SMA Shorts July 15, 2014

Photos from readers

Mary Tullbane

Sea Salt at 4825 Minnehaha Ave in Minneapolis, MN,USA.

Their menu changes daily to accommodate all the fresh seafood available from COASTAL SEAFOODS! Calamari looks amazing doesn't it?

César Mascorro Pérez

Thai Noodle Soup at The Nit Noi Cafe,1005 Dairy Ashford in Houston,TX,USA.

If you want to find out more about authentic Thai food, go to Valen Dawson's website Eating The Globe. http://eatingtheglobe.com.

Valen is now based in Thailand after living and blogging in San Miguel.

A gift...

Someone asked me the other day what the best thing is that I've given to my son?

That was easy. A lifetime of adventures.

Bar Matilda...

The new bartender at Hotel Matilda, Alberto “Riesler” Morales Perez, has created a signature drink for Bar Matilda called Handu.

It's made of vodka infused with cactus, then scented with lavender and accented with local fruits called Otomies citrus and topped off with Perrier.

Was it good? 2 drinks = 1 over limit = We'll do this again!

As part of its overall plan to put Bar Matilda on the national map, the Matilda will be developing most of its own ingredients. The hotel will also hold mixology clinics, cocktail contest and tasting events and even host appearances by guest bartenders. 

Who would you like to see behind the bar at Matilda? Let them know when you are attending one of Alberto's upcoming events.

http://hotelmatilda.com

Wanderlust?

Diagnosis: Incurable!

How To Cook Perfect Shrimp…

After shrimp is thawed and deveined (most shrimp you purchase will already be deveined), season with olive oil and your favorite spices. I like to use Cajun seasoning or simply salt and pepper.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat.

Place shrimp on their side until edges start to become pink, about 3 minutes.

Flip shrimp, and cook for another 2 minutes.

Note to self...

Next year pay attention to your catholic calendar. Missed the feast of Corpus Christi.

How did that happen? Love that holiday.

Aging gracefully?

World Cup. Mama Mia, San Miguel de Allende.

Standing room only.

Southern Cooking...

Here are some of the fantastic Southern foods I ate when I was in Oklahoma recently for my son's engagement party.

Did you know in the South we never count calories?

Around Chitown: City Seats Chicago

Update: Improving the BLT:

I am not only bringing the bread from Mivida to Alex at El Tucan for my BLT but also the bacon.

I love BLT's but only with quality ingredients. There is a bacon here called tocino con grasa. Not sure why it's called that because it has more meat on it than any other bacon and it's sliced super thin. You can buy it at Samy's Grocery Store on Insurgentes.

Good thing I finally have American's favorite summer sandwich down now that it's half way through the summer.

Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar

With a menu just 2 month-old, Luna is dishing out some high-quality appetizers at much more affordable prices. Just ask half of San Miguel who have eaten here already and tell me they are going back for more.

Bonus: The killer view. I think it's one of the best in San Miguel.

The Pear, Blue Cheese and Arugula is enough for 2-3 as an appetizer at $115 pesos.

The ribs and Calamari rings glazed with Chipotle are their real specialties.

I had the Calamari rings the second time I was there and they were like no other Calamari I've had before. The Chipotle glaze was fantastic.

Lots of appetizers on the menu for sharing. Don't you just love splits?

In my own little corner..

Lots of inspiring ideas come from my little corner of the house.

A research nook, nap spot and work space all rolled into one.

My favorite summer flowers?

Gardenias, Peonies, and Lilly of the Valley.

Geez, sounds a bit like a wedding bouquet.

Stay tuned but you'll probably be waiting for a really long time.

Interesting buys:

Saturday Organic Market

La Pulga

Tuesday Market

A Man Bouquet... courtesy of the Tipsy Bartender.

I like all of her fun gifts and creative drinks. You can always find something new to try on her site. www.tipsybartender.com/

Cherry Street Farmers Market - Tulsa,Ok

This area of Tulsa is filled with great restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, and little, funky vintage shops. It's also home to one of the best Farmer's Markets in Oklahoma with nearly 90 vendors.

It's a fact that seasonal, sustainable food is better tasting and so much better for you. Just ask all of the customers at the Saturday Organic Market each week.

I tagged along with son Tommy and fiancé Jessica while they bought for the week.

The Other Mexico...

"To experience a more genuine Mexico without seeing gringos at every turn, look to these quieter alternatives on the coast."

Instead of Cabo San Lucas... head to Todos Santos.

Instead of Puerto Vallarta... head to San Pancho.

Instead of Cancun... head to Tulum.

Check the article out at: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/off-the-beaten-path-quieter-alternatives-to-mexico-hotspots-191842

Some thoughts on living inland...

All my life, I've been around water. In fact some of the best times I've ever had has been at the beach.

Translation? 

Get out the snorkeling gear. I feel a seacation coming on!

Always plan so that you have something to look forward to.

Missing:

Chitown: Summer In The City

http://www.cupcakesandcrablegs.com/2011/10/sweet-home-chicagoadventures-in-city.html

Make me an artist...

That's a tall order even for local Mixed Media expert Jane Dill who tried to teach me and three other would be artists that it's all about how you see it...or is it how others see it?

Stay tuned for a post next week.

Still perfecting my mole recipe...

Almost there is something many chef's have said for years before they ever "get it right."

Just ask Rick Bayless. His Oaxacan black mole, a dish of extreme dimension and mastery, took him 20 years to perfect.

Madison Half Marathon...

Whimsical drawing by friend and running partner Bonnie Urban as the two of us crossed the finish line at the Madison Half Marathon.

After all, running is a necessity when you love eating as much as we do.

Remember, our hearts still belong to more than just our significant other... courtesy of Reddit.

Welcome Twitter friend Stephen Zwick of the LA Examiner. Follow all of his posts at LA_Chefs.

Fiorella’s New Orleans

1136 Decatur St in New Orleans

Southern Fried Chicken

Eat here. Diet at home!

Welcome "home" food blogger Don Day and super-chef/wife Sharon! 

Hungry for a good meal.

Buen Apetito and Good Eating San Miguel!

Just What The Doctor Ordered: Menudo

Doña Bola, on the corner of Calle Calzada de la Luz and Calle Amado Nervo 1A in Colonia Guadalupe, is one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in San Miguel. Just ask my friend Charles who has been eating there every Sunday morning for the past two years.

Their specialty? Menudo.

In Mexico, Menudo is believed to be the medicine for a hangover.

My father, a pharmacist and inventor, developed a cure for the hangover back in the 50's which he did not have to cook seven hours to Sunday. Unfortunately, the formula died with him and we've been searching for the cure ever since.

One does pays attention when every Tequila and Mezcal lover you know tells you that Menudo is "that cure." In fact, their testimony was enough for me to try a bowl.

Doña Bola started out as a little street stand and is now a thriving three room restaurant.

What was my first clue that it was that good? My friend Charles and I were the only gringos in the place.

It was packed with Mexican families enjoying a "home cooked" meal or standing at the front door with a large Tupperware container ready to carry it home. This place does a significant carry out business.

Doña Bola buys 50 kilos of tripe a week and starts the cooking process 3 days in advance. The soups are cooked for 7 hours - one with Callos and Trotters - and then combined when they dish it up.

Pork trotters, a.k.a. pigs's feet, are now appearing on menus all over New York, L.A. Chicago and San Francisco.

The condiments included dried red chili peppers, jalapeños, onion, limes and cilantro. As usual, I overloaded the bowl and really savored the taste with all the additional flavors.

Women in the back room at Doña Bola's were making fresh tortillas. Of course, the only one that knew how to make a tortilla by hand was grandma. We asked and the young girl tried to make one but she ended up shaking her head half way through the process and quickly went back to her press. It's a dying art and yes, even the taste is different.

The cost? Take your pick on the bowl size for 15-30 pesos.

It's a time-honored spot that will not be found in any of your guidebooks.

If you've been in a restaurant like this before you know. It's one of those places you've got to see to appreciate what real Mexico and the importance of Sunday desayuno together is all about.

It's also proof that word-of-mouth marketing works. By the time we left, the line out front was halfway down the block.

According to the website Ask.com, nearly 30% of people have tried tripe once and will never do so again.

So to all of my friends who told me I would not like Menudo...Tequila's on you Saturday night!

And guess where we're going for breakfast Sunday morning?

Buen Apetito!

Tannat...A Little Piece of Uruguay You Don't Want To Miss

Would I have paid attention to the fact that Uruguay is the wine world's rising star a year ago? Hardly.

I'm a wine snob of sorts. I love Kendall Jackson... that was until I moved to Mexico where I was forced to step out of my wine comfort zone. Why? Kendall Jackson is not sold here.

Tannat is the national red grape of Uruguay and accounts for one-third of all the wine produced in that country. In fact, more Tannat is grown in Uruguay than in France where the grape originated from.

Tannat is definitely a food lovers wine.

According to my friend Cesar, who is the wine expert in our group, it's robust with definite aromas of plum and has a smoky finish.

Me? A very deep, purple-red wine was set in front of me, I took in the aromas, had one sip and knew that it was a wine that I would order again.

Like most people, I just know what I like.

My first experience tasting a Tannat was at a new restaurant in San Miguel de Allende by that name on Ancha de San Antonio # 67.

The owners, Jose Manuel, whose credentials list both Cumpano and the Restaurant, and his wife Monica from Uruguay have transformed a tiny space into a food and wine sanctuary complete with their own varieties of herbs and grapes.

What I loved most about this restaurant besides the great staff was the fact that they use only the best, seasonal ingredients.

I had the luncheon special, a pizza with delicious Mexican mushrooms and ricotta, which was cooked to perfection. The toppings did not overwhelm the pizza, which I really like since many restaurants overload the pizza and forget that the crust is the star and can make or break the pizza.

Although some of the menu items are pricey, you can come in under 100 pesos because many of the dishes are large enough to share. The $125 peso pizza is suddenly $63 pesos when you split it with a friend.

Wines? They only work with small-batch, family owned wineries so expect a slightly higher price point...but you can taste the difference.

Steve, a wine maker from California turned me on to this place. It's a San Miguel moment you can't afford to miss if you love food and wine like I do.

And savor the Tannat... 

It convinced this white wine drinker that you need to get out of your wine comfort zone more often.

Buen Apetito!

Two Variations:Tangy Mojo Pork Mango Torta

This sandwich has delicious flavors with both the mango and pork. It's a great party sandwich to make for a crowd watching World Cup Soccer and cheering on your favorite team.

It's easy.

Cook your best carnitas.

I usually make mine from scratch and you can find a recipe here on my blog but Bautista Brother's sounded too easy and I was short on time.

You can also do pork in a slow cooker but I miss the "perfect texture" if they are anything other than carnitas.

Buy your favorite bread:

Liz special ordered mini-buns from La Mesa Grande.

I used MiVida's mini-baguette which is a little bit like a Bolillo only crunchy.

Make up the slaw:

I also added cabbage because I like the taste with pork. Be sure to slice your vegetables long instead of dicing them because of the length of the bread.

Mix the Chipotle Cream Spread or just use plain yogurt like Liz did.

Buen Apetito!