Sunday Brunch in Oaxaca: Criollo
Looking for a spectacular brunch spot in Oaxaca with gourmet taste at a moderate price? Look no further. Criollo restaurant offers it all! Note: Be sure to make a reservation! Doors open at 10 a.m. There is a reason that this Top Chef Enrique Olvera (of Pujol fame) dining spot is packed with locals and […]
Oaxaca Whirlwind: Mezcal, Worms, Ants, Mole — What Happened to Culture?
It may have started 10 years ago when the New York Times travel section started featuring destinations you could dip into for a long weekend. Oaxaca was one of them. Arrive mid-afternoon Friday, bar hop Friday night, dip your toes into archeology with a quick trip to Monte Alban, try street tacos for lunch and […]
Oaxaca Tropical Fruit + Tomato Ginger Chutney Recipe: With Some Heat!
I’ve been sequestered in my Teotitlan del Valle casita for some days now (without internet connection), more out of choice than anything. Best to hide from the heat of the day under the ceiling fan with a sewing or cooking project. So, after a trip to the Tlacolula market on Sunday where I saw an […]
Arte Walk Oaxaca: Graphic Arts + Painting Studios
Thursday nights are Arte Walk Oaxaca. There’s a nice little black and white map that pinpoints the independent art spaces and workshops. My favorites (plus one not listed on the map) are clustered in the neighborhood just a few blocks from the Zocalo, bounded by Hidalgo, Doblado, Xicotencatl and Colon. It’s becoming Oaxaca’s SOHO (south […]
Too Much Fun and Where to Eat in the Boqueria Market, Barcelona, Spain
The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain, is a food and wine lover’s paradise. It is one of the best tourist attractions in the city. Here, your eyes can be bigger than your stomach. So, watch out! Most dishes are huge enough to share by two people. Remember you can always […]
Why Visit Girona, Spain?
Girona, Spain, is a half-hour north of Barcelona Sants station by AVE bullet train going at 200 km per hour. It catapulted us into the Middle Ages. It has the best preserved medieval Jewish neighborhood in Europe dating from the 8th century with an outstanding museum atop an archeological dig that contains a mikvah. There […]
Barcelona, Spain: Tapas at Midnight
We are still jet-lagged after two full days here in Barcelona and can’t seem to get the rhythm of sleep down. But, we have discovered the tap-tap-tap of tapas with a great orientation to Bilbao Berria tapas bar right down at the corner from where we are staying across from the Barcelona Cathedral. What’s […]
Dinner with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at Casa Azul
Guadalupe Rivera Marin remembers the elaborate meals served at Casa Azul, home of her father Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Lupe lived with them for a few years and claims to have taught Frida how to cook. Evidently, Frida loved to entertain but didn’t take much to the preparation. I wouldn’t either if it required […]
Mexican Flag Nopal Cactus Salad or Nopal Ceviche Recipe
Here in southern Mexico nopal cactus is part of the landscape. It is good to eat, too. Very nutritious, high in vitamin C, experts say it has other health benefits like reducing cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and preventing hangovers. Plus, it’s that stunning visual treat of Green, White and Red, symbolic of Mexico and her flag. […]
Eat Like a Mexican: Tasting Mexico City Street Food with Eat Mexico Culinary Tour
Forbes Magazine says Mexico City is the hottest place for food. They are not talking temperature. Mexico City has it all — from gourmet cheeses and meats found in pricey restaurants to humble street food like tacos and tlacoyos. Today, I focus on eating on the street where people consume complete meals or snacks, sitting […]
More Than 36 Hours: Oaxaca, Mexico–Favorite Restaurants
The list that I sent to Freda Moon, The New York Times travel writer who created the feature 36 Hours: Oaxaca, Mexico, included some of my favorite places to eat in two categories: 1) Where to eat that won’t break your budget, and 2) The GaGa Dining Experience. Where to Eat That Won’t Break Your […]