Ep 12. Photographic Food Memories

Pati's Mexican Table season 7 episode 12, titled Photographic Food Memories, features Mexican-American chef and author Pati Jinich as she takes a trip down memory lane through old family photo albums. Pati reminisces with her son, Alan, about their family vacations and gatherings that revolved around one crucial aspect- the food. From their first family trip to the beach to their grandparent's backyard barbecues, Pati cooks up some of her family's favorite dishes while sharing stories of the memories tied to them.

In the first segment of the episode, Pati dives into her photo album from when she was a young child living in Mexico. It features a picture of her at her beloved great grandma, Jovita's, house. She prepares Jovita's signature dish, a simple yet flavorful chicken and vegetable soup, which was a staple at Jovita's house every Sunday. Pati reflects on the love and care her great-grandmother put into making the soup and how it's a cherished memory of her childhood.

Next, Pati flips through a photo album from a family trip to La Paz, a beach town in Baja California. She connects the memory of the trip to a seafood dish, shrimp in garlic sauce. Pati recalls how they would go fishing in the morning and, later in the day, enjoy a feast of freshly caught shrimp cooked in garlic sauce with rice and beans. She shares her take on the recipe the way her family enjoyed it- simple and delicious.

In the third segment, Pati takes a look at pictures from a vacation in Mazatlan, where her family rented a house with a beautiful backyard where they would have barbecues every night. Pati recreates an appetizer served by the house cook that she adored on that trip- grilled cactus with jalapeno vinaigrette. As she prepares the dish, she reminisces about the incredible flavors and feeling of togetherness that surrounded the barbecue parties in that backyard.

For the fourth memory, Pati recalls a Christmas Eve dinner at her cousin's house when they prepared a turkey mole dish for the first time. The way everyone pitched in to help cook the meal and the anticipation of that first bite made it a cherished memory. She shares her version of the recipe, which includes toasting the mole ingredients to bring out their deep, smoky flavors.

Lastly, Pati reminisces about the countless carne asada cookouts she's experienced throughout her life, especially during large family gatherings. The memory that stood out was a trip to a local ranch in Mexico where they barbecued a whole cow. Pati shares her recipe for grilled marinated flank steak, which is a staple at all of their carne asada gatherings.

Throughout the episode, Pati's cooking and storytelling highlight the significance of food in creating and honoring cherished memories. Her dishes are simple, yet authentic, and full of flavor, just like the memories they bring back to life. The episode serves as a reminder of the power of food to connect us to the past and to each other in the present.