Exploring Afro-Mexican cuisine at Tamales Elena in Bell Gardens | Off Menu
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- Опубликовано: 14 дек 2020
- Tamales Elena in Bell Gardens is keeping tradition alive by passing along their family stories and dishes from their Afro-Mexican heritage in the Costa Chica region of Guerrero, Mexico. Times columnist Lucas Kwan Peterson drops in to visit this family-run restaurant and learn about how they started their restaurant and try his hand at tamale making.
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Hey friends, thanks so much for tuning in to another OFF MENU! I had so much fun with Maria Elena Lorenzo and her family at their restaurant and learned so much from them. We'll have one more for you before the end of the year, so stay tuned! -LUCAS
dude what happened with dining on a dime? i finally found some new videos of you. Every food show you make is so wonderful and better than all other food shows there is on youtube. I hope u make more series and content on food.
@@labibdaiyan7336 Lol Dining on a Dime has been over for two years! But I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm at the LA Times now so hopefully you'll check out my videos here :D
@@lucaskwanpeterson2010 of course, i hope you make more with a wider variety after this pandemic ends. Love from Bangladesh
I really appreciate your speaking Spanish!
Grocery cart to food truck to restaurant. Maria Elena is an inspiration. This was a wonderful family story against the backdrop of delicious food.
🇲🇽 🙏🏾Yay!!!!! Being Afro Mexican myself I love seeing this and love seeing her and her familia shine in this country. I was born in Guerrero and came here when I was 4. I’m going to pull up on them and support their business. Gotta show this video to my familia in Guerrero.
🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎
Eres Africano y punto, tu lealtad esta con tu Madre patria Africa, Los unicos mexicanos somos los que nos identificamos como mexicanos con lealtad y amor a Mexico. soy de Tehuantepec oaaxaca. La cuna de la comida mexicana.
I wanna say that's super awesome and alot of ppl want to keep this part of Mexico a secret and hush hush but guess what yal this is 2021 .... Keep making them aware Blessings to you and your family🙏🏼🕊💙
@@prizramirez2075 Hush hush. Hahahahaha we in mexico do not even think of Afro people in the world , you flutter yourself if anybody wants to be gay or straight, gender bender, Black, negro, colored or Afro- European like the Afros in the USA people, it is up to them to come out of the closet and wear a label hanging from their neck about what they want to be, it is their choice. Without us the Amerindian people of the American Continent all the foreigners from other continents would be homeless. Kisses to you all.
@@teresaguerrasalazar sorry to bust your bubble Ms. Amerindian or should I say Ms. Mongolian! Have your DNA checked, you are Asian! Kisses to you. Ni how ma? Going home soon?
I've eaten Elena's tamales ever since I was a little girl! I'm so happy for them!
Afro Mexicans are one of a kind💪🏿🇲🇽
🙌🏾
@Jimmy Garcia What are you talking about?
@Jimmy Garcia Yes such thing !!!! 💪🏿🇲🇽
Yes the Spanish brought slaves to Mexico and olmecs are meso American not african
I think that the great aspect of a good interviewer is that they listen more than they talk and that they ask questions that encourage their subjects into speaking about what motivates them. I love that about Lucas. I'm not Mexican but we did have tamales for Christmas. It's part of living in L.A. and to remember the essential workers. I'm so happy that Lucas is bilingual in this regard.
The spoon...
That really is a thing in kitchens. Cooks form deep attachments to the tools we use to execute service and they hoard the ones they feel are needed because they are “theirs.”
Such a great tradition from my Mexican culture! 💪🏽🇲🇽💯
I love this as Mexican and well aware of African decent and influence in our culture, it's nice to see it being high lighted. But also sad that they don't know their history Iike most Mexicans. Spanish brought slaves during colonial times way before the US. This is how we have African as part of our identity and culture
Actually look up OLMECS. Afro-Mexicans are the original.
@@andresgcoderoilpaz2806 yes
@@alkebulanshujaaogun5152 SMH non existent
I love that she’s sharing her heritage but it’s unfortunate that some people don’t know that Africans lived in Mexico and had their own families with indigenous people
Everyone in Mexico knows
But no one cares just like the afro Mexicans don't care.
Race is not distinguished in Mexico. It's the Rich against the poor in Mexico
@@vatolocosforever803 Your comment is partially true....
@@saharastorm179 it's all the way true
@Jimmy Garcia yes there is
For those wondering why most Afro Mexicans don't look as "black" is because most of them mixed with the natives since the most Southern parts of México tends to have heavy native or partly native citizens in those areas.
Glad to learn of this cuisine.....I will definitely support them!!!
The Mexican cuisine
Love the beautiful family, food and love the sincerity!
Omg I've never seen someone wrap tamales so fast! I thought I was quick but clearly not lol
She’s quick. She must have been making Tamales since she was really young.
That is a coveted skill, especially at Christmas. Less time rolling tamales, more time for chisme.
This was fantastic! A food and famly history lesson.
What a lovely family...so warm and welcoming! And I love how Lucas keeps it very casual, but always interested...and interesting. The food looks delicious! Happy holidays everyone!
Wow I had no idea , I have a new perspective on Mexico many of my people are there. Amazing
Yup, the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Veracruz is where most live. There's also a guy named "Negrito Grande" here on RUclips, and his popular videos are of him talking to Black women in Mexico.
There our people not yours
@@sociedadnortena9514 I was speaking on the people of African descent in Mexico , not all Mexicans
@@abrahamjackson6019 the afro Mexicans in Mexico have way more Spanish and Indigenous blood than African...
You really can't tell the difference
@@vatolocosforever803 Its the African blood thats so potent. I see strong African traits in most.
Ooohhh , ooohh. She's a master, highly skilled.
Lucas is the best. I must try the mole and tamales
Beautiful . Im praying for you always. 🤗
I need to try the food looks delicious y arriba Guerrero y toda la raza
I'm so happy my parents showed me how to make tamales =D
Food looks amazing
Beautiful food my friends
Wow toda la comida se ve muy rica
PRICELESS 💯
The fact that people are here arguing over the pettiest of points & opinions.....So foolish
Lol it’s no use reading the comment section on this one. Everyone is arguing about what they think they know smh. I guess the comments get him more revenue though 🤷🏾♀️
They do it to turn people from the truth.. how the devil works 🤦🏽♂️
Awesome
My mouth is WATERING! 🤤
I want to learn how to make Tamales.
MEXICO=FAMILY=FOOD
I'm going to this place very soon ? I really hope I get to see everyone that works there
Lucas is excellent in this format. Glad to see LAT is back at it especially with the multiple controversies this year.
We wanted to go yesterday but found out the restaurant closes at 4pm. We will try another day. Your food looks so delicious!
Never heard of this place, but I will be going soon 🍝
Looks good
beautiful mexican people
I had no clue that Mole and Tamales were part of Afro-Mexican cuisine. I live for Mexican food …even cook it myself and I’m Black Creole American.
Afromexican were influenced by native comunities that's why they celebrate Dia de Muertos with their own dances and traditions. But a lot of mexicans have african heritage but we're very mixed and it's difficult to know it.
Information is misrepresented in this video. The state of Guerrero does have a lot of gastronomy, culture and population with African roots, but definitely not mole or tamales. The green mole is almost completely indigenous, the red mole with chocolate is more indigenous, Spanish and Moorish and the tamales are definitely indigenous, the only African influence in the tamales is when the corn leaf is replaced by a banana leaf or some that they are made with fish, however, the variant of tamales with banana leaf is only made in states with a large presence of black population such as Guerrero and Oaxaca. However, almost all states have their own variants of tamales with different techniques, flavors and names that have absolutely nothing to do with African roots.
@@aleydisc.7192very true. You also forgot the sesame seeds as part of the African influence in moles.
There are however Mexican dishes that have been influenced by African maroons like tamales de tichindas (mussel tamales) in the mulatto fishing village of Chacahua, Oaxaca.
Yummm 😋
Mi Amore Su Familia y Comida De Africanos. Shalom to You My People !
thats not african food, that is mexican food created by indigenous mexicans and adopted by other mixes and groups that now live in Guerrero
@@carlosm.3426 no bro is actually African food like menudo
@@carlosm.3426 you should eat different foods from different cultures.. there’s a lot of similarities..
Great feature!
La Raza con muncho Sabor!!!❤
Where are from Mexico I am Mexican I love that saludos
🔥🔥🔥
MARIA 😍💜🥰
Information is misrepresented in this video. The state of Guerrero does have a lot of gastronomy, culture and population with African roots, but definitely not mole or tamales. The green mole is almost completely indigenous, the red mole with chocolate is more indigenous, Spanish and Moorish and the tamales are definitely indigenous, the only African influence in the tamales is when the corn leaf is replaced by a banana leaf or some that they are made with fish, however, the variant of tamales with banana leaf is only made in states with a large presence of black population such as Guerrero and Oaxaca. However, almost all states have their own variants of tamales with different techniques, flavors and names that have absolutely nothing to do with African roots.
This is also why I love the USA. So many cultures and traditions we get to experience. Unfortunately we still have so many people that can’t appreciate that. Like…you really want everyone to look like you? You really want the same’ ol bland food and not try this dish that took 24 different spices and ingredients to make???
amazing..... love the food.
Que buen video felicidades y un daludos para mi gente de guerrero de Acapulco, costa chicha, costa grande y todo guerrero....!! Y mucho éxito para ti y el restaurante de esa familia que se me antojo un me costeño
My mother is afromexican my grandmother is allso afromexican my great grandmother was Italian German Mexican
Great story 🙏
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
My mexco hi 👋
it's rare that afro Mexicans consider themselves Afro mexicans.
I wouldn't say rare because I've watched documentaries on Afro-mexicans in Guerrero. & they're not afraid to let you know their background, or celebrate African traditions/dances ..but there In the shadows so it's not easy to learn about them
I’m not African, but I’m his is my Mexican food I’ve always known.
What's the website?
👏👏👏🙏🙏
We were already here long before Columbus even knew what a boat was.
All Negro people are not from AFRICA .I learned from great grandparents, not from his- story books..we were already here!!💯💞🌎
@@RoseSpan , Africa is the birthplace of civilization and humanity that’s scientific fact. Once we got our stuff together there we took it on the road! Melanoid, Moors, Black, African, indigenous whatever…we are the original indigenous aboriginal autochthonous parent people of the planet who civilized and cultivated the world! There’s no place on this planet we haven’t placed our feet. So stop the separation…you don’t hear white people separating themselves from Eurasia do you?
@Q B we are the original indigenous aboriginal autochthonous parent people of the planet who civilized and cultivated the world. This is the history they don’t want you know.
@@lanceflx63 nope olmecs have no African features they just have big nose and lips
this hebrew stuff is so embarrrassing to our history.
I ❤️ mole bowl 🥣🌶🥑🧄🧅
I'm Afro Mexicans, and my great-grandparents came from Mexico. Of course, people don't believe you when you tell them
Who cares what they look like they are Mexican and proud don't take that from them to feed y'all eggo
who ever told that lady about slave ships going near Guerrero on the way from Africa to the U.S. never took a geography class.
😁😁😁
Tal parece que no 😂 y si fue a la escuela no entró 😂
So afromexicans and Afroamericans are the same people my family afromexican
Afro Mexicans are about 1% of the population of Mexico. Most are mixed brown, black, and white.
Wrong is about 10 % of population. According to los blancos is 1%
@@UGomes-zp8iu Nope, it’s 1% and this is according to an actual census where people said they were... You wish 10% were Afro. 😂
There is 129 million Mexicans living in Mexico to this day.
Only 1 million of them are Afro-Mexican.
And these people talk about discrimination and wanting to be recognized?
...psshh...hold on let me get my McDonald's happy meal toy magnifying glass for such a tiny population of people in a bigger country of a bigger population of people. Sheesh.
@@rosasmith9835 So because they are a tiny percentage of the population they shouldn’t be recognized? This is why I’m always warning Black people about White Hispanics, y’all are as racist as they come.
Yall constantly forget to factor in The fact that Africans didn’t get to immigrate to Mexico like everybody else does continuously
🇿🇦🇲🇽❤✊
Muller Block en LA Káza
323 in the house
Wow, i want to try!
Bueno, según es comida afromexicana pero el mole verde es de origen indígena y el mole rojo con chocolate y especias es español, indígena y moro.
Ok
My Granmom was Afroindianmexican and muy Granpa was White with green eyes and and My ex loook like Asían but she is mexican 🇲🇽
You white then
A lot of the foods with the rice looks like traditional African food as well a lot of student needs one pot dishes
Adress?
The best tamales in L.A are actually in Watts on 111th on Avalon at the railroad tracks.
Nah fam, San Diego is where its at.
@@ericktellez7632 He did say the best tamales in L.A.
Alot of Mexican cusine had African roots as it was brought to Spain by the African Moors and then Mexcio.
You can also tell that they have native american blood as well!!!!
Indeed
🇲🇽🌯🌯🌮🌮😍❤️
Holy shit Lucas your Spanish is exceptional
Good job ladies! I think he should not have taken the side video.
Many people don't know but they are black people in Mexico from African roots cuz my family is one of them I have very dark skin family but the thing is that everybody's getting mixed now so the appearance is different but the education the schools in Mexico and their education books they left out the Africans descendants that's why students when they grow up in the education school system don't know that there's Africans or black people in Mexico they don't even say that the second president of Mexico Vicente Guerrero was afromexican or from African roots probably like 2 years ago the afro community in Mexico were recognized as the third race of Mexico that's why many people don't know there's black people in Mexico cuz even Mexico didn't recognize us until now but there are African Roots descendants in Mexico for many years before Mexico was Mexico so it's not weird for me to see if American people don't know there's black people in Mexico not even Mexican know there black people in Mexico cuz the school in Mexico left us out of the history of Mexico
I can't help but think this guy was there to steal their recipe. He's probably going to build a restaurant, or already have one, and they'll be out of business, ijs.
That's what Taco Bell did. 🤣🤔
It took me more than half the video before I realized who the host was. Between the masks and the hat/hair it was like a disguise.
This food is sooo good! 🙌🏾
Side note: 🤦🏾♀️ The “Afro Mexican “race didn’t come to be from slaves jumping of a boat from Africa this makes no logic sense.
Look at the murals in the pyramids- they are gente negra, you were already there. The Original Indigenous people that populated the Americas and the world.
Gente, before commenting emotionally to this look it up…gracias
They are telling you their story, listen.
😂😂😂 the murals depict my relatives and friends who are not african LOL stop believing in fairytales you racist Afrocentrist make me laugh lol
@@DEATHXWISH924 That’s my point, they’re not African they are Indigenous to America.
@@sunkissedcopperbeauty6009 that’s not my point, these people are of African and indigenous descent
@@sunkissedcopperbeauty6009 I come from Mixtec ancestry mostly a lot of my friends have Mayan and Aztec ancestry we are brown not african”black” take you culture vulture racist self out of here 😂
Did she said afro Mexicans are descendants of Afroamericans my family afromexican from Guerrero
Yes my people influenced everything it’s unfortunate that people refuse to acknowledge that Afro latino Afro carribean Afro Americans we are the salt
Lmao oh god here come the american hoteps
are u saying tamales are African food ? there indigenous...pre Hispanic
@@ajortiz377 nope not evening relax lol lol you scared of us lol lol just simply saying we brought so much flavor to anything we touch etc that’s all
@@izzyjudah6015 nooo not at all I love Africans for brining tamarind to Mexico. It’s like one of our main candy flavors. I was just talking specifically about Tamales. There Native American
They are not your people. They are OUR people.
Europeans cook Mexican indigenous food, that does not mean is European/mexican food.
What you mean by that ??🤔
Someone’s bothered 😂
@@ceasarsfex4840 I know what she meant by that...Don't wanna embrace her African roots, so what's the best way to deny? Is a passive aggressive attack on the African influence that it has on "Mexican" food.
BIG BIG difference between Afro-Mexicans and Afro-Americans.........isn't it obvious?
Hawaii, Cuba, Europe ect, ect, there's no place on earth we haven't had anything to do with.
Mexico 🇲🇽 third root is Africa
There’s nothing Afro bout this food. This straight up Mexican food 🤣🤣🤣
Yikes!!!!! 🙊🙊 did she just rub that spoon on her hand ✋ ?
Thats a lie, the Aboriginal ie.. black indigenous were already there. She fell for the culture hijack too. Not mad at her for she not know.
Nope Indigenous people weren't African so stop playing
@@itz_angel8618 never said we are.
@@djfalong you are african not aboriginal lol
N still people say ders not black Mexican, wow
The Racist Mexican's, try to hide them.
@@drizzey680 Why do you believe that ?
If that was the case Mexico wouldn't have acknowledged Vicente guerro or had the 1st black President.
@@juanareyes7119 They just started counting them on the census, last year. They get stopped and harassed by the police and have to show I.D to prove their not Honduran.
@@drizzey680 if your born in Mexico weather your German or Chinese your considered Mexican its not like the U.S
were its Mexican American , African American Chinese American .
@@drizzey680 also in Mexico you have to say Mulato or Meztizos referring to a mixed back ground .
their are also Menonites communities
most of the World dont know about either.
God bless 🌿
Do u hear what thier saying..they think thier Black Ppl?? What part of Black are they..except for of African/Native Decent??
They are black , afro Mexican and for them to keep that belief still.. tells you that been pass down from generation ..just like how alot of us black men are are more native American than african and in America we just goes as black i guess lol
@@treycito They aren't BLACK if they weren't born in the US and of ADOS Lineage with 2 Negroid parents.. They can be Afro Latinos because of their African Bloodline but they aren't Black. The term Black is being used way to loosely.. Technically..just because ur African Decendant doesn't make u BLACK? U MUST BE of ADOS Lineage to be BLACK..Black is a term US Fed Gov gave to the Slaves and our Descendants.. ex: And is why most Negroid Africans don't consider themselves Black..Black is a specific racist term used to describe the ADOS..
@@ericboswell8863 totally agree with you the world don't know the difference between color people and try to put everything as one black
lucas' hat doesn't fit his head. that is triggering me
why do reporters always start asking. have ever been discriminated? why is this horrible question? does it bother you as well?
Karlos, there’s a market for victimization that never stops.
She tried to hide the fact that Slavery was ALSO in Mexico, NOT just the US. Slavery was an AMERICAN thing from North to South America. Stop 🛑 spreading false narratives.
The lady saying Cuban. Lol. They don't look the least bit Cuban. They look Mexican. I don't know who told them they look Cuban. Must be blind.
"Mexican"
This specifically has african influence though.
Wow I had no idea, I have a new perspective on Mexico now many of my brothers and sisters are there we share Africa. I was familiar with the Blacks in South America not Mexico.
.
@@abrahamjackson6019 there’s three specific groups that I know of, the ones from Guerrero/Oaxaca, the ones from Veracruz and the ones from northern Mexico, the state of Coahuila they are descendants of the general John horse or Juan Caballo
@@daniellozada3408 Thanks for sharing. Two of my grandbabies grandmother on there father side is Black-Mexican .
@@chicanochronicles8124 no it doesn't
Hope your paying taxes now and not using Americans
I don’t see the Afro
They have african culture which they embrace as well as ancestors but they have mixed with natives alot.
It is not Afro, it is indigenous original to Mexico. these people just adopted our Amerindian cuisine and culture. And they know their History, they came from the Slave ships in route to the US, where thy jumped and settled in the tropical land of Mexico. they know their oral history passsed down from their ancestors and they reject any other assumptions from Afrocentrics
Nah you can clearly see it on their jefita even more. She clearly has black genes
Do you understand that Africans brought their cultures with them? Meaning their culture will have that influence. And no one jumped, read a book 😂. Bothered ass 😂. Secondly tell White Hispanics to stay out of Black American culture.
@@MSILBB Mole and Tamales are two of the most ancient dishes of Mexico existing way before the arrival of the Spanish. Africans and Spaniards played no part in their creation, they are 100% Native American.
@Chuck Raylor 1. There is no set in stone tamale recipe, and they're also prepared in many different ways. My family steams them.
2. I've never had any dishes with any of the ingredients you listed, other than rice, but rice is one of the most universal foods on earth so I don't see what your point is. Besides, rice is typically a side "dish" and we usually prepare it with tomato puree. I will praise the Jamaica though.
@Beauty Pink Beans are native to the American continent. Chillies peppers are original to the American Continent and the spicyness of the food comes from the ways of more than 100 hundred variants of chilli peppers original to the American Continent wich are are roasted ground and cooked, wild herbs original to the American Continent, to mexico to be specific, chocolate, Vanilla peanuts and the ancient amerindian foods cooked in clay flora and fauna original to the American Continent. griddles and underground ETc. Mexican food is the only food in the world that has been named as world heritage by UNESCO for its contribution to the world. Corn is a gift from God to the Mexican Amerindian and a gift from the Mexicans to world hunger relief None of these foods were known to the world before the arrival of colombus. Mexican food is an original gastronomy. I do not know about what you called so" hispanic food"s. We Mexicans are ancient Amerindians the OLMECS AZTECA ara one of the 7 ancient Mother cultures of the earth. You Afro people are trying to claim the ancient cultures and civilizations as yours , such as Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Middle Eastern Babylonia and Mexican You US afros eat chitlings, watermelon, hamburguers and Hot Dogs, you are copy cats with nio culture. Chris Rock the Black Comedian said on national television I'm half jewish and half Black so when I see a car I do not know wheather to pawn it or whether to steal it. You strighten your hair with Gorilla glue, and wear Twainese acylic highly flammable extensions and you say is your hair, you are ridiculous group od people everybody laughs at youj.
The darkening of America