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Go to Food Packing Suggestions
One of the most frequent questions I get asked by the
cooks in the family is "What should we stock up on food before we leave?
What food do you take?"
Food is an important consideration in life and when
you are on the road in a foreign country, you want to ensure that you are
both healthy and happy. As we all know, food just tastes better when you are
camping and most of us want to ensure that our Mexican camping experience
will continue that tradition.
There are a number of
large supermarket chains now popping up everywhere in Mexico. For a really
long trip I suggest you get a list of Sam’s Clubs and Wal-Mart so you can
pick up items that you really miss.
Herman, the
owner and chef from "Herman's Best Restaurant" in Puerto Escondido
Shopping Venues - Stores and Markets
 Food is generally a
little more expensive in Mexican supermarkets and sometime less expensive in
open air markets. I have heard that border authorities have confiscated
large volumes of food in RV’s and that you are entitled to only bring in a
reasonable amount at a time. I have not experienced this however, but have
had fruit, vegetables, chicken, egg and pork products confiscated as I pass
through various agriculture checks. So be reasonable.
I think great food
really can make a trip; I love to cook and my family likes my efforts. I am
being very opinionated in the following but unabashedly I think it
important:
Mercado Libertad in Guadalajara. Three levels
of bargains
Pork
In terms of quality
and Gringos’ taste buds I would say pork has about the same flavor. The
bacon has improved but is often still too salty for me.
Chicken
Chicken is often more
fatty – a slightly different but good flavor. It is usually very yellow and
if bought in a market can come with feet and head. The yellow comes from
feeding the chickens marigolds. Often these birds are really big and fat. It
is often cheaper to buy chicken on an outdoor rotisserie than it is to cook
it yourself.
Beef
Beef is not aged as it
is in Canada and the US so it can be tough. Cuts such as steak and roasts
are usually disappointing for me – either at a restaurant or on my own grill
– because quite simply they are as tough as a shoe and taste significantly
“different” to our taste buds. Cuts such as hamburger, ribs, or stewing beef
is fine because you don’t have to be concerned about “tenderness” and the
flavor is somewhat hidden by sauces and flavoring.
 Fish
Fish and shellfish is
often sold right at the campsites and is extremely fresh. Fishermen drive
from campsite to campsite selling various products out of an iced cooler in
the back of a truck. I have found some scallops on the Bay of Conception
tough but I think it has more to do with my preparation than the scallops
themselves. Fresh snapper on both the Gulf and Pacific sides is fantastic
and my gourmet son Adam said he liked it better than lobster. An amazing
compliment. See featured article Requeson.
Fresh lobster served on
the beach at Playa Carrizalillo
Milk and Eggs
Milk used to be sold
in bricks and it was unusual to get the plastic liters (quarts) or 4 liter
(gallon) of milk. It is changing now that there are much larger
supermarkets. It is still 50/50 whether you can get 2%, and if you are RVing
you fridge probably can’t accommodate the large 4 liter size anyway. We
always take a few bricks because if we run out of “fresh”, we can open a
brick for our coffee or latte in the morning.
Eggs are great and
often sold by weight rather than by count. You often just purchase a few at
a time and they wrap them in a plastic bag. A delicate ride home. They are
fine though and often very tasty.
 Cereals, Breads and Breakfast Foods
Most cereals and breakfast foods are sold with the
familiar brands. Kellogg’s. Aunt Jemima. Bread sold in mini’s are more than
likely “Bimbo” or that soft white doughy stuff – that parents hate and kids
love. Bill and I buy rolls and interesting bread at bakeries and little
shops.
Vegetables and Fruit
 Supermarkets sell a good variety of vegetables and in
ok shape.
Markets
are less expensive however they often don’t look all too fresh. It’s 50/50.
In some areas roadside stands sell various produce and fruit. These are
great and good buys. Beware of road inspection sites. Guerrero Negro on the
Baja for example. They will confiscate various items as you pass into Baja
California Sur.
Ken McIntyre from Pomeroy Washington writes:
Under food, I would suggest you advise RV travelers to dip their fresh
fruit and vegetables in "Fit" when they return from shopping. It can be
purchased in many grocery stores in Mexico where tourists are common.
It is a powdered bleach that is easy to use and store. Takes about 5
minutes to soak and 15 minutes to dry (I think, it's been awhile).
I't's getting more common in the US.
Food Packing Suggestions
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If you are a beef eater take some steaks or a roast or
two with you. Hamburger you can buy nearly everywhere in Mexico.
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Bring some bacon but not too much. See if you like the
bacon and plan accordingly for the next trip.
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Bring any special sauces that you love with you i.e.
special canned tomato sauce to make spaghetti. Stewed tomatoes, tomato
paste, meat, onions and pepper you can buy there. Bring the canned
mushrooms for emergencies. In some areas and Walmarts, fresh mushrooms are
plentiful.
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I bring oriental food stuffs because I am from Vancouver and
I can’t seem to exist with out 1 meal a week of either Chinese food or
Japanese food. I bring sushi wraps and wassabi. Hot and sour soup packets
and oyster sauce. These little additions are fantastic with the natural
regional foods we purchase in Mexico such as monster shrimp, red snapper
and lobster. However even these oriental spices, sauces and condiments are
popping up everywhere in Mexican Supermarkets!
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I also bring some hollandaise and béarnaise packets. I
like making the unexpected on the road.
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Bring something little that is special for each person.
My son likes smoked oysters. While stores often stock them, I like to make
sure I have them on hand for a great moment. My daughter is a pasta nut so
pulling out an Alfredo sauce is heaven….Bill likes blueberry pancakes with
real maple syrup. I pack frozen blueberries and the syrup.
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I pack for the occasion. At Christmas I pack a frozen
turkey breast. Some mincemeat. Birthday cake mixes.
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I pack for soul food from home. I am from Vancouver BC
so I pack some little frozen packs of salmon – not just for my sushi – but
also for when I meet up with a Mexican fisher who has never tasted salmon.
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Definitely pack the cooking utensils you love. Last
trip I brought a tiny deep fry – for French fries – and a tiny cappuccino
maker for those morning lattes. I used the deep fry often and the
cappuccino maker nearly every day. Of course I brought pizza pans for the
kids.
There are many food items to be
experimental with including this road
side variety of canned goods.
Chickens appear to be
yellow from the
marigolds that
they are fed.
Beef hangs in the open of a
market in the town of
Ometepec.
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