Ep 6. Mexamericana

In the sixth episode of the fourth season of Pati's Mexican Table, titled Mexamericana, host Pati Jinich delves into the unique fusion of Mexican and American cuisines that has developed in border towns.

Pati begins by visiting Café Bustelo, a coffee shop in El Paso, Texas that serves Mexican-style coffee and baked goods alongside traditional American coffeehouse fare. Here, she speaks with owner Erika Castillo about her background as a Mexican immigrant and how she incorporates her heritage into her business.

Next, Pati travels to San Diego, California to meet with chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins, who combines her Mexican and Californian roots in her cooking. Claudette takes Pati to a local farmers market to source fresh ingredients for their meal together, which includes dishes such as ceviche made with local seafood and a grilled skirt steak with a herb and chile rub.

Back in El Paso, Pati meets with chef and pitmaster Ruli Calzada, who specializes in a unique style of barbecue that combines Texas-style smoking techniques with Mexican seasonings. Ruli prepares a brisket with a charred salsa and avocado crema, and Pati also tastes his famous smoked chicken tinga tacos.

Throughout the episode, Pati explores the ways in which Mexican and American cuisine have influenced each other in border towns, creating a truly unique culinary culture. She concludes the episode by sharing her recipe for Mexamericana burgers, which are topped with guacamole, roasted poblano peppers, and queso chihuahua.