North America

Arthropods, Chili, and Lime: an Exploration into Mexico’s Tasty Insects

Photography by Samantha Demangate “If it flies, jumps, or crawls, throw it in a pan!” We heard these words a lot while in Mexico. The country’s traditional cuisine revolves around sustainability and practices such as growing the mutually beneficial staples of corn, beans, and squash together have been utilized for centuries. One ancient food practice seems to be ahead of its time: entomophagy, aka the consumption of insects. As the world’s population increases and resources…

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North America

Pyramids and Maize: Mexico’s Heartland and its Impact on Global Food Culture

Photography by Samantha Demangate Amongst the pyramids and ruins of Mexico’s heartland, is a culinary story that has taken on the world and changed it forever.   “How many degrees is this building tilting?” I asked the museum curator in Mexico City’s Palacio de la Autonomía de la UNAM museum. “A little, the city was built on a lake and now it’s sinking.” The lake she was talking about was Lake Texcoco, a vast body of…

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North America

American Highways, Road Trip Through America’s Heartland: Santa Fe

All Photos by Samantha Demangate Isolating in the rural desert for a pair of ocean-loving Californians proved to be an exciting, yet challenging experience. For my girlfriend, it was a chance to safely see the United States and to help me move to Michigan. For me, it was a mission to return home, to care for an elderly relative, and an opportunity to discover small town America. During the pandemic this remained difficult, yet with…

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