In a world of ‘experts,’ Bill Esparza is the experts' expert. Here, he has literally written The Book on Mexican cuisine in our town. A must for anybody who lives in, or plans on visiting, the best food city in America: Los Angeles.”
— Phil Rosenthal, host of PBS's I’ll Have What Phil’s Having
“Bill Esparza’s L.A. Mexicano is the book I wish I could write. The L.A. dining scene has exploded in the last decade, fueled by the passion inspired by the Mexican community in Southern California. Esparza knows this world better than anyone, and like all great books about food, it’s both a learning adventure and a culinary inspiration for the home cook.”
— Andrew Zimmern, Food & Wine contributing editor and host of such Travel Channel shows as Bizarre Foods
Celebrated on NPR's Dinner Party Download with Rico Gagliano!
"Fascinating and inspirational"
—Evan Kleiman, Good Food , KCRW/NPR
"Thanks to the recipes Esparza has gleaned, cooks outside Southern California can duplicate everything from complex mole negro to simple fresh salsas."
— Booklist
“Much has been said about the great gastronomic legacy of Mexico: its richness, diversity, and sophistication. From that perspective, Bill Esparza writes about the promising future of the Mexican kitchen in Los Angeles. I could not agree more.”
— Enrique Olvera, famed Mexican chef and author of Mexico From the Inside Out
“A deep dive into the complex food culture that permeates California’s most glamorous city."
— New Worlder
“The original tacorazzo, Bill Esparza is one of the staunchest defenders of true Mexican cuisine. He's the first one to call out an impostor and the first one to cry foul when a paisano doesn't get the recognition he deserves. A rare voice you can trust, Bill has done the research, and he selflessly honors the true players in Mexican cuisine with no other intention other than to honor a culture and cuisine that is too often misrepresented. A must in your collection!”
— Marcela Valladolid, host of the Food Network’s Mexican Made Easy and The Kitchen and author of Casa Marcela and Mexican Made Easy
“ L.A. Mexicano is a glowing portrait of a city and the special relationship Angelenos have with Mexican food. It combines the stories behind beloved institutions with insights from cutting-edge chefs, plus all the recipes you've always wanted.”
— Patric Kuh, restaurant critic of Los Angeles Magazine and author of Finding the Flavors We Lost
08/01/2017
Take a tour of Los Angeles's Mexican cuisine with expert and James Beard Award-winning writer Esparza, who deftly covers the topic with passion and sensitivity. After introducing kitchen equipment, techniques, ingredients, and Mexico's culinary regions, he begins with simple recipes for beans, rice, and various kinds of salsa. He then guides readers through three distinct styles of Mexican food, sharing wide-ranging recipes (e.g., taquitos with avocado sauce, chicken relleno negro, squash tacos with pumpkin seeds & avocado-tomatillo salsa) from notable individuals, restaurants, food trucks, and other vendors. Lengthy profiles highlight community figures and add context, and a concluding list of neighborhood resources recommends places to visit. VERDICT A fascinating read, this informative cookbook will thrill Mexican food lovers who value variety and authenticity. Highly recommended.
