5 gastronomic towns for your “bucket list”

Everyone has their own wish list where we jot down all the places we want to travel to, and if you are a food lover, those places usually also have culinary epicenters. In Mexico, there are many towns that, in addition to offering cultural experiences that include architecture, crafts, and natural destinations, also await you with delicious food. Today we will tell you about five Mexican towns that should make it onto your travel list for 2016. Apatzingán, Michoacán Near the Pacific coast of Mexico and less than an hour from the city of Morelia, this town has a very old culinary history. Traditional dishes from this place include aporreadillo (semi-dried, shredded meat), morisqueta (rice with beans bathed in sauce and cheese or meat), and the always traditional caldo de olla. Make sure you do not miss their traditional corundas for any reason when you visit. Recipe: Avocado Cream Teotilán del Valle, Oaxaca Teotitlán also has a long gastronomic tradition, but visiting this Oaxacan town is worth it simply for one name: Tlamanalli. This restaurant, run by traditional cook Abigail Mendoza, has not only been chosen as one of the best in Mexico but has even made it onto the New York Times list of places to eat around the world before you die. Recipe: Tlayuda with Beans and Cheese Papantla, Veracruz Yes, this site is famous for its daring flyers, but it also has many delicious dishes to offer, which is why it is one of the Mexican towns where it is most worthwhile to arrive hungry. There you can find bean tamales, fish, picadillo, shrimp, and chicharrón. There are also all kinds of atoles: purple and sweet potato among them. And for those with a savory tooth, don't miss their moles, enmoladas, and Veracruz-style enchiladas. Recipe: Cajeta Atole Yecapixtla, Morelos The most famous cecina in all of Mexico comes from this town, which attracts thousands of visitors every year to come and try its star dish. You can enjoy it in the various restaurants near the central parish, but you can also buy it by the kilo and take it home to share with everyone. We recommend you also try the enchilada version; you will love it. Recipe: Cecina Tacos on Blue Tortilla Valladolid, Yucatán Many people bet on Oaxacan food as the best in the country, but if there is a local cuisine that will always be its eternal rival, it is Yucatecan food. If you like cochinita, salbutes, recado negro, queso relleno, or lechón, then Valladolid will be paradise for you. You can also savor a delicious sopa de lima and enjoy a tasty coffee while strolling through the picturesque streets of the town. Recipe: Salbutes