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Friday, May 16, 2014

SMA Shorts

Querétaro Mall

Did we go from no good Chinese to driving an hour to get some?

P F Changs Mongolian Beef 167 pesos and Lettuce Wraps 127 pesos.

                                                                                                                           
Food Photos

Love the fact that people are sending me photos from all over the globe.

Let's see...how long is my bucket list now?

Price matters…

My friend Alex owns a hole-in-the-wall restaurant so price matters.

He's recently been bending my ear about what I spend on vegetables and fruits at the stores on Mesones.

I really never paid attention until we went to the place where he shops. They post the prices at this store so no Gringo prices here.

It doesn't have a street name but when you walk down Guadalupe toward the San Juan de Dios Market, take a right where the Pollo Feliz is, go up 4 streets on the left. Take a left and it's the 3rd door to the left. The name is Abarrotes Caporal. The name is not posted either.

This little market gets all of their produce from Celaya and Commonforth and sells to other stores and restaurants in town.

How happy was I that I got 80 limes for 14 pesos?

And how much more was I paying for my produce? More than double.

Molida Especial

The meat from this El Tucan hamburger comes from Carniceria Los Tres Huastecos at Carlos Del Castillo 4 in Colonia Guadalupe.

They grind the flank steak fresh when you ask for Molida Especial.

To the hamburger meat, add two caps of soy sauce and 2 soy sauce caps of pineapple juice.

Season with salt and pepper and cook.

Fenicia...

A perfect party at friend Annie's last week. What I loved most about this healthy plate was all the delicious Lebanese food from Fenicia.

I'm not a big hummus fan and this was the second recipe I had in a week that I actually really liked. The Tabbuli was also fresh and delicious.

You can dine in or buy their take out at 73 Zacateros.

5 de Mayo Experimental

5 de Mayo Experimental is a beautiful restaurant in the center of Querétaro where Chef Hütt Mariano Torre changes up the menu every month with the flavors of seasonal Mexico.

The tasting menu is very affordable at $400 for seven courses.

Thanks to my friend Lilly's food-loving sons Andros and Sonny for a great Mother's Day and feast.

Love dining with people who love food as much as I do.

Mina Street

Chocoholics beware. There is a street in Oaxaca devoted to Chocolate. Mina Street is lined with chocolate shops.

How to get there? Just follow your nose.

                                                                                                                                                                  *iPhone Photos
Eating Moroccan

Well Michael Coon. You did it again.

A $35 celebration of Moroccan food was just what the foodie in me was craving. Something totally different.

The menu?

Moroccan Mint Tea and Cucumber Water
Roasted Mechoui Lamb
Cous Cous w Dried Fruit, Nuts and Raisins
Chicken Tagine with Seasonal Fruit
Sweet Tomato Jam and Berber Bread
Eggplant with Zatar and Yogurt

For Michael's weekly dinners and cooking classes, email insiderroute@aol.com.

Don't forget to save a spot for me. Dinners fill up quickly.

Escape: Ft Lauderdale

A recent trip to Ft Lauderdale convinced me of one thing. I'll be back.

Between the Farmers Market at West Palm Beach - our sister city, 

a great Fishing trip where I netted a bunch of golden tile fish (I had never heard of the fish before this trip), all the first-class food and a mega-dose of sunshine and TLC from family, friends and fellow foodies, I felt renewed.

Doesn't everyone needs a trip like this at least once a year to revive the spirit?

And speaking of Spirit, I found a great air fare on Spirit Airlines from Toluca directly to Ft Lauderdale. Got to love those alternate airports. Saved $700.00.

At Rocco's Tacos in Ft Lauderdale - 1313 E Las Olas Blvd - we had one of the best beach cocktails I've had all year: The Frozen Mexican Colada. It was a blend of Herradura Silver tequila,Kahlua,Patron Citronge orange liqueur, Pineapple juice and Coconut cream. When I have the exact measurements figured out, you'll be the first to know.

Food we ate and loved - all in Ft. Lauderdale:

Great Cuban cuisine at Las Vegas on 2807 E. Oakland Park Blvd.

One of the best burgers ever at Sweet Nectar -1017 E Las Olas Blvd.

A bit of everything delicious at Casablanca Cafe at 3049 Alhambra Street

                                                                                                                              *iPhone Photo
What else but Catfish at Catfish Dewey's - 4003 N Andrews Ave.

San Miguel Style Ice Delivery

The Case of the Disappearing Chardonnay

Just like Blanc De Blanc, a very popular and inexpensive Chardonnay, La Europa is no longer stocking Antares, the wine from Chile that I love for 58 pesos a bottle.

La Europa is carrying small bottles of Blanc De Blanc but is stocking them on a bottom shelf so they are really difficult to find. They've not had the full bottles for MONTHS. You can however get a full bottle at Hotel Sautto's liquor store on Quebrada and at Mega.

Have not found Antares. Stay tuned.

Buen Apetito!