Veracruz All Natural - by Reyna Vazquez & Maritza Vazquez (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A new take on Mexican American cooking rooted in the fresh produce of coastal Veracruz, this is a deeply personal book from the immigrant sisters who founded the Veracruz All Natural restaurants in Austin, which enjoys a nationwide cult following of people who want to make their recipes.

Reyna and Maritza Vazquez grew up in Veracruz, Mexico. A rural coastal region, it is famous for its colorful, healthful cuisine. In Veracruz, cooking with red meat is rare, and local dishes are vegetable-forward with proteins like fish, shellfish, chicken, and eggs. Such are the one hundred recipes in Veracruz All Natural, inspired mostly by the home cooking with which the women grew up, along with easy favorites from their restaurants.

Throughout, Reyna and Maritza tell the story of their food, which, in turn, is their story: In 2008, they walked across the Mexican-US border. They made their way to Austin, Texas, where they sold roadside ices. With their first profit, they opened a humble food truck, and then a few more. Now, they have a fleet, plus a restaurant, La Fonda. It won a Michelin Gourmand Award last year. They are local heroes with a national story, beloved for their unparalleled food, of course, but also for their generosity, grit, and openness about their immigrant story.

Beautifully photographed in Austin, the recipes include:

- El Breakfast Taco
- Chicken and Vegetable Stew (Puchero de Pollo y Verduras)
- Shrimp and Scallop Aguachile (Aguachile de Camarón y Callo)
- Veracruz-Style Snapper (Huachinango a la Veracruzana)
- Achiote and Citrus-Braised Pork (Cochinita Pibil)
- Whole-Wheat Conchas (Conchas Integrales)
- Cantaloupe-Seed Horchata (Horchata de Semilla de Melón)

Veracruz All Natural is a love letter to the authors' Mexican roots and their American home. It is a testament to sisterhood and the power of food to make people feel more alike than different.

Review Quotes

"Bright, fresh, and full of heart, Veracruz All Natural is a delicious tribute to the flavors of home and the power of food to tell our stories." -Jenny Martinez, author of My Mexican Mesa, Y Listo!

"Reading this book brought me back to Veracruz. The story of these two women reminded me of my own journey. Coming to Texas, facing challenges without papers, and still holding on to a dream. I feel connected to them because I've lived those similar struggles. Through food, they found a way to survive and succeed, and their recipes beautifully represent the flavors and traditions of Veracruz, carrying our heritage with pride." -Gonzalo Guzman, author of Nopalito

"Reyna and Maritza Vazquez have been serving up fresh, flavorful, and nourishing food to Austinites for over 15 years. They blend the cooking traditions and produce centered flavors of their childhood in Veracruz with some Austin inspired tastes, including the locally beloved "tortillas-in-a-tortilla" migas taco. They expanded Austin's palette to include more regional cuisine from Mexico and paved the way for more immigrant chefs to start their own businesses.

Veracruz All Natural: Fresh Mexican Recipes From Our American Home is not just a recipe book-- it's a celebration of the determination, optimism, and contributions these sisters have made in Austin and beyond." -Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin, Texas

"There's always been more to Veracruz All Natural than the sum of its parts--the deep, soulful flavors, the bright spark of citrus and chiles, the layers of history carried in every bite. This book captures that spirit--it's a love letter, a guide, and a celebration of everything that makes food--and the people behind it--so beautifully alive." -Joshua McFadden, author of Six Seasons

"This book is not just about recipes, but about the joy of discovery, the comfort of tradition, and the connection that food creates. If you've ever stood in line at Veracruz All Natural, taco in hand, you know exactly what I mean. And if you haven't yet -- well, let this book be your invitation." -Ford Fry

About the Author

Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, sisters, founded Veracruz All Natural in 2010 with a ramshackle taco truck in East Austin. Today, they have seven outposts throughout the city and a restaurant, La Fonda, which won a Michelin Bib Gourmand last year. They are beloved in Austin for their food and their community leadership. They are nationally renowned for serving some of the best Mexican American food in the country. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, they cooked alongside their mother and grandmother, who exalted fresh fish and produce and bold flavors. In 2008, shortly after crossing the Mexico-Texas border, they put everything they had into a tiny trailer out of which they sold snow cones and smoothies. Two years later, their upgraded truck was turning heads--and taste buds--across the city. The Vaquez sisters have been featured in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Food Network, and more.

Maritza and Reyna Vazquez, sisters, founded Veracruz All Natural in 2010 with a ramshackle taco truck in East Austin. Today, they have seven outposts throughout the city and a restaurant, La Fonda, which won a Michelin Bib Gourmand last year. They are beloved in Austin for their food and their community leadership. They are nationally renowned for serving some of the best Mexican American food in the country. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, they cooked alongside their mother and grandmother, who exalted fresh fish and produce and bold flavors. In 2008, shortly after crossing the Mexico-Texas border, they put everything they had into a tiny trailer out of which they sold snow cones and smoothies. Two years later, their upgraded truck was turning heads--and taste buds--across the city. The Vaquez sisters have been featured in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Food Network, and more.