One of the things I love about the Mercado del Pueblo, a wonderful Mexican market, deli, and bakery a few blocks across the river from downtown, is the smell of freshly cooked Mexican food combined with the warmth of the store and all the traditional ingredients. It feels like you just might be in Mexico, if just for a few minutes.
Mercado del Pueblo has two gluten free things going for it. They are an affordable resource for authentic Mexican spices and ingredients without suspicious fillers so you can cook your own favorite south-of-the-border dishes at home. Bulk bins of chilis, big bags of masa to make tortillas, and all sorts of canned and bottled ingredients won’t leave you wanting for much. This is all well-and-good, but not the best of the gluten free offerings. It’s the tamales. These warm handfuls of corn wrapped around juicy meats and gooey cheeses held together with a corn-husk don’t have any wheat flour or gf ingredients.
Shredded Beef Tamale
Bean and Cheese Tamale, dissected.
And the folks at Mercado Del Pueblo are good at cleaning the kitchen between batches of food to keep cross contamination down. Check it out and support another deliciously local establishment.
Bring your own pot for Menudo.
