Sunday, December 16, 2007

I can't say it any better!

A delightful blog that is so well written has told about the markets in Guadalajara during the Christmas season. It is so reminescent of our San Juan de Dios market here which is abuzz with activity as well as the Artesanias Mercado. Go to http://mexicocooks.typepad.com/ and look at the wonderful pictures and great writing. Enjoy!
I love that Mexico is still about the Navtivity and very little about presents.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Noche de Rabanos - "Night of the Radishes

I'm off on the bus to Oaxaca on Thursday and today I've been reading again all the articles I started saving in 1988 for this trip I am going to take. Even thought I exported out of Mexico for 20 years, I never made it to Oaxaca because artisans always met me in Guadalajara with goods for sale for shipment. So, now here I go. I'm so excited.....I LOVE to be places where the people are still indigenous and dress so. Oaxaca is the largest indigenous area in Mexico. So, off I go with bus tickets in hand and when I return I'll have more photos then I could possibly post and more memories then I could blog - but I'll give it a try!
I hope that whatever your plans are and wherever you're going to be for Christmas that you have a day of tranquility and joy. Feliz Navidad!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Christmas Spirit!

I spent the day yesterday digging out the decorations that I brought from Texas when I moved here. Since I usually leave around the 15th of December and head to Texas, I haven't put it all up for a while. BUT this year I decided I wanted to do that, since I am not going to Texas but to Oaxaca and not til the 20th.
It was a joy to pull out all the things that hold so many precious memories. The nativity set that I bought in Mexico City in 1974, the one from Guatemala bought a couple of years ago and the Indian nativity set bought on Mackinaw Island about ten years ago. Ahh, how great they look! Then there are the ornaments I made as a child - glass ones that have survived with glitter on them - and the ones the kids made from kindergarten on..............or that I made for them. There are so many favorite things. The apron Julie, my daughter made, with all the grandchildren's handprints on............and I still have the first thing my husband and I bought our first year of marriage - a trio of the three wise men candle holders - good grief it's almost an antique - it's 47 years old!
My house is decorated - now today is baking day. I've got Aaron Neville's Christmas album on............ Who would ever believe that I'm such a sentimentalist and traditionalist?

Sunday, December 09, 2007

ANDANZA - San Miguel de Allende

For all of those who have complained that San Miguel did not have a world class restaurant or talented chef, go to Andanza! I, a "foodie" and two friends, the Editor and Publisher of My Table magazine and her significant other, dined there last Sunday for lunch. What an unexpected and delicious surprise. WE all agreed at the conclusion of the meal that it could meet or surpass any of the finest restaurants that we had all dined at throughout the world - that is saying something!
The service was attentive, but not overly so, with a knowledgeable staff to discuss the items and the preparation - a rarity. The menu was very zealous and creative - a tasting menu which allowed you to have "little bites" of many things. WOW!
Some of the items tried by our trio were Cuitlacoche Capuccino with truffle foam; shrimp cake, seafood chilpachole and garnica chile confit; barbacoa raviolia, chicken broth, grilled spring onions and cherry tomatoes; and grilled venison, with ancho chile chutney served on hoja santa with guava margarita. DOUBLE WOW!
The presentation of each of these dishes was breathtaking - a "feast" for the eyes. When Cameron's venison came with the guava margarita, the waiter suggested he drink the guava first as that would enhance the venison flavor - it did. The fusion of flavors was exquisite!
This was a leisurely meal - I love the Mexican way of savoring the experience! When the waiter came with the dessert menu, we almost didn't order anything - so HAPPY we did! Two desserts were ordered and we squealed (quietly) over the presentation of the creme brulee tastings as seen above. Served in eggshells in a bed of dried beans and red chiles, the composition and coloring was a delightful surprise. Tres leche cake was okay, but not the best.................
Of course we HAD to ask to meet the chef! Gonzalo Martinez joined us for about thirty minutes of conversation at our table. What an interesting, talented young (32) man. He worked at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas as well as Windsor Court in New Orleans, to name a few. After Katrina hit, he was searching for a place to go and the Orient Express Hotel group had heard of him and seen his work and VOILA! he was able to "come home" to San Miguel de Allende. What a "coup" for us. The Orient Express bought a large percentage interest in the Sierra Nevada Hotel here - I think 70% - and has embarked on a renovation and upgrade program for the last year or two. The Sierra Nevada is a 5 star hotel.
So go, be dazzled and buen provecho!

Saturday, December 08, 2007

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The bells started this morning at 6AM and rang continuously until 6:45. That, along with the fireworks, was my "good morning" call. I needed to get up early so it was fine with me. The bells have been ringing all day and all kinds of celebrations are going on at Las Monjas church tonight.
Raised a Catholic, as a child we always looked forward to this day because we were off school (I'm being honest) AND it was the day that someone took us (my cousins and I) to downtown Chicago to see the decorated Christmas windows and decorations. It was awe inspiring. We also always had lunch at Marshall Field's in their "Tea Room. One time my grandmother took five of us to the Don McNeil's Breakfast Hour which to us was a very important radio show. I can still see the stage and the microphone and everything. That had to have been at least 55 years ago because I left Chicago when I was 10.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was also my mother's birthday. She was a "converted" Catholic, which means she was REALLY a Catholic. We knelt and said the Rosary almost every night, it seems to me. So today would be my Mom's birthday - she would be 95, but of course she passed a long, long time ago. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Whew!

Well, if you've been wondering where I've been or what I've been up to...........it's a list to stagger you! Last I wrote was on Tuesday, the 27th of November - then the next day my son and I drove to San Antonio, Tx. (11 hours) - next day drove around taking care of business, drove back to Laredo and did a couple of hours of shopping and the next morning at 7AM crossed back into Mexico and made the trip to San Miguel! WHEW - exhausting!
Friends were here in the guest house so there was a bit of entertaining to do and sightseeing to take them on...............they left Monday and previous tenants came for a couple of days and THEN it was time to get ready for the FIRST baby shower for my son and new daughter-in-law!..................The shower was today and was so wonderful and such a joyous event! We were surrounded by dear friends here in San Miguel who have been so kind to me in prior times and it was so touching to share this beautiful time with each of them...............
Retirement sure is boring, HA!