My Slice of Mexico

History and Regional Cuisine, International Topics

Chicago’s Pilsen Neighbourhood

May 28, 2024November 29, 2025by Irene10 Comments

Chicago's neighbourhood of Pielsen is named after the city of Plzeň in the Czech Republic. Until the 1950s, it remained mostly inhabited by European immigrants, but gentrification and new infrastructure in the Near West Side displaced many Mexican families, which then moved to Pilsen. Nowadays, Pielsen is a vibrant neighbourhood with schools, Mexican grocers, restaurants and bakeries, as well as parks, a community centre, and the renowned National Museum of Mexican Art ... click on title for more

International Topics, Mexican Culture

Chicago, and Mexican Heritage in the Windy City

May 22, 2024by Irene8 Comments

My husband was recently in Chicago for business, and I tagged along. Chicago, rightly nicknamed The Windy City, is a fascinating place, with lots of things to do. Mexican workers first arrived at the beginning of the 20th century, and nowadays, Mexican culture and cuisine have a strong presence in Chicago, not just within its Hispanic neighbourhoods, but citywide ... click on title for more

About my family, Celebrations, Desserts

Pastel de Tres Leches for Mother’s Day

May 8, 2024May 8, 2024by Irene5 Comments

I published a post in 2020, during the COVID 19 pandemic, called A Mother’s Day Treat - Pastel de Tres Leches (May 9, 2020). Since then, my recipe for Pastel de tres leches (three-milk cake) has received lots of good reviews, so I thought it would be nice to share the post this year ... click on title for more

Ingredients

Grape Hyacinth Syrup

May 1, 2024December 6, 2024by Irene10 Comments

In contrast to true hyacinths, which are toxic, grape hyacinth flowers are edible, and may be used to make a showy syrup, due to their fragrance and colour, especially when a few drops of acidic juice are added ... click on title for more

gardening