Spanglish Scribblings: Facts About Monterrey

Monterrey (also known as "Sultana del Norte" (Sultan of the North), is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It has the second largest metropolitan area in Mexico, after Greater Mexico City, and is the country's third most populous after Greater Mexico City and Greater Guadalajara. Monterrey serves as the most important commercial center in the north of the country, being based to many important Mexican companies and multinational corporations. Monterrey is also Mexico's second largest economy with an estimated GDP of 105 billion. Monterrey is one of Mexico's most developed cities with one of the highest per capita's in the nation.

CLIMATE
Monterrey is known for its hot weather in summer reaching 40 °C (104 °F) or more for three consecutive months, being one of the warmest major cities in Mexico.
Monterrey has a semi-arid climate. Its weather is temperate in spring and autumn and is hot in the summer. The average high in August is 35 °C (95 °F) and the average low is 23 °C (73 °F). Winters are mild. The average January high is 20 °C (68 °F) and the average low in January is 10 °C (50 °F); temperatures below freezing are rare. Rainfall is scarce, but more prominent during May through September. Monterrey is very extreme in weather change, sometimes reaching 30 °C (86 °F) in January and February, despite the fact that these are the coldest months. Most extreme weather change occurs with rainfall in summer, which changes extreme heat to cooler temperatures, and the absence of northern winds in winter, sometimes causing extreme or abnormally high temperatures. Seasons are not well defined, the warm season can start in February and last until September.

FOOD

The most traditional dish from Monterrey is cabrito,kid goat cooked on embers based on the Jewish cuisine of the founders of the city. Other local dishes and customs that perhaps date back to the Crypto-Judaism of these founders are the "semita" (bread without leavening), the capirotada dessert (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and crystallized sugarcane juice), and the relative absence of pork dishes. Another famous local dish is machacado con huevo.
Carne asada on weekends remains a tradition among Monterrey families. It is usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes and sausages or chopped as tacos. Locally brewed beer and cola are an almost mandatory part of the weekly ritual. The traditional desserts, "glorias" and "obleas," made from goat milk are both traditional candies from Nuevo León.