🌽 Country Cookup Potluck (Mexico & Tamales) - Sat, Nov 7, 5pm, Auburn

Calling all home cooks, bakers and culinary adventurers — we’re heading to Mexico for our next Country Cookup Challenge!

This is part of our country-by-country food making adventure series, where everyone picks a dish from the list below with the end goal of making something a bit different from what you might usually do, and then we enjoy eating a feast from that country in a potluck format.

Hosted by Paola (Mexican) and Alejandra (Venezuelan) who brought us the empanada-making session previously, you'll see that Mexican cuisine goes far beyond tacos and burritos. Think smoky chillies, corn, beans, slow-cooked meats, steamed goodies, fresh coriander / cilantro, tangy salsas and rich dark chocolate mole savoury sauces.
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### 🌽 How this Cookup Works

• RSVP to the event and let us know which dish you'd like to make from the list below, when you RSVP or in the event comments. A range of recipes are available online for each dish.
• Prepare your dish at home and bring it along for our 5pm potluck.
  Remember to keep portions regular size, just enough for everyone to get a little taste of all the dishes.
• Once a dish has been claimed, we'll add the person's name & selected dish in the menu listed here in the event description to help us avoid duplicates.
• For those also interested in joining us earlier in learning and practicing making mexican tamales from 1pm, seating is limited... so you must rsvp separately with me to save your spot.

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### Optional : Tamale Making Session, 1PM (must confirm your spot with me separately)

Want to learn how to make tamales from scratch?
Starting at 1:00 PM, we'll make the tamales together, then get them steaming. Tamales take around 1½–2 hours to steam, so if we have the time, we can also enjoy a short game together while we wait.
You don't need to make tamales to attend the main event or enjoy eating them. If you'd like to join the tamale session, please let us know as we have limited seating for this activity.

If you're helping to make tamales, you can contribute ingredients for it OR make a potluck items from the list below. If you bring an item, we have a fridge, can reheat it as needed too, and/or can also make it when you're here. We have a microwave etc for any reheating needs.
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### 🌽 Menu confirmed to date

• Hibiscus Ice Tea (Freya)
• Guacamole and Pico de Gallo (Paulina)
• Refried beans with mince and salsa (Amit)
• Suadero (Ben)
• Calabacitas Vegetables (Manna)
• Tamales (subgroup event - you'll need to let me know if you want to join the tamales making session!)
• Polvorones / Mexican wedding biscuits (Ai Lin)
• Arroz con Leche (Natasha)
• Other dishes will be added here as they are confirmed by event participants

...and if you're searching for inspiration, below are a range of Mexican dishes that you can choose from for the potluck! I've bolded the ones that would be especially great to bring. Also feel free to suggest another recipe not on the list, if it's Mexican.

### 📋 Mexican Dish Pick List

🌶️ Starters, Salsas & Sides

• Guacamole - TAKEN
• Pico de Gallo - TAKEN
• Salsa Verde
• Salsa Roja - TAKEN
• Esquites — Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Elote — Mexican Street Corn
• Frijoles Refritos — Refried Beans - TAKEN
• Nopales — Cactus Salad
• Queso Fundido
• Quesadillas
• Chilaquiles
• Mexican Rice / Arroz Rojo
• Tamales — TAKEN

🌮 Mains

• Tacos al Pastor
• Carnitas — Slow-cooked Pork
• Cochinita Pibil — Yucatán-style Slow-cooked Pork
• Chicken Tinga
• Birria
• Enchiladas
• Chiles Rellenos — Stuffed Chillies
• Pozole
• Mole Poblano
• Tostadas
• Tlayudas — Oaxacan-style Giant Tortilla
• Pambazos — Stuffed Bread Rolls
• Picadillo
• Calabacitas — Mexican-style Squash & Vegetables - TAKEN

🍮 Desserts & Sweet Things - We have enough desserts now

• Churros
• Tres Leches Cake
• Flan
• Pastel de Elote — Mexican Corn Cake
• Arroz con Leche — Mexican Rice Pudding - TAKEN
• Conchas — Mexican Sweet Bread
• Buñuelos
• Mexican Chocolate Cake
• Cajeta — Goat's Milk Caramel
• Pan de Muerto (if you're feeling particularly ambitious!)

Plus if you've got a favourite Mexican dish that isn't on the list, feel free to suggest it too!
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### 🕐 Logistics

Tamale-making session: 1:00 PM
Doors open for the main potluck: 5:00 PM
Dinner begins: ~5:30 PM

📍 Location: Near Auburn Central in Auburn.
Location details will be emailed to attendees a couple of days before the event.

We'll also provide contact information in the email with the location details in case anyone needs help finding us.

Transport:

• 🚗 Street parking is available nearby.
• 🚆 The location is approximately a 6 minute walk from Auburn train station.

We'll have cups, plates and cutlery available, so there's no need to bring these for your dishes.

Come hungry with your Mexican dish, and let's see how much of Mexico we can fit onto one dinner table.

Cheers,
Ale, Paola & Natia
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>> safely discuss, cook and eat all types of foods from around the world,
>> be treated fairly, equally and with respect by all members, and
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