Mexican Festival: Bright, Healthy Flavors From the Four Corners of Mexico

You have to hand it to a Mexican restaurant that isn’t afraid to offer cactus in its dishes. Although cactus in edible form is ubiquitous in Mexico, here in New York it’s rare to spot it on a menu.

A mural by artist Raymundo Cobo. Edward Dai/Epoch Times

You have to hand it to a Mexican restaurant that isn’t afraid to offer cactus in its dishes. Although cactus in edible form is ubiquitous in Mexico, here in New York it’s rare to spot it on a menu.

“In the U.S., they think it’s weird when you say cactus salad. But it’s the healthiest vegetable in the world,” said Jorge Galicia, executive chef of Mexican Festival, on the Upper West Side. In Mexico, he explained, it’s used for anything from stabilizing blood sugar levels to anti-cancer treatments.

Chef Jorge Galicia. Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times