La Candelaria in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz

The Feast of La Candelaria in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz is certainly one of the most spectacular and joyous celebrations that I have ever been a part of.
People flock here from all Mexico at the time of the major town fiesta, La Candelaria (Candlemas Day), February 2.  I have never seen the famed Pamplona-like running of the [...]

Why I love to teach

One of the most frustrating things to me is the fact that there are n0 inexpensive venues where I could give cooking classes without having to charge an arm and a leg.  I get so many requests for cooking lessons and have no where to give them where it will be worth my time.
Luckily my [...]

Ask Zarela: Lard one more time.

Question:
I tried the recipe for Huitlacoche tamales the other day and the turned out great, though I may have steamed then for too long (1st time for me making tamales). My problem is cholesterol. Am on medication and my Dr. and I are working at getting my levels down. Is there ANY acceptable substitute for [...]

Zarela continues to expand regional focus

Zarela Restaurant is widely recognized as the one restaurant that gives star treatment to  the many regional cuisines of Mexico unmatched in Manhattan dining annals, by featuring weekly gastronomic tours of different states from Fridays through Mondays each week.  Commuters have taken issue with the scheduling of these tastings because they usually do not come [...]

Salpicon de Jaiba

Here is another light, delicious and simple to prepare fish has that we serve at the restaurant on miniature tostada shells. It makes a great passed appetizer for catered parties.

Recipe: Salpicon de Jaiba
Summary: Like the preceding Ensalada de Jaiba con Aguacate, this makes a great topping for tostadas. But its lighter, more piquant personality [...]

Festival of the City of Merida, Yucatan

Now that Merida, Yucatan, has become THE place for US ex-pats to settle and a major tourist destination, this yearly festival has evolved into quite an international affair judging from the promotional material and reviews of last year’s performances.  It’s no secret that I prefer to experience local popular culture when traveling  but I’m sure [...]

Monarch butterflies in Michoacan

Want to get away from this freezing cold?  Get on the plane and go to my next-Oaxaca nominee, Michoacan and see the Monarch butterflies.
I’ve sadly never felt the silky, fluttering sensation of being covered in monarch butterflies as they arrive in the State of Michoacan and the State of Mexico to rest in the [...]

Yes! You can eat at Mexican food at Zarela if you’re on a diet!

Thanks to Tex-Mex, all Mexican food has gotten  the reputation of being greasy, heavy and fattening at least among those who haven’ t  traveled in Mexico or haven ‘t dined at restaurants such as Zarela and other fine Mexican dining establishments around the country.
This is especially unfortunate at this time of the year when everyone [...]

Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Cake)

Latina magazine ran this recipe developed by our former pastry chef, Ed Bonuso that results in a perfect rosca de reyes but amply demonstrates why I do not bake bread! But for those of you who do….

Recipe: Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings’ Cake)
Summary: This coffee cake-like recipe is good any time of the year,

Ingredients

1/2 cup [...]

Three Kings’ Day Celebrations

My personal memories of the Christmas season are probably different from those of southern Mexicans, for we had many Americanized customs in the north.  We celebrated Christmas pretty much as we do now in New York and exchanged gifts on Christmas Day. We never celebrated Three King’s Day , January 6th, which is the gift-giving [...]