Mexican specialty foods are popular in the United States, especially in the South. But no matter where you live, there will always be a demand for authentic Mexican food, and you can cash in on this demand by opening your own restaurant. Before you start scouting out a location, you need to get some Mexican specialty and gourmet foods education and training.

There are a few basic spices and ingredients used to make a whole variety of Mexican dishes. If you can get the basics down, you're well on your way. Having some kind of formal training will be helpful, too. As with all culinary arts, experience is important. Before you open that restaurant of Mexican food specialties, consider the following:

1. Perfect the basic flavors and techniques of Mexican specialty and gourmet foods. The two most important food items are chile peppers and tortillas.

2. Take courses in Mexican specialties at a local school. This can be a single class at a community college or a full-on program at a culinary school.

3. Travel south for authentic classes in gourmet Mexican food. Learning from people who make this type of food on a regular basis can really enhance your skills.

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Learn the basics about Mexican food products

Chile peppers and tortillas are staples in Mexican cuisine. From basics like tortilla chips with salsa to specialties like chilaquiles, knowing how to use chiles and tortillas will put you on the path toward Mexican culinary mastery.

I recommend: Read up on the different types of Mexican chiles at Frontera Foods. Try your hand at making authentic flour tortillas by using the technique of Chef Jason Hill, shown on 5min.

Enroll in a class to learn how to make Mexican specialty foods

If you want to take formal classes, consider looking around at local community colleges, technical schools and culinary arts schools. All of these offer classes that may be of interest. If you would like to go through a formal culinary arts program, the material is likely to be more broad but Mexican food should be covered to some extent. These classes will give you a great foundation on which to build through experience.

I recommend: Take courses at the Santa Fe School of Cooking in New Mexico. Find a culinary school in your state using Cooking Schools.us; before you enroll in a culinary program, make sure they offer classes in Mexican cuisine.

Go straight to the source to learn authentic Mexican food cooking techniques

If you want to open your own Mexican restaurant, you'll need to be able to replicate the dishes made in Mexico. There are lots and lots of cooking classes in Mexico, so if you have the time and money to travel, it'll be well worth it. You'll learn how to use Mexican ingredients as well as proper cooking techniques.

I recommend: Consider the classes at Mayan Beach Garden, Cozumel My Cozumel and SanMiguelGuide.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sometimes, local Mexican specialty restaurants offer cooking classes for the public for a small fee. Alternatively, if you can get a group of people together, you may be able to talk the owner into reserving a morning for a group lesson.

Mexican specialty and gourmet foods are the perfect addition to your specialty food shop. Or buy delicious Mexican food online to stock the pantry for your restaurant. Choose from spicy salsas, rubs, tamales and other scrumptious Mexican food products that will keep your customers coming back for more.

Also buy authentic Mexican food online for gift baskets. Sure to be a unique way of saying thank you, these Mexican specialty foods gift baskets are easy to assemble, or choose a basket ready to send. Either way, you can say "good job" to employees and clients alike. These spicy treats also will make the next office party a big hit. When buying Mexican specialty foods, consider:

1. Stocking gourmet salsa for Mexican specialties, sure to be a customer favorite;

2. Creating authentic Mexican food baskets for corporate gifts that won't be forgotten;

3. Or selecting gourmet Mexican food for your next office party that will be remembered for the tasty cuisine.

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Stock gourmet salsa for Mexican specialties that will keep customers coming back

Buy Mexican specialities online and save with wholesale prices. Take a trip south of the border without traveling further than your computer. Stock your shelves with the best wholesale gourmet salsas. And these gourmet Mexican salsas will also complement anything you serve at your restaurant.

I recommend: Select Prospero Gourmet Salsa and Dip from Epicurean Foods. For other wholesale salsas, go to Sweg's Salsa for the best prices.

Create authentic Mexican food baskets for corporate gifts that won't be forgotten

You can never go wrong with gourmet Mexican food in tasteful gift baskets. Choose from salsas, spices and other scrumptious Mexican specialties that are easy to find online. Choose these Mexican food products and buy your own basket, or choose a basket all ready to mail or give to valued employees.

I recommend: For a variety of gift baskets, go to Mexican Food & Gifts to Go and Gift-Baskets-4U.com to find the perfect Mexican food specialties baskets.

Select gourmet Mexican food for your next office party

When you're throwing your next office party, spice it up with Mexican food products. Perfect for barbecues or chips and dips, Mexican gourmet foods are sure to be a big hit. One of our favorites is premade tamales, or buy everything you need online to make them yourself.

I recommend: Choose the perfect party fixings at MexGrocer.com and Carnie's Kitchen Gourmet Food for a bash everyone will remember.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When buying online Mexican food products, ask about how long shipping takes. You want to make sure perishables arrive quickly without costing a fortune. You also want to make sure you can request items in a rush when needed.

Mexican food is not just tacos and enchiladas. Mexican gourmet cooks know how to take chile peppers and corn, two staple ingredients of the Mexican diet, and combine them with a host of other ingredients to create an array of tasty, mouth-watering dishes. In fact, Mexican cuisine is a combination of the influence of many nations and is considered one of the most varied cuisines in the world. Several key ingredients and foods contribute to the makeup of Mexican cuisine. Here are just a few terms for starters.

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Chiles and pimientos

Chiles are hot peppers used for culinary as well as medicinal purposes. Chiles are a staple in Mexican and South American cuisine. Pimientos are small sweet red peppers similar to bell peppers. Pimientos can be eaten raw or cooked. When ground into a powder they become the spice paprika.

I recommend: WiseGeek discusses different types of peppers and their use.

Frijoles

Frijoles are small black beans used in Mexican cuisine. Frijoles rank next to corn in the Mexican diet. They are a good source of protein and are usually boiled and then fried. Frijoles can be served as the main meal or used as a garnish with the meal.

I recommend: Find an easy frijoles recipe at Southern Living.

Salsa

Salsa is a popular Mexican sauce that uses a mixture of red and green tomatoes, onion, chili and coriander. It can be eaten as a relish or a dip.

I recommend: Read more about salsa on Mexconnect.

Tortillas

Tortillas have been a staple food of Mexicans for many generations. Tortillas can be made of flour or corn and are often served alongside a meal. Tortillas can also become the meal itself. Enchiladas, tacos and quesadillas all use tortillas as a base ingredient.

I recommend: Learn the history of tortillas through What's Cooking America.

Guacamole

Guacamole is dip made with ripe avocado seasoned with onions, chilies and coriander. It can also be served as a garnish.

I recommend: Find a guacamole recipe at Simply Recipes.

Tamales and empanadas

Tamales are a cornmeal paste wrapped in corn or banana husks and often stuffed with chicken, pork or turkey and/or vegetables, then steamed. Empanadas are usually turnovers with a pastry crust and meat filling. Sometimes empanadas are filled with fruit and served as dessert.

I recommend: Go to Chilefire.com for authentic and tasty Mexican tamales and empanadas recipes.

If you own a Mexican restaurant, you can gain a lot of credibility, and potentially new customers, by using genuine Mexican food products. The more of these products you use, the more people may see your restaurant as authentic, especially people who are familiar with traditional Mexican foods.

If you're new to Mexican specialty and gourmet foods, for beginners you may want to purchase just a few items to incorporate into your restaurant menu. Some items to start with are:

1. Gourmet Mexican desserts, such as flan and churros;

2. Spices that are common in many Mexican specialties;

3. Mexican beverages that go beyond the margarita.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider serving Mexican specialty foods for dessert

Your first foray into authentic Mexican food can start with dessert. This is one of the easiest ways to begin, because the desserts are rather simple to cook or to order premade from a Mexican food distributor. They also freeze well if you want to stock up for a month.

I recommend: MexGrocer sells several Mexican dessert products, including flan custard and a variety of fruit sauces. If you'd rather make your desserts from scratch, Parties That Cook has an excellent and easy to follow churros recipe. Churros are fried dough topped with cinnamon, sugar and chocolate sauce.

Look at spices that are common in many Mexican food specialties

When most people think of gourmet Mexican food, they think of it as being flavorful and spicy. Thus, it makes sense for you to give at least some of your menu options a little kick. You can do this by purchasing authentic Mexican spices and adding them to your existing menu options. If you're worried that people won't be able to handle the heat, offer spicy and mild versions of the same dish.

I recommend: Read the article on Mexican Food Recipes about four very popular Mexican spices: chili powder, ancho, coriander and cumin. Or, if you'd rather stick to just one type of spice, check out Spice Barn's gourmet Mexican Spice blend. You can buy it in containers of up to three quarts.

Read about Mexican specialty beverages

A great way to top off any menu of authentic Mexican food is with some delicious Mexican drinks. Not only do drinks usually have a high profit margin, they will attract people to your restaurant during happy hour.

I recommend: One beverage Mexico is famous for is tequila. To learn more about it and how to make your drinks sound more authentic, check out Ian Chadwick's article on the subject. Next, read About Mexico's' article on aguas frescas. These drinks are made up of fruit and water and are perfect for customers that do not want to drink alcohol.