Javier Burillo – Some Tacos To Try in Mexico City

Everyone loves tacos of course, but there is probably a wider range of fillings than most people are aware of. Thus range is very much on display down in Mexico City, probably more than anywhere else that I have been fortunate enough to travel to. Not all tacos are for everyone, in fact there are many in the city which are created using some parts of the animal which many aren’t keen on, think brains and intestines for example.

Beyond these exotic fillings there are some true delicious options to choose from in the city, and here are my top picks.

Tacos Al Pastor

Many aren’t aware of the impact which middle eastern travelers had on the country of Mexico, and tacos al pastor are arguably one of the things which they left behind, which is most loved. This is usually pork meat which is heavily marinated in herbs and spices. The meat is stacked onto a long pole and then cooked on a spit. This is one of the most prevalent and low cost tacos available in the city and it is served with the usual salsa, lime and cilantro, with the addition of a slice of pineapple.

Barbacoa

I took a trip up to the state of Miguel Hidalgo with my friend Javier Burillo last year, and was introduced to some traditional barbacoa. This is slow cooked mutton which is traditionally cooked in an earth oven. Throughout the city you’ll find this served on weekends, and whilst they don’t cook it in the same way, the taste is equally as delicious. The meat is soft and succulent and rich with flavor. Make sure that you get the soup which is served alongside the taco, a beautiful mixture of the juices and fat which come from the cooking of the meat.

White Fish

Most people usually go crazy for meat-filled tacos but we shouldn’t overlook just how tasty fish tacos can be. This is especially true for white fish, which is usually marlin or tilapia. The fish blends really well with the mixture of spices and the freshness of the lime, and offers something different from the usual meat-based taco.

Tongue

For those of you who do wish to be a little bit adventurous, beef tongue is a delicious and rich flavor which combines perfectly in a taco. The best advice which I can give you is that should you go for a tongue taco, make sure that you eat it right away whilst it is hot. If you wait until you get home then the tongue will cool down and become tough, which is not the texture that you should be getting here. You will find this on taco stands throughout the city, and you cannot miss that enormous tongue being cooked on the hotplate.

These are just a few of my favorite picks for tacos in Mexico City, which one will you look to try first?

Continue Reading

How Easy Is It to Start a Restaurant in 2019

According to The Statistics Portal, Statista, food and drinks sales in the US in 2017 amounted to almost $800 billion, up from $379 billion in 2000. These statistics are proof that the restaurant and food service industry is growing and thus a restaurant would be a good business invest in. But how easy is it to open a restaurant in 2019? Consider the following:

Skills and Experience

To run a successful restaurant you have to be an experienced chef, or at least someone who knows their way around a restaurant’s kitchen. Without that experience, it will be hard not only to choose your ingredients but also to plan your business. If you are not an experienced chef, you have two options. One, you can invest in training.  Two, you can hire an experienced chef. A chef will cost around $20 to $40 per hour. 

Start Up Cost

When opening a restaurant, you will require money to buy furniture and kitchen essentials such as refrigerators, dishwashing machines, cooking pots, ovens and tableware. Additionally, you will require permits and licenses, and these too cost money. A small restaurant will cost roughly $250,000 and the cost can go up to $1 million or more if you are looking for something hi-tech. However, according to an article on Forbes, one investor opened his restaurant for $13,000. 

How large an investment you make depends on your target customers and how creative you can get. If you don’t have a big budget, you could start small and then look into restaurant financing to expand your operations. The Lending Express company’s resource on loans for restaurants highlights instances when you may require a loan for your restaurant. This is a company that offers help to business owners by linking them up with potential lenders. 

Marketing

Marketing a business in 2019 is pretty easy especially if you know your way around the internet. Many people these days are using search engines and social media to find places to eat as well as food delivery services. To market your business on social media, you simply have to create a page or profile, get people to like and follow your pages and keep them engaged by sharing interesting food related content. You can also use your page to share information on discounts and new items on the menu. To appear on search engines, create a website for your restaurant and don’t forget to indicate your address. Then, make a point of publishing restaurant and food related content often. YouTube videos and social media giveaways can also help in marketing your business. Finally, update your business information on Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Yahoo Local Listings. However, don’t focus on online marketing only. Some offline advertising can help too. 

Location

The best location for your restaurant will depend on your target audience. You can build your own restaurant, buy an existing one, rent a space in a building, or even buy and operate from a food truck. 

While everything else can be easy, remember it is your menu that will keep your customers coming back. Therefore, if you choose to open a restaurant, have something unique to offer. 

Continue Reading

The Outstanding Egg Replacement For All Your Baking Needs

Businesses in the food industry may be worried that they need to sacrifice the quality of their baked goods whenever they decide to leave eggs off the ingredients list. They can easily replicate and even enhance the perks of eggs when they put whey proteins into their recipes.

What is whey protein?

People are most familiar with whey in its powdered form, ready to be placed inside of smoothies before they do a strenuous workout. It’s one of the two main proteins originally found in milk — the dairy product is eighty percent casein and twenty percent whey. When milk is used to make cheese and related items, the whey eventually separates from the fat and rises to the surface.

Why is it a good substitute for eggs?

Eggs are often used in baking for improving the structure and the texture of a product. In the same vein, whey proteins can be used to emulsify fat and achieve the perfect texture in a recipe — this way ingredients will blend smoothly and the final results will be pleasantly moist instead of crumbly or dry. Other reasons why they make excellent alternatives is that they are low in cholesterol, packed with protein and highly nutritious.

Where can you get it?

If you are looking for whey protein suppliers for your business, you should go to the company CCC Ingredients for help. They are a dedicated supply chain that carries a long list of innovative products for their clients. They have been providing commercial baking supplies and other essentials to companies within the food industry for over twenty-five years. Any business that’s hoping to modify their recipe or to make up a brand-new one should explore their website — you can spot new options for bakery ingredients on their online portfolio and their tremendous blog.

You can go through them to get your desired order of Hilmar Whey Proteins to make your baking recipes even better. They are specially sourced from the supplier’s impressive partner and the industry’s leading manufacturer Hilmar Ingredients — they provide businesses with nutritious and practical products sourced from dairy, like whey protein and milk powders.

Why would you want to replace eggs?

Some people can have allergies where egg products cause them to break out into hives or get stomach cramps. Anyone living with this issue will be excited to find baked goods that don’t have the popular ingredient listed on their label.

The bigger reason to use a whey protein alternative is that there is always a possibility of dealing with foodborne illness from eggs — the bacteria Salmonella can send consumers calling their doctors because of sudden symptoms like fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The bacteria pose a higher risk for people with low-functioning immune systems, children, senior citizens and pregnant women.

While Salmonella and other foodborne illnesses can be avoided, whey proteins can keep consumers at ease. They will feel good picking up a package of cupcakes or cookies from their grocery store, knowing that there are egg substitutes inside.

Continue Reading