food - it's a kind of magic

Food can be a source of comfort, a memory of home, an invitation to an exotic getaway. Something tangible, whose aroma, texture and taste transport us to another time or place. This physical experience of eating is inextricably linked to thoughts and emotions, especially here at Casa Coco. The flavours of Mexico take us home (somewhere that feels particularly far away right now) and evoke memories of family, gatherings with friends and smells of mama’s cooking. The whole process is therapeutic for us, from sourcing and preparing the authentic ingredients, to using traditional methods and utensils in our cooking. Making a stew of bacalao at Christmas or a batch of tamales in February keeps us close to our family and connected to our traditions that form such an integral part of our culture.

There’s no better example of this connection between body and mind than Laura Esquivel’s award-winning novel Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992). Tita and Pedro meet at Tita’s family ranch on the Mexico–US border, against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and it’s love at first sight – but a forbidden love that can never be realised. Tita’s mother Mama Elena is a terrifying (and often violent) matriarch, who insists on observing an age-old tradition: that the youngest daughter remains unmarried, so she can stay at home and care for her mother until she dies. Tita is a passionate young woman and a born cook, with a completely intuitive sense for food and a love of preparing and cooking it. As the story unfolds, Tita’s emotions around her tragic circumstances and her longing for Pedro infuse into her cooking and have the most alarming results on everyone who tastes her food. In this way, Tita uses her exquisite dishes as a vessel to communicate her emotions to the world, and particularly to form a private connection to Pedro. At the beginning of each chapter is a different recipe and the narrator describes in detail as we follow Tita lovingly preparing each dish. Traditional methods, such as preserving ingredients for months at a time, whisk us away to another time and place where food was given the love and attention it deserves.

Today, with a greater focus on mental health and mindfulness – especially during this strange period we are living through – food is a source of comfort like never before. A lot of research over the last ten years or so has focussed on the link between the brain and the gut, suggesting that the foods we eat, as well as when and how we eat, has a significant impact on our mood. Many are advocating mindful eating, enjoying every mouthful in order to better appreciate the whole experience. In a world that feels to have shrunk, we look for any way to expand our minds, our personal spheres and our experiences. If we can find complete joy in preparing, cooking and eating food, perhaps we can introduce a little magic into every single day, just like Tita and Pedro. Why not read the novel and watch the movie this Valentine’s Day with your love? You might even find some foodie inspiration for your next meal!

Happy Valentine’s Day ❤