Fish sauce is the backbone of South Asian cooking. Chef Diep Tran is using Red Boat Fish Sauce in everything from a breakfast banh mi to pasta marinara. Journalist Gab Chabran has his picks for the top holiday tamales across the city. Food writer Bill Esparza discusses the wave of Mexico City restaurants opening in Los Angeles. Latin American cuisine is a story of global fusion that spans centuries, and Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez compiled a compendium of recipes from Chile to Mexico. Matt Biancaniello swaps spinach for stinging nettles and shares a beautiful winter cocktail. Finally, Melissa Acedera is combating food injustice with a mobile pantry that travels the Southland.