Main Dishes

Chilaquiles, Classic Margarita, and Crying in H Mart

June 11, 2025
editor
Chilaquiles, with its vibrant blend of textures and flavors, find an apt companion in the poetic intricacies of "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner. This thoughtful memoir beautifully captures the essence of cultural identity and food's emotional resonance, mirroring the rich cultural roots of Chilaquiles. To complete the sensory experience, a classic Margarita, with its bold zest and refreshing citrus notes, harmonizes perfectly with both the dish and the book's poignant themes. Together, they offer a delightful journey into the heart of cultural and personal exploration.
Chilaquiles

Ingredients

  • 8 oz tortilla chips (or homemade fried tortilla strips)
  • 2 cups red or green salsa (store-bought or homemade)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese (optional)
  • 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • Sliced avocado (optional)
  • Lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  • Prepare the Salsa: If using store-bought salsa, heat it in a medium saucepan over medium heat until warmed through. If using homemade salsa, prepare and heat as desired.
  • Cook the Tortilla Chips: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the tortilla chips to the skillet and pour the warmed salsa over the top, stirring to coat the chips evenly. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the chips have softened slightly but still retain some crunch.
  • Cook the Eggs: In a separate skillet, fry the eggs in a little oil to your desired doneness (sunny-side up is traditional). Season with salt and pepper.
  • Assemble the Chilaquiles: Divide the salsa-coated chips among plates or serve family-style on a large platter. Top with the fried eggs, crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese, and drizzle with crema or sour cream.
  • Add Toppings: Garnish with chopped cilantro, sliced red onion, avocado, and lime wedges for extra flavor.

Crying in H Mart

Crying in H Mart

A powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing a mother, and finding solace in food.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American—“in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to life, Zauner became herself” (NPR). • CELEBRATING OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band–and meeting the man who would become her husband–her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.

Discussion Questions

  • How does Michelle Zauner use food as a means of exploring her cultural identity?
  • What role does music play in Zauner's memoir, and how does it complement her relationship with food?
  • Discuss the significance of H Mart as a setting and symbol in the book.
  • How do grief and loss influence the narrative structure of the memoir?
  • What insights into mother-daughter relationships does the memoir offer?
  • In what ways does Zauner's writing style enhance the emotional impact of the book?
  • How is the theme of nostalgia portrayed through the foods described in the memoir?
  • Discuss the role of community and belonging in Zauner's life as depicted in the book.
  • How does Zauner reconcile the dual cultural influences in her life?
  • What does "Crying in H Mart" reveal about the universal experience of food as a connector across different cultures?
Authors: Michelle Zauner
ISBN: 9780525657743
Publisher: Knopf
Published Date: 2021-04-20

Classic Margarita

Classic Margarita
A refreshing cocktail with a perfect balance of tangy lime, rich Cointreau, and smooth tequila, complemented with a salted rim for a zesty sip.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz tequila
  • 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • Salt for the rim
  • Ice
  • Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

  • Run a lime wedge around the outer rims of your glasses and dip into salt to coat.
  • Combine the tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well and strain into the prepared glasses filled with fresh ice.
  • Garnish with lime wedges and serve immediately.