives of the onion, it's significance to the state of Chihuahua, and it's popularity in the United States. Sandro is a bi-national third-generation brick maker turned adobero. Raised in Mexico City, aka Tenochtitlan, he immigrated to Oregon in 1995 and began working with earth-based construction techniques. After spending 19 years as a seasonal commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea of Alaska, he made his home in south Presidio County, Tejas.  Since early 2022, he has been a vocal opponent of the appropriation of Sotol in Texas. Spearheading the defense of the designation of Sotol that exists since 2002 for Chihuahua, Coahuila y Durango in Mexico. When not playing with mud he spends his time advocating and educating people about how the patrimony of the tradition of Sotol is affected by the appropriation efforts in the US and its industrialization in Mexico. Sandro started his campaign to protect Sotol in Texas by pressuring the distillery in Marfa to respect the DO and implement science based practices into their business model.For more recipes from  Zarela and Aarón, visit zarela.com and chefaaronsanchez.comHeritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Cooking in Mexican from A to Z by becoming a member!Cooking in Mexican from A to Z is powered by Simplecast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the heart of Cooking In Mexican From A to Z is a family kitchen, one where the conversation is as rich and essential as the food being prepared. This isn't just a cooking podcast; it's a vibrant exploration of heritage, memory, and the profound cultural stories embedded in every ingredient. Hosted by the celebrated mother-and-son duo Zarela Martínez and Aarón Sánchez, each episode feels like pulling up a chair to their table. You’ll hear the warmth of their banter, the depth of their shared history, and the distinct perspectives from their own celebrated careers as chefs and authors. They delve into the regional soul of Mexican cuisine, moving beyond recipes to discuss the origins of a specific chili, the traditional technique behind a mole, or the personal story tied to a beloved dish. Special guests join these spirited conversations, adding further layers of knowledge and anecdote. Listening to this podcast from the Heritage Radio Network is an immersion into the arts of cooking and storytelling, a study of cultural history played out through food, and a testament to how family and flavor are inextricably linked. It’s for anyone who believes the kitchen is the center of the home and that every meal carries a narrative worth savoring.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 49

Cooking In Mexican From A to Z
Podcast Episodes
Sopa, Caldo, and Crema [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:54
On today's show Zarela & Aarón are thrilled to welcome James Oseland. James recently released his book World Food: Mexico City: Heritage Recipes for Classic Home Cooking, which Zarela & Aarón absolutely love. While these…
Tequila, the OG Mexican Spirit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:11
On this week's show, Zarela & Aarón welcome Aarón's close compadre, Manny Hinojosa. Manny is a global ambassador for Tequila Cazadores, and he has a passion and deep knowledge of both tequila production and mixology. He…
Building Blocks and Other Chef Secrets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:59
On the season 3 premiere of Cooking In Mexican from A to Z, Zarela and Aarón go back to basics. They sit down together, mother & son, to discuss the foundational principles of the cooking. These are flavor principles the…
A Tour of the Valle de Guadalupe Food & Wine Scene [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:05
This week Zarela and Aarón go on a culinary tour of Baja California's Valle de Guadalupe with their guide, Colman Andrews. Colman has been writing about food and wine for decades and is currently a senior editor at 24/7…
Recados and the Magic of Spice Blends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:51
In this spirited episode, Zarela and Aarón are thrilled to welcome their close friend Maricel Presilla to talk about recados and spice blends. Maricel is a chef, restauranteur, and the author of Gran Cocina Latina: The F…
Crossing Culinary Borders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
Today Aarón and Zarela are thrilled to welcome Víctor Macías-González to talk about the culinary exchange on the border between Juarez and El Paso. Victor is a professor who focuses on Mexican and Latinx histories, as we…
Preserving Diversity Through Corn Whiskey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:12
Today Zarela and Aarón are joined by their friend Yira Vallejo. Yira spent ten years as a brand incubator in the wine and spirits industry of New York City, before returning to Oaxaca in 2014. Now she works to preserve t…
Fall in Love With Oaxaca [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
On this episode, Aarón and Zarela welcome Bricia Lopez for a love letter to the food and culture of Oaxaca. Bricia and her siblings run Guelaguetza, the restaurant her father started 27 years ago. Bricia believes that Oa…
Tracing The Development of Mexican Cuisine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:35
On this episode, Aarón and Zarela are joined by their friend Jeffrey Pilcher to talk about the development of Mexican Cuisine; from indigenous, pre-hispanic cultures up to its spread in the United States. Jeffrey is a fo…
A Mexican Cheese Board [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:18
This week Zarela and Aarón welcome their friend Paula Lambert, founder of The Mozzarella Company, to guide them through the world of Mexican cheese. Paula's shares how Mexican ingredients permeated the Texas food scene a…