Where there’s no queso in quesadilla

Where there’s no queso in quesadilla Naomi Tomky A quesadilla in Mexico City is a tortilla that's folded in half, shaped more oblong than a taco and filled with ingredients that may not include 'queso' Quesadillas are one of the most popular street food dishes in Mexico. Lots of visitors ask, “But doesn’t the word ‘queso’ mean ‘cheese’?” said Lydia Carey, tour guide and author of Mexico City Streets: La Roma. While it might be a matter of friendly competitiveness among Mexicans, for travellers navigating Mexico City’s world-renowned street food scene – with its mystifying maze of unsigned stalls, subtle differences between the various forms of corn flour stuffed with meat and vegetables, and multiple types of taco stands – understanding the nuances of the local quesadilla helps them order exactly the delicacy they’d like to eat – with or without cheese. “Coming to Mexico City and eating on the street here taught me that everywhere is different.” Naomi Tomky According to Sergio Zepeda de Alba, though ‘quesadilla’ may originate from the word ‘cheese’, that doesn’t mean it’s the only correct filling Still today, Carey says that walking up to a street food stand and knowing right away how and what to order is both one of the most difficult parts of living in Mexico and the most satisfying. But for quesadillas, it’s not so hard: you just need to remember, if you’re in Mexico City and want cheese on it, ask for your quesadilla ‘con queso’.