Women’s Campaign Fund Dinner and Hispanic Children’s Fund
March 9, 2010
The annual benefit for the Committee for the Hispanic Children’s Fund is one event where not only you will get to sample a wide array of Latino dishes (we are serving our famous chicharron (pork crackling salad) but you can dance Latin music to your heart’s content. At least that’s been the case in previous [...]
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and Muralism Without Walls -Mexican Cultural Institute
February 9, 2010
The highlight of my first trip to Mexico City when I was a teenager was seeing the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at Bellas Artes, the mostly art-deco theater with the splendid Tiffany curtain. I was enthralled but that was many years ago and when I saw it two years ago I must admit I was [...]
Valentine’s Day Menu celebrates famous Mexican Couples
February 8, 2010
(Click on one image and they all will become large enough to see)
Who are these couples and why did I choose to celebrate them this Valentine’s Day? This little selection represents a wide variety of love affairs. According to legend, the majestic Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl the volcanoes visible in their [...]
La Candelaria in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz
January 29, 2010
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 [...]
Festival of the City of Merida, Yucatan
January 5, 2010
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
January 4, 2010
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!
January 4, 2010
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)
January 3, 2010
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
January 2, 2010
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 [...]
Letter to Mom
December 30, 2009
I like to ask people what is the best gift they’ve ever gotten and what is the best gift they’ve ever given. The answers are surprisingly varied. One woman said to me: “I got cancer.” She turned a life frivolity into one of meaning and fulfillment by doing things for others and herself. Another said [...]
