Around 400 yearsings ago, a Spanish Nobleman Set Sail for the new world. His name, lorenzo longoria. My ancestors arrival changed history, creating Modern Mexico and a gateway between it and the rest of the world. Everything started here. Its also the cradle of mexican gastronomy because all ingredients landed in this spot. And all the ingredients in mexico left from here, chocolate, vanilla, the tomato. Can you imagine italian cuisine without the tomato, or french pastry without chocolate and vanilla . Impossible. The people of veracruz took this Treasure Trove of ingredients passing in and out of the port and created a whole new cuisine. Sp [ speaking nonenglish ]. Wow. Im eva longoria, Born And Bred in texas by as diverse as its 32 states. The ports strategic position Saw Veracruzans fight off repeated invasions right into the 20th century. [ speaking nonenglish ] but this history of conflict from indigenous Power Struggles to African Slavery created a cultural big bang. [ speaking nonenglish ] with a legacy of strong flavors, pioneered by strong women. Every time that i blink, my mind was like, yes, im going to try. I will. Veracruzanos are famous for their defiant spirit. Were known as [ speaking nonenglish ] matched only by a lust for life. Oh, so dont forget to pack your dancing shoes. This is the exact spot my 13th great grandfather landed, right here in the port of veracruz from spain. He was 11 years old. It is kind of amazing im walking in his footsteps right now. And im going to discover the diversity that veracruz has to offer. Only 60 miles wide, veracruz stretches some 400 miles along the gulf coast. These warm waters are home to around 120 species of fish. But fishermen have been selling just five of them, bringing them close to extinction. Now, an awardwinning chef is campaigning to cast the net wider. Hola. [ speaking nonenglish ] this is a beautiful restaurant. Eric left mexico citys World Famous Restaurant to return home on a oneman mission to transform the Fishing Industry in veracruz. So, this was caught this morning . [ speaking nonenglish ] and what type of fish is it . [ speaking nonenglish ] okay. I know its not had the prettiest thing, but erics not one to judge by appearances. Okay. [ speaking nonenglish ] its a lazy fish. [ speaking nonenglish ] yeah. [ speaking nonenglish ] why do you care so much . [ speaking nonenglish ] what are we going to make with the fish . Whats the name . Also known as sailors grunt, this guy might not be an obvious choice for se vie che, but its got erics vote. [ speaking nonenglish ] look at that. Its beautiful. [ speaking nonenglish ] it doesnt even smell like fish. [ speaking nonenglish ] a little onion and i love it because it gives a good crunch. A drizzle of lemon oil. [ speaking nonenglish ] what . I love frijoles in anything. But are they hot . [ speaking nonenglish ] some avocado and dressing. Lets see. Oh, its so beautiful. [ speaking nonenglish ] and were done. Do i just scoop it or what happens . [ speaking nonenglish ] like this . Exactly. Oh, my god. This has changed my life. Im now going to make this forever. This is amazing. For me, the contrast of hot beans with cold is a revelation. And who would have thought those ugly fish could taste so exquisite . But apparently theres more. These are softshelled crabs . Exacto. [ speaking nonenglish ] these blue crabs must be caught just before they shed their exoskeleton and then cooked straight after, while theyre still soft. [ speaking nonenglish ] oh, look at that. Thats gorgeous. [ speaking nonenglish ] so, that goes first . Exacto. Soft shell crabs thrive in warm waters of the gulf, making them an easy catch. Not a bad thing from where im standing. [ speaking nonenglish ] purple onion. Chi chile lemon. It wouldnt be mexico if there wasnt a chile lemon. [ speaking nonenglish ] its so crispy. So crispy, right . Wow. Thats a great combination with the crab. So refreshing. [ speaking nonenglish ] what do you want the world to know about the cuisine of veracruz . [ speaking nonenglish ] erics passion for cooking with every type of fish from veracruz makes him a hero in my book. And ill drink to that. This electric feels different. Because its powered by the most potent source of energy there is. You. This is the lexus variety of electrification. Inspired by, created for and powered by you. All the things i feel inside when i see my mothers eyes love is always in her smile there is no home like a mom celebrate the mom in your life. Choose from our collection of gift sets starting at 99. Mommy giggles new familyguard brand disinfectant spray. Kills 99. 9 of viruses and germs. Surprise is just one spray away. Disinfect 100 plus surfaces, including where kids and pets play. Yes your world. Sc johnson. A family company. For back pain, ive always been a take two and call in the morning guy. But my new doctor recommended salonpas. Without another pill upsetting my stomach, i get powerful, effective and safe relief. Salonpas. Its good medicine. You need to deliver new apps fast using the services you want in the clouds of your choice. With flexible Multicloud Services that enable Digital Innovation and enterprise control, vmware helps you innovate and grow. From big cities, to small towns, and on main streets across the us, youll find pnc bank. Helping businesses both large and small, communities and the people who live and work there grow and thrive. Were proud to call these places home too. Theyre where we put down roots, and where together, we work to help move everyones financial goals forward. Pnc bank. [upbeat music] i love coffee. And it came to mexico via, yep, veracruz. It arrived here from the caribbean in the 18th century i love coffee. And it came to mexico via yep veracruz. It arrived here from the caribbean in the 18th century before passing on throughout Latin America. I enjoy it best with friends. Like mi amiga, actress im so excited youre here. This is a crazy busy place. Said to be one of mexicos oldest cafes is one of anas favorite haunts. What does the rest of mexico think of veracruz . Were known as [ speaking nonenglish ] because i guess were prankers and were always like [ bleep ] [ bleep ]. So, we are known because of our sense of humor. Were very good also at dancing. Everything started here. Exactly. A lot of first things happen here. The coffee, thats why coffee, the first place. Oh, my gosh. [ speaking nonenglish ] okay. Exactly. Yea im a veracruzana. Can you tell me how much you have . Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is so fun. Ringing the glass with the spoon is a tradition that started way back in the late 19th century. When tram drivers in the port rang their bells to order a coffee as they passed. Is it good . Oh, my god. I really recommend you go to go to the Coffee Fields. Where are they . In the mountains . In the mountains. Im definitely going to go see the Coffee Fields. Thats my top of my list. Well, you dont need to tell me twice. This is so beautiful. After coffee arrived here, veracruzanos took it inland to cultivate it, where it flourished, before exporting it back to the rest of the world. This landscape is amazing. I dont feel like im in mexico. I feel like im in an amazon rain forest. Today veracruz produces around a quarter of mexicos coffee, which thrives in the shade and altitude in mountain areas. The Cooler Temperatures up here slow the growth of the beans, making them sweeter and more dense. And the denser the bean, the better the flavor. Hola. Hola. Hi, eva. How are you . Nice to meet you. Welcome to patella. And this is a coffee field. My guide is passionate about these Coffee Fields and supporting local women in agriculture. This is the plant. Look at this. Oh, is this a bean . Yes. Oh, i found one already. Yes. In the 1990s, Coffee Prices plummeted, Driving Farmers to the u. S. In search of work, and leaving many women behind to fend for themselves. A lot of men, they went to the north. And these Coffee Fields were abandoned. Yes, abandoned. And then the women, they said, what we do . We go away, stay on our land. We grew coffee. And this kind of coffee is very interesting because we have, like, a lot of flowers that you can cook today. Oh, you can eat the flowers . Yes. These are the flowers of san lorenzo. Oh, san lorenzo. Maybe you can cut. Oh, lord. I hate when its the high pressure. One plant. How long does it take to grow . Like, one year. Oh, just a year. Okay. Down here . Perfect. But the coffee isnt the only thing full of flavor around here. Apparently these shadegrown flowers are also delicious. And were going to cook them in a stew. [ speaking nonenglish ] [ speaking nonenglish ] it might not seem an obvious combination [ speaking nonenglish ] but as well as being packed with vitamins, the sweetness of the petals enhances the flavor of the tomato, onion, and garlic broth. And help thicken the stew. Oh, thats beautiful. The will be served alongside a salsa made with a san lorenzo flower i picked. And some palm flowers dipped in a light batter and fried until crisp. Okay. [ speaking nonenglish ] oh, my god, look at these little petals. [ speaking nonenglish ] you can feel the fragrance from the petals. [ speaking nonenglish ] i love that. To me, The Palm Flower Fritter has a sweet and sour zucchini taste. Amazing texture. Oh, i love this texture. The women were left to fight for survival, but i think their resourcefulness has not only led to a wonderful way of cooking, but its also given them strength and stature, just like the flowers of the Coffee Fields. Oh, my gosh. This is so good. water splashing hey, dad. Hum. Whats the ocean like . Are there animals living underwater . Is the ocean warm . Yeah, it can be very warm. You were made to remember some days forever. We were made to help you find the best way there. [cheering in stadium] [bass drum hit] [bass drum hit] its not really home field advantage. [bass drum hit] unless you take advantage of it. Great things happen when you spice it up [church bells tolling tune of la bamba] bamba, bamba la la bamba i love that the church bells is la bamba. I grew up listening to la bamba but i didnt know these african cultural influences surviving two centuries of the slave trade blended with those of the indigenous people, as well as the spanish, like my ancestor, lorenzo longoria. And today, neighborhoods around the port reflect this unique mix of cultures. Hola. Mucho gusto. Welcome to veracruz. Im meeting with this food historian. Shes written a book on local cuisine and is my guide. [ speaking nonenglish ] [ speaking nonenglish ] [ speaking nonenglish ] its impossible to overstate the impact of African Culture on this region. But even at the peak of the slave trade, there was resistance. In 1631, a group of rebel slaves won the right to live as free people in their own region. It was a small, but significant victory, given it would take another two centuries before slavery ended in mexico. [ speaking nonenglish ] wow. Yuca frita. Wow. [ speaking nonenglish ] so theyre both roots. [ speaking nonenglish ] but discovered the similar Latin American yuca. So, theyre both roots . [ speaking nonenglish ] africans missed the yams of their homeland but discovered the similar Latin America yuka. Ever since its been used for popular dishes, like Crispy Fried Yuka with garlic. [ speaking nonenglish ] of course it goes without saying that Plantain Fritters are also on the menu. Introduced by the spanish, the treats provided shade for valuable crops, like coffee. Wes valuable crops, like coffee. Wes the Leftover Fruit was used to feed enslaved communities. [ speaking nonenglish ] we smash them, and then were going to put them back in the oil. Okay. Back in the pan they go. [ speaking nonenglish ] theyre like potato chips. You cant eat just one. [ speaking nonenglish ] [chuckles] si. [ speaking nonenglish ] wow. [ speaking nonenglish ] this blend of african, whic indigenous, and spanish influences extends from veracruzanos cooking to the music of the fandango, which originally was a form of protest music. And i find the passion and eist rebellion ity conveys contagiou. Lets face it. Im not one to stand by and watch. This seductively feisty culture shouts resistance, the veracruzano way. Thrill ing thing. Theres an abundance of reasons to get started. How far we take an idea is a question of willpower. Because progress. Is a matter of character. Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer means i cherish my memories. 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Call one eight hundred, Eight Million so ive traveled north from the port of veracruz to the region where vanilla originates. So, ive travelled north from the port of veracruz to the region where vanilla originates. This is where the plant is from. Im so excited, im probably the biggest fan of vanilla. Ive been looking forward to this moment for a long time. They say, good things come to those who wait. And the prized vanilla bean from veracruz is definitely one of those things. I dont think ive ever seen so many Vanilla Beans in one place. Yeah. For mexico ive been invited here by norma guya, from mexicos oldest Vanilla Family, who have been harvesting it for hundreds of years. And she is the first woman to take charge of the business. So, if vanilla is endemic to mexico, is mexico the number one producer . No. Turns out madagascar produces about 80 of the worlds vanilla. But guess what . It was veracruz that gave it to them. Its more expensive. Because its the best . Yes. Of course its the best. And now here, you can see how they are taking care of each vanilla bean. Each vanilla bean. Each vanilla bean just to be sure. It can get infected. So, she needs to cut the tip off. Wow. Very labor intensive. And thats just the tip of the vanilla bean. Wait until you hear what it takes to create it in the first place. This is a van nilla plantation. Is it just this one . To the north of veracruz, the Vanilla Plant was originally only pollinated by bees, until it was discovered you could do the same thing by hand. I never knew they were vines. Yes. I thought it was a bush or a plant. No. Vanilla comes from the seed pods of a hermaphrodite orchid. The flower has to be pollinated within a single window of a few hours, or it will die. Now, get ready for a bit of biology. The Vanilla Plant is like a woman. If you want to pollinate, you need to speak very lovely and then open it. And youre going to take out the pollen from the male and put it inside of the female orchid. So, were impregnating the woman. Yes. And then you need to wait nine months in order to make the crop. Like a baby . Yes. What happened . Oh, lord. Here, you see . You need to open. I open this part right here . Yeah. I need glasses. Yeah. And thats the male right there . Yeah. So, you need to open it. I dont want to [ bleep ] up the vanilla bean. Okay. Okay. Okay. Here we go. So, im okay. Yes. Then pull it. Then pull it down. Then push it. Is that it . Yes. Did i make a vanilla baby . Yes. I feel like we need a glass of wine. [ laughter ] yeah. Yea we did it. So, people now need to do it, like 5,000 per day, Something Like that for one month. Thats so stressful. You have to do that with all of these flowers . Yeah. Thats amazing. Im happy im only doing one. This Pain Staking Process makes vanilla one of the most expensive spices in the world, worth nearly its weight in gold. This is a family house. Oh, this is so beautiful. We are going to cook chicken with vanilla. And here it is. Heres the bean. Yes, yes. And what is this . Nata. Nata is the thick, butterlike cream that forms on the top of milk after its been boiled. And do we put the vanilla in here . Yes. Now were talking. Its like gold. Yeah. This is like black gold. Thats amazing. I put it in here . Yes. So vibrant. Just that small amount. And Vanilla Extract. And this is pure Vanilla Extract from the vanilla bean. Yes. Yes. Now we add braised onions to this hot, creamy mixture. Ready. Okay. Now we go to blend it . Yes. Because this is going to be the sauce of the chicken . Yes. Flavoring savory dishes with vanilla is the thing around here. Ive never had chicken with vanilla. Inspired by normas great grandmothers recipe, the sauce is added to Chicken Pieces gently sauted in butter. What was it like growing up in a Vanilla Family . Its very interesting because my love for the vanilla began with the vanilla growers. I know that the woman was not part of them. Of the process . Yes. Its just for men. Do you have brothers . Yeah. But theyre not in the business . They are not. Im in charge of everything. They say, you cannot do it. You cannot do it. Because youre a woman . Because im a woman, uhhuh. Every time theyre like, you cannot, in my mind im like, yes, im going to do it. I will. Now that all the flavors have had a chance to marry, tiny pieces of vanilla are sprinkle on top. Its like caviar. You have to be very sparing with it. We even added vanilla to the salad dressing. Oh. Thats refreshing. Viola. This is my son and my father. [ speaking nonenglish ] okay. Let me try this dish that ive never had before. Its good. Oh, my god, mm. Everybody has to eat this when were done. The finale to this incredible day is dessert. Bananas doused in the homemade vanilla liquor. Look at this ice cream. Just melting. Wow. Thank you so much for today. What an experience . I was so excited. Ive been such a fan of vanilla, and now i know everything about it. And ive impregnated a vanilla bean. Yeah. So, im a proud parent. Woman why did we choose safelite . Were always working on a project. While loading up our suv, one extra push and. Crack so, we scheduled at safelite. Com. We were able to track our technician and knew exactly when hed arrive. We can keep working synth music woman safelite came to us. Tech hi, im kendrick. Woman replaced our windshield, and installed new wipers to protect our new glass. Thats service on our time. Singers safelite repair, safelite replace. Come seek the royal caribbean. man what if my Type 2 Diabetes takes over . woman what if all i do isnt enough . Or what if i can do diabetes differently . avo now you can with onceweekly mounjaro. 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Celebrate the mom in your life. Choose from our collection of gift sets starting at 99. [dramatic music] so this is el tajin. This place was inhabited by the totonac civilization, and they were very prosperous. You can tell just by these ruins. Theres many buildings dedicated so, this is el tajin. This place was inhabited by the totonac civilization. You can tell by the buildings, theres many buildings dedicated to ceremony and rituals. It extends forever. Over 1,000 years ago, way before any spanish arrived, two civilizations vied for supremacy in veracruz, the aztecs and the totonacs. And up here in the north, it was the totonacs that prevailed. Set between two large streams that flowed to the river, el tajin was perfectly shielded from attack, and is one of the bestpreserved prehispanic cities in mexico. This advantage was key to the survival of the totonac people. And this particular culture is still practicing their rituals and ceremonies today. Hola. [ speaking nonenglish ] i host founded smoke women, a group that keeps Ancient Totonac traditions alive, while also supporting local women. [ speaking nonenglish ] okay. [ speaking nonenglish ] smoke has always been integral to totonac culture. Its used in preserving food and also cooking rituals. [ speaking nonenglish ] a shot of moonshine keeps the devil away. [ speaking nonenglish ] el tajins position between two rivers didnt just provide protection. It was also a source of food for these communities, like these fresh water shrimp, which were going to cook. [ speaking nonenglish ] just so yall know, you know, nature doesnt lie. They are the star ingredient of a traditional totonac stew. [ speaking nonenglish ] [ speaking nonenglish ] everything were using in these recipes is foraged from the local area, like these mushrooms, which are crushed to make the filling for the empanada. [ speaking nonenglish ] [ speaking nonenglish ] these look amazing. [ speaking nonenglish ] wow. So beautiful. A few minutes on the heat [ speaking nonenglish ] and our Totonac Feast is ready. [ speaking nonenglish ] [ speaking nonenglish ] okay. She sucked the head. [ speaking nonenglish ] okay. Lets have this mushroom empanada. Its crispy. A little spicy. It tastes very [ speaking nonenglish ] smoke preserves, but it can also change to fit the shape of the space. And from what i have seen, the totonacs also know how to adapt. Maybe its that attitude and resilience thats the secret to success. [ speaking nonenglish ] how to grow more vibrant flowers step one feed them with miraclegro shake n feed. Thats it. Miraclegro. All you need to know to grow. How to grow delicious herbs step one use miraclegro potting mix. Thats it. Miraclegro. All you need to know to grow. Come seek the royal caribbean. Celebrate the mom in your life. Choose from our collection of gift sets starting at 99. [upbeat music] hola welcome, eva. Hola gracias. Are you hungry . Yeah. Want to join me . Yes. Im always hungry. Im so excited to meet luis palmeros, one of mexicos unique she was. Before i see him in action, there is someone he wants me to meet. Im going to introduce you to one of the most important cooks here. Its an amazing person and cook. Luis wants me to try dona luisas specialty. She teaches me how to cook a chili. Is this how it started . Yeah, were going try a chili. Its a mixture between two cultures. Its the mexican one and the spanish. Yet another of veracruzs culinary gifts to the world, the Famous Jalapeno originated right here in jalapa. Around 60 miles inland from the port, the capital city is nestled in lush, fertile landscape. Jalapeno peppers have been cultivated here since the time of the aztecs. Just dig in . Okay. Yes. So whats inside of it . Whats the filling . Its many ingredients. Its tomato, its rice. Mmm. Oh my good. I know this is beautiful because this is the traditional way. Yeah. But im going to give you my impression. I dont know if you can top dona rosillos. I dont know. To create a modern version of chili in caldeo, we need a suitably modern space. The vibe is stripped back and simple. I suspect the food will be anything but. This is whats going to go inside the chili . Si, inside the chili. In his tooking, luis celebrates different influences, like fried african plantain. Raisin . Thats very spanish. And he combines these with capers and herbs for the filling. Thyme. On fire yeah, of course. You can smell that alcohol mixed with the plantains. I mean, it makes the plantains explode. Explode, yeah. As a tribute to tradition, luis smokes the filling for 12 to 16 hours. Thank god hes got one ready. It smells amazing. You can smell every single spice. There is not one that overpowers the other. Okay. Oh my god, guys, i dont want to brag, but mine is perfect. Look at that its like the mexican flag. Si. Thats so beautiful. I need my phone thank you. But its not just the food. At this restaurant, even the drinks are smoked. Oh, this is so beautiful. Smoked aperol. Stanley tucci has to see this. Gracias. Si. Mmm. This is amazing. This is quite different from this morning, but at the same time, very familiar and definitely nods to the traditional way you make chili relleno. Just as my roots in veracruz go back hundreds of years, so do the origins of every recipe. Vera veracruzanos continue to celebrate the produce that pass through their port. But fighting for the freedom to create something new has also been a cornerstone of their rich history. And with that kind of mindset, you just know there are more great things to come