Ever since the French invasions of Mexico, tortas have been making inroads on tacos. Tortas are sandwiches of the submarine genre, served on small sizes of French bread, often called "bolillos". Lately foreign fast food joints are competing with them and to protect the Mexican tradition there are now several state torta festivals to celebrate and promote the second best fast food group in Mexico. Tortas are served both hot and cold and ingredients range from beef tongues to stuffed chiles, fried fish, chunks of pork and the staple of sliced ham. Usually sold in mom'n pop stands, the owners name their tortas after whatevever suits them, so don't expect a "Tejano" torta to taste the same in Xalapa and Acayucan.
Today only, beautiful downtown Catemaco along with the rest of Mexico serves a unique version of a so called torta. It is an imaginary bread roll stuffed with a 500 peso bill and swallowed by zillions of impoverished peasants and workers ready to sell their vote to the torta giver. Of course the process is illegal, but election officials nationwide are deaf, dumb and blind to the entrenched custom.
The rest of July is a great month to be in Los Tuxtlas. Giant parties, street festivals, dances, lots of beer and loud music roil the three major cities.
Verafest 2009
San Andres Tuxtla
July 12-9
Celebration of the Virgin del Carmen and county fair
Catemaco
July 18 & 19
Climbing around Volcano San Martin Tuxtla
reserved for 200 by DEMATAC
July 18-26
Celebration of Saint James
Patron Saint of Santiago Tuxtla
Photo of Torta - El Asador
