MEXICO CITY – Paty Cantú has it clear, she is a foodie (food fan) but not a chef, that’s why her role as hostess in the reality show “Iron Chef: Mexico” is perfect for her.
The Mexican singer-songwriter debuts as a presenter with the culinary contest, something that has her very excited.
“I am a food lover, I have been a glutton all my life … My friends trust me to choose the place and choose the food,” he said in a video call interview about the Mexican edition of the cooking contest recently released on Netflix of which she is the presenter together with chef Poncho Cadena.
“Yes I am a foodie, I know a lot, but I don’t know everything and that could be a more genuine representation of the public that is watching the program,” he added.
When traveling for her concerts, the interpreter of “Clavo that pulls out another nail”, “Lucky” and “Fortunately it’s not you”, said that she likes to eat a lot and go to all kinds of places, not just the most touristic restaurants or fine. “Part of how to get to know a culture is through gastronomy,” she pointed out.
But Cantú is very clear that lighting the stove is not like the challenging chefs who seek to impose themselves in the Estadio Kitchen against the Iron Chefs Francisco Ruano, Gabriela Ruiz and Roberto Solís and impress the jury made up of chef Gerardo Vázquez Lugo and the culinary critic Sophie Avernin, who in each chapter receive guests such as the Mystic fighter and the singer Belinda to complete their qualifications.
“I like to eat, I also know how to improvise little things, but (cooking) is not my specialty,” said Cantú. “I think where it shows is in the mess I make in the kitchen, I’m that person who messes up I don’t know how many dishes, drops things and gets flour on my face when I’m baking.”
The president of Iron Chef, the American actor Mark Dacascos, has a participation in the first chapter, but leaves his “nephew” played by the Mexican actor Salvador Lam Chang as manager.
Being the Mexican edition of Iron Chef, hot sauces, tortillas and ingredients such as onions could not be left out, but what takes this competition to another level are the ingenious achievements worthy of a haute cuisine restaurant or the modern twists that they give traditional recipes such as pipián, a pumpkin seed sauce, which in the program is served with ostrich meat. Everything is possible as long as you add the best score and win the victory katana.
“The challenges do not necessarily have to do with making Mexican dishes, I simply believe that the Mexican when he creates brings his own so deeply rooted that it inevitably is reflected,” said Cantú.
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Something that surprised her the most were pre-Hispanic techniques used to make some dishes.
“I had never seen it live….and they happen on ‘Iron Chef’ and that was like seeing art,” said the presenter.
Being so close to these delicious creations, Cantú was tempted to try them.
“I got desperate because I was hungry,” he said. “I saw it and I forgot that the cameras were there.”
Cantú stressed that her participation in the program is part of the challenges that she set for herself to open up to new experiences in life.
“I am a Mexican woman of the 21st century,” she said. “I think that in general … we have a mentality of openness, diversification, professional ambition and different curiosities.”
Cantú, who went from singer to songwriter, producer and now music editor, sees this as a natural evolution that has also led her to upcoming acting projects and to serving on the board of the Mexican Society of Authors and Composers.
“I want things to come that I can’t even name myself, but that represent interesting challenges for me,” said the 38-year-old artist. “I want to continue promoting the things that I believe in are inclusion, diversity, honor and the enhancement of Mexican culture.”
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Mexican singer Paty Cantú enjoys the dishes of ‘Iron Chef: Mexico’