March 2010
6 posts
5 tags
Cooking Al Fresco
Last year, having just moved into our “ruin of a house” for a few months (see here, here and here), we stupidly decided to inaugurate our makeshift kitchen by making some carnitas. It was over 100 degrees outside, and after three hours of boiling, the kitchen felt like a sauna gone wild - and it was only April.
After a few experiences like this, we became resolved to move everything...
3 tags
A Star is Born
You know when a new movie comes to town and you are just dying to see it. Yet, for whatever reason, you don’t make it on opening night and it loses its sense of urgency. You may end up seeing it a few weeks later, but the odds are against it.
Well this is now us in Mérida. It’s no longer opening night and our pace of adventure slows. Some things, like the exotic seasonal fruits and...
3 tags
The Heat is On
We were stuck for ideas for our blog post today so we decided to go for a walk. Outside. At noon. With no shade. It was 100 degrees. Did we get inspiration? Yes - and all of it sweaty!
As we strolled, we were reminded of the wonderful cooling effect of trees. Whenever we passed under one, the temperature dropped 10 degrees. The reasons are twofold: first, tree leaves reflect heat and second, they...
2 tags
A Teak Affair
Our lofty ambition is to buy second-hand hardwood furniture for our house as our renovation happens. To assist us in this, a new store importing antique furniture from India has opened in town called Puerta al Este (calle 60 between 45 & 47).
Much of the store is filled with pared-down simple teak furniture (durable and termite proof). There are no painted elephants, sacred cows or statues...
3 tags
Market Fresh
Today is our first big dinner party in over two years. We are serving eight plus two kids so it’s all go. We were up by 8am to beat the heat. A quick plate of huevos motuleños at Cafe Pop, and we hit the central market.
At this time of year, the market is at its peak. After six months of cooler weather, all the winter crops are in (think fantastic tropical goodies that evoke thoughts of...
3 tags
There's Nothing Like a Big Hunk of Meat
Our butcher in the Santiago market is fantastic. Yesterday we told him we needed a four-pound whack of pork belly, and here it is, complete with nipples! What proud parents we are.
This is why we love Mexico. The marketplaces are full of purveyors connecting daily with the source of their wares. It’s not fancy and it doesn’t come with Styrofoam packaging, disinfecting wipes or...