#TopChef in Guadalajara

In August 2017, I entered a food contest being hosted by the Guadalajara Tourism Board on Instagram. The rules were easy: create a dish using avocado. The prize was a free trip to Guadalajara and a chance to dine at one of the restaurants of renowned Tapatio chef Francisco Ruano.

I jumped at the opportunity. How could I not?! I love avocado. I love Mexico. And I love the challenge of dreaming up a new, creative dish. Within 24 hours of finding out about the contest, I went shopping, cooked, and published my unique dish featuring avocado -- Mushroom and Avocado Aguachile.

The mushrooms were shaved thinly, and the avocado was cubed. Easy. The complexity in my dish came from the aguachile, which incorporated serrano chiles, cucumber, avocado leaf, mint, basil, coriander, onion, and plenty of lime juice. Such a punch of flavor!

The Guadalajara Tourism Board announced the winner on Instagram in October 2017. I opened Instagram and saw that I had been chosen, and I immediately yelled. I had never won anything like this before! I was beaming.

I had not been to Guadalajara, but knew so much about the city. My ancestors come from central Mexico, not far from Guadalajara. I was very familiar with its chief cultural exports, tequila and mariachi. I also knew that, despite the city's more traditional reputation, Guadalajara was becoming a creative culinary hotspot. 

When I finally made it to Guadalajara in March 2018, it completely lived up to my expectations. Guadalajara is a beautiful city full of cultural and culinary adventures. I enjoyed traditional Tapatio dishes like birria, tortas ahogadas, carne en su jugo, and tejuino. I walked around the city's beautiful and walkable centro, and explored all of its museums. 

There is still a lot I didn't get to see and eat in Guadalajara. I hope to be back soon!