Deep Fry

Churros are a Spanish classic, usually sold in street-side shops and quickly transported home or to a local café to enjoy with thick hot chocolate. They're made with a piece of equipment called a churrera, which is a type of pastry tube.

A salad topping.

"One of the most unusual restaurants in our area is Kemo Sabe," says Laura Bates of San Diego, California. "Co-chef and co-owner Deborah Scott combines influences from around the world to create interesting dishes—including the restaurant’s signature appetizer of fried Brie with jalapeño jelly. I’d love to serve it to my friends." Place a small bowl of jalapeño jelly on a platter, and surround it with fried Brie wedges and French bread slices for a lovely presentation. Chef Scott makes her own jalapeño jelly; the purchased kind is an easy substitute.

This recipe is an accompaniment for Red-Cooked Pork with Frizzled Ginger. Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

Hojuelas de Harina con Miel de Pilón Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr

Founded in 1912 in the city's historic district, Café Tacuba is a Mexico City institution. The beautiful Talavera tiles that decorate the 19th-century colonial-style building are worth a visit in and of themselves. The extensive menu offers a little something for everyone — from huevos rancheros for breakfast to roast beef for dinner. The popular buñuelos (sweet fritters) are particularly delicious.

We tested this recipe with both stone-ground and regular "old-fashioned" grits; we liked the stone-ground best here because of its pronounced corn flavor and appealing texture. If you already have the "old-fashioned" type on hand, it's a fine substitute. Simply follow our procedure and disregard the cooking instructions on the package.

For more information about forming and frying these pastry spirals, see Our Big Fat Greek Pastries.