Montreal's Chuck Hughes says he hopes to open Canadian eyes to "a different Mexico" with his new TV series
By Victoria Ahearn, Canadian Press
August 24, 2012 6:07 AM
Montreal star chef Chuck Hughes says he hopes to open Canadian eyes to "a different Mexico" with his new TV series.
Chuck's Week Off, debuting Aug. 28 on Food Network Canada, saw him venturing on and off the beaten path for two months in Mexico, trying everything from hiking to diving to lassoing with locals.
Of course, he also helped make authentic Mexican meals along the way, including home-made ranchero cheese, beef jerky, chocolate clams, and head tacos (complete with eyes, brain, tongue and cheek).
Hughes says despite recent head-lines surrounding violent attacks on Canadians in Mexico, and a travel warning from Ottawa urging Canucks to exercise "extreme caution" in certain states there, he never felt unsafe during his stay last summer.
"Unfortunately there's probably 5,000 people that give a country of 120 million a bad rap," he said. "I travelled for two months everywhere, I literally went everywhere, not once did I feel threatened, not once did I feel scared. People were more scared of me, if anything. They were like, who is that tall white guy with all the tattoos?" Hughes was particularly taken with Mexico City, where he stayed in the French-influenced Condesa district.
"I feel like it's a place where almost, I belong there. I felt like I was home," said Hughes, 35. "I'd love to raise my kids in Mexico City. I love the whole country, it was amazing, but Mexico City in particular was just really eye-opening to me. It's probably cooler than New York, it's probably cooler than Paris, it's probably cooler than London. It's just a lot of creative young people.
The eight-part series is the first spinoff of Hughes' Gemini Award-nominated Chuck's Day Off, which is broadcast in 30 countries.
The co-owner and chef of Montreal hot spots Garde Manger and Le Bremner chose Mexico for the spinoff because he know how to speak a little bit of Spanish and wanted to explore its terrain and cuisine.
"Everybody knows pico de gallo and tacos - well there's so much more," he said by phone from Garde Manger.
Chuck's Week Off, debuting Aug. 28 on Food Network Canada, saw him venturing on and off the beaten path for two months in Mexico, trying everything from hiking to diving to lassoing with locals.
Of course, he also helped make authentic Mexican meals along the way, including home-made ranchero cheese, beef jerky, chocolate clams, and head tacos (complete with eyes, brain, tongue and cheek).
Hughes says despite recent head-lines surrounding violent attacks on Canadians in Mexico, and a travel warning from Ottawa urging Canucks to exercise "extreme caution" in certain states there, he never felt unsafe during his stay last summer.
"Unfortunately there's probably 5,000 people that give a country of 120 million a bad rap," he said. "I travelled for two months everywhere, I literally went everywhere, not once did I feel threatened, not once did I feel scared. People were more scared of me, if anything. They were like, who is that tall white guy with all the tattoos?" Hughes was particularly taken with Mexico City, where he stayed in the French-influenced Condesa district.
"I feel like it's a place where almost, I belong there. I felt like I was home," said Hughes, 35. "I'd love to raise my kids in Mexico City. I love the whole country, it was amazing, but Mexico City in particular was just really eye-opening to me. It's probably cooler than New York, it's probably cooler than Paris, it's probably cooler than London. It's just a lot of creative young people.
The eight-part series is the first spinoff of Hughes' Gemini Award-nominated Chuck's Day Off, which is broadcast in 30 countries.
The co-owner and chef of Montreal hot spots Garde Manger and Le Bremner chose Mexico for the spinoff because he know how to speak a little bit of Spanish and wanted to explore its terrain and cuisine.
"Everybody knows pico de gallo and tacos - well there's so much more," he said by phone from Garde Manger.
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