DOHA, Qatar — Although Mexico‘s men’s national team is out of the World Cup, the country’s impact remains strong. El Tri fans have stuck around to watch knockout round matches, with countless Mexico jerseys and flags seen on the streets and in window shops. And interestingly enough, Mexican cuisine has emerged as a prevalent food option in Qatar.
Mexican gastronomy in Qatar is literally and metaphorically miles away from that in Mexico or the United States, but around occasional corners and plazas, it’s not too difficult to find tacos, burritos and even a refreshing glass of agua de jamaica, made from the petals of hibiscus flowers.
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These examples are just a small sample of the larger impact across Qatar, a country mired in criticisms ranging from human rights issues to questions on how it won the bid to host the World Cup altogether. Focusing on food can feel trivial in light of these issues, but it can also help put a separate spotlight on what’s happening beyond the confines of the stadiums and FIFA-designated zones.
Once the World Cup is over and millions leave, the culinary postcards will remain, providing a lasting impact that was here before the tournament began.
A ‘little piece of Mexico’ for hungry World Cup fans
Following in the footsteps of family who had already lived in the area, married couple Silvia Gonzalez and Gilberto Hossfeldt both realized something when they moved to Qatar from Mexico in the early 2000s: there was nothing that tasted remotely close to the meals they had back home.
“It was horrible,” Gonzalez said about the Mexican food they found, which sparked an idea. “We half-jokingly said ‘what if we opened something’ to our Mexican American friend, who is married to a Qatari man.
“It eventually became a reality.”
By 2013, they all took a chance on Viva Mexico, a restaurant that now has two locations here in the country’s capital — one in The Pearl neighborhood and another in Msheireb.
“We wanted to open something authentically Mexican, where it feels like you’re actually eating Mexican food, not something that seems like it,” said Gonzalez, seated at the Msheireb location.
Thanks to visits from her mother — who packed bags of corn flour, spices and peppers in her luggage — she was soon able to enjoy some of her most cherished meals. Then in 2017, she began selling homemade salsas at a farmer’s market, where she got “amazing” feedback from customers who told her to sell more Mexican food.
Motivated by those who eagerly purchased her products, she added offerings (sopa de arroz, frijoles de olla, picadillo, pico de gallo, guacamole). Demand began to grow, and in January 2021, she was offered a chance to run a small stall in the beachside village of Katara.
Thus, La Mexicana was born.
“Tacos with authentic corn tortillas are my passion, the simple authentic Mexican taco,” Rodriguez said. “We make our own tortillas and that makes me very proud.”
