Ep 2. Hermosillo Food Crawl

Pati's Mexican Table season 9 episode 2 takes viewers on a culinary adventure through Hermosillo, the capital city of the Mexican state of Sonora. Host Pati Jinich starts the episode by explaining that Sonora's cuisine is heavily influenced by its location, with access to fresh seafood from the Gulf of California, beef from its vast ranches, and diverse produce from its fertile valleys.

First, Pati visits an open-air market where she meets a local chef and taste-tests a variety of regional snacks, including crispy beef tacos, shrimp ceviche, and tamales with green salsa. She also checks out some of the market's specialty vendors, including a spice seller and a woman who creates intricate decorative pieces made of sugar.

Next, Pati meets with a group of young foodies who are eager to show her some of their favorite spots in Hermosillo. They start off at a seafood restaurant where they sample dishes like aguachile (a spicy shrimp cocktail) and pescado zarandeado (grilled fish). The group also stops at a traditional steakhouse where they try different cuts of meat, including arrachera (flank steak) and cabreria (shoulder steak).

Throughout the episode, Pati emphasizes the importance of using fresh, high-quality ingredients in Mexican cooking. She also highlights the different cooking methods and flavor profiles of Sonoran cuisine, such as grilling meats over mesquite wood and incorporating tangy flavors from lime and chiltepín peppers.

The final stop on the Hermosillo food crawl is at a restaurant known for its inventive takes on classic Mexican dishes. Pati and her group try dishes like tacos filled with cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) and chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano peppers topped with a creamy walnut sauce).

Overall, Pati's Mexican Table season 9 episode 2 provides a mouth-watering look at the diverse and delicious cuisine of Sonora. Viewers will be inspired to incorporate some of these traditional flavors and techniques into their own cooking.