Good morning San Miguel!
Light Breakfast at MiVida
50 pesos
Pan Brioche with
butter and homemade jams
Fresh squeezed
pineapple ju
Openings:
I spoke to Robin today and the rooftop bar
at El Pegaso is opening tomorrow.
The guys gave me a sneak peek today. Cozy and intimate. The perfect place to
share a cocktail. And look at the view! Stay tuned. See you there.
New restaurant opening
up at 74 Mesones. Mesones Cafe?
We'll find out when they get the name signed off on. Opening September 1st.
Southern Food. Chicken fried everything. A first in San Miguel. Stay tuned.
Love southern cooking!
New chef at Dos Casas. Renovations still in progress.
August 15 is target opening.
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A week from yesterday, Alex Cervantes, the owner
of El Tucan will take over the
management of the restaurant at the Shelter
Theater. Look for many El Tucan favorites after a show. Alex cooked in
Chicago for 11 years and managed The
Longhorn when it was in its prime.
N43 Deli
Relox 43
A product of the
California deli circuit, local Kyle Justice recently opened N43, a deli at
Relox 43.
They serve Corn Beef
and Roast Beef imported from Canada and Cheeses imported from Switzerland.
Local Pesca del Dia Lox and Meat from La Lonja at Mesones #33. Don
Nicos Finest in Los Frailes makes organic sausages with no preservatives
for their kitchen.
This is their version
of a Chicago dog. El Muchacho: Smoked polish sausage, tomato, onion, mustard,
relish, pickles, chiles. It came with a small salad and a coke for 95 pesos.
I know sausages. This
is what I use to get when I wanted a sausage back home. I also cooked them
often on the grill for my crowd.
But this is a Chicago dog.
How did N43's stack up
against the other dogs in town?
El Grandpa and Sons
Fabrica de la Aurora 2A
Very long, flavorful
sausage smothered in caramelized onions and bacon and served with French Fried
Onion Rings. 95 pesos.
The onion rings
rivaled those at Hank's New Orleans Cafe
and Oyster Bar.
Chucho's Gyros
Below Ten Ten Pie on Sterling Dickenson
This Chicago dog has
great flavor and Chucho has all of those authentic Chicago dog ingredients
down. 35 pesos.
Winner: Chucho's. Not
just for the price but more like a Chicago-style hot dog. It's also much easier
to eat than the other hot dogs.
When I want a dog, I
want it to taste like a hot dog. Not that the others weren't good. They were. But
sometimes simple is better.
Paprika
Ancha de San Antonio #7
This courtyard is so
beautiful, you'll swear you are in Italy.
Owner Francine is charming and dished out
some amazing menu items. Like this flatbread with figs. Her passion for cooking
truly shows through in all of the dishes she presents.
What we loved most? The
cold Avocado and Almond soup.
Like Don Day said when he reviewed the
restaurant, the soup is now on his best list. It's on ours too.
Something we didn't
know: There is a sandwich menu at Cumpano.
You have to ask for it.
Our favorite
addictions:
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The Purple Pig, Chicago.
Asparagus Ravioli made
with won ton wrappers.
Cajun Chicken Parmesan.
A Farmers Market
Breakfast at lakefront's Green City
Market, Chicago.
Thick cut bacon.
photo: Humbert
A bad day at the office
Markets around San Miguel
Hansen's: And you thought we were going Vegetarian? Sorry. Need my steak.
Tuesday Market Tour
Twin brothers Chuck
and Rick recently asked if I take them on a tour of the Tuesday market.
I was
fascinated by the fact that Chuck has lived in the area for over 20 years and
had never been to Tuesday Market. Expect to see him as a regular from now on.
Are these two fun?
This will tell the tale. As teenagers back in California they use to crash
ethnic weddings to check out the customs... and of course the food.
Someone
recently asked what the best dessert is in San Miguel for celebrating a
birthday.
Here are our top three picks:
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1) The Caramel Marshmallow Sundae at The Restaurant.
2) Claudia's Lemon Meringue Pie. We never
liked Meringue but Claudia's is ever so creamy. 35 pesos.
3) or make it
yourself! Homemade Ice Cream with
Chihuahua peaches.
As the climate has
gotten hotter, fruit growers in Chihuahua, Mexico, have been switching from
apples to peaches. There are now over 5,000 acres of peaches.
Lucky for us. They
taste a lot like California peaches. Eat them right away. They do not keep more
than a day.
And here is the recipe
that produced the best Vanilla Ice Cream we've ever had...we even ate it for
breakfast!
Thank you David Lebovitz!
1 cup whole milk (we
used half and half)
A pinch of salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split
lengthwise
2 cups heavy cream
5 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure
vanilla extract
Heat the milk, salt,
and sugar in a saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the milk
with a paring knife, then add the bean pod to the milk. Cover, remove from
heat, and infuse for one hour.
In a separate bowl,
stir together the egg yolks. Rewarm the milk then gradually pour some of the
milk into the yolks, whisking constantly as you pour. Scrape the warmed yolks
and milk back into the saucepan.
Cook over low heat,
stirring constantly and scraping the bottom with a heat-resistant spatula,
until the custard thickens enough to coat the spatula.
To make the ice cream,
set up an ice bath by placing a 2-quart (2l) bowl in a larger bowl partially
filled with ice and water. Set a strainer over the top of the smaller bowl and
pour the cream into the bowl.
Strain the custard
into the heavy cream. Stir over the ice until cool, add the vanilla extract,
then refrigerate to chill thoroughly. Preferably overnight.
Remove the vanilla
bean and freeze the custard in your ice cream maker according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Control Your Camera With Your Headphones
Arms not quite long
enough to get everybody into that selfie? Use your earbuds as a remote shutter
button for your iPhone's camera. Simply launch the camera as normal, set up
your shot, and then press the volume-up button to snap a photo.
Controlling weight:
yes, eating is an occupational hazard, especially when you're a food
photographer. I've learned the art of sampling something and opposed to
devouring the entire thing. Although I'll admit I'm often tempted.
Missing:
California Chardonnay
Homemade Chocolates
My BBQ Ribs
Photos from Readers:
John Hodge's beautiful hand stenciled tortilla. A work of art!
Favorite words of
wisdom this week from travel and food writer Valen Dawson:
"I'm learning not
to be attached to my plans. http://eatingtheglobe.com.
I like that plan. Mine
can change in a minute depending on which way the arrows point.
Yep. Me and my gypsy
soul!
Travel Planning 2015:
Noche
de Brujas - Mexico’s Night of the Witches
Cerro Mono Blanco, Catemaco, Mexico.
The Mexican town of Catemaco,
considered the center of Mexico’s witchcraft industry, hosts an annual witchcraft
convention the first Friday in March.
Hundreds of shamans,
witches and healers perform a mass cleansing ceremony to rid them of negative
energies from the previous year. There are also song and dance performances,
tarot readings and even a black magic ceremony.
This is a fascinating
town with a dark history. I was there 20 years ago long before the shamans,
healers and witches of the town organized their craft. It is now renown as an
asylum for mysticism and witchcraft.
You'll also find
Chamanes (local "white" witches), Culebreros (snake bite healers), Yerberos
(herbal healer), Hueseros (a form of chiropractor), Yorbateros (massage
healers) and of course Parteras (midwives). In fact, the Aztecs classified
almost 40 different types of healers.
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And why does one go?
Many people simply want “una limpia,” or a cleansing to ward off evil spirits
but a majority of the complaints are broken hearts and physical ailments. Some
also look for protection from the drug cartels.
Interestingly enough,
the Grand Warlock, also known as Antonio Vazquez, looks like a fuzzier version
of someone I know.
It's a fascinating
drive just 100 miles south of Veracruz City.
Buen
Apetito!
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