Mexican meat markets in Phoenix serve more than steak | Exclusive
At carnicerías around metro Phoenix, the smell of seasoned meats cooking on a grill out front or on a flattop behind the hot-food counter mixes with the aroma of freshly baked pan dulce, sold under an umbrella of colorful piñatas hanging from the ceiling. Customers move between the butcher counter, grocery shelves and prepared-food stations, often finding nearly everything they need for a family meal in one stop. Long before supermarkets filled their shelves with packaged goods and refrigerated meat, neighborhood markets were at the heart of everyday life in Mexico. They were places where families purchased food, merchants exchanged goods and communities gathered around the ingredients that shaped their culinary traditions. Today, that tradition continues in Arizona’s carnicerías, or Mexican meat markets, where the experience of shopping for food often extends beyond the butcher counter. Neighborhood meat markets are an essential part of Mexican culture According to William Beezley, professor emeritus of history at the University of Arizona, Mexico’s market tradition dates back centuries. When the Aztecs founded Tenochtitlan, markets became essential to supplying the city’s population. Vendors sold staples such as corn, beans and squash, along with fish and other foods. As trade expanded, merchants brought additional products
