Cooking class, part two: cooking and eating

One we returned from the market we brought everything to the kitchen. Alejandro gave us all aprons and pencils and paper. He really did most of the cooking with a little help from us (I did not do anything. Just sipped on my Mezcalini and took notes). He is a very passionate and easygoing cook. No recipes - he did attempt to list everything for us so we can try and make things again at home.

Beautiful herbs



Chiles and vegetables (later used in the mole)



Simmering pots






The wonderful Alejandro Ruiz



He tried to show us how to filet a fish



I sat back with my delicious cucumber mint mezcalini and took notes (it's vacation!)



Once everything was about done, we all sat down at the table while Alejandro finished everything up.

Shrimp and lava bean soup with cactus leaves






Sea bass with tomato marmalade and capers (my favorite)



Yellow mole with filet



For dessert he whipped up a yogurt fruit puree with vanilla. It was light and refreshing.



It was a wonderful final day in Mexico!

Location:Oaxaca, Mexico

Cooking class, part one: shopping

We took a cooking class today with Alejandro Ruiz, who runs the restaurant here as well as the Casa Oaxaca restaurant nearby. I had high expectations since the food at both locations is so good, but I never expected it to be so fun!! We took the class with two other women - both from Minnesota!! - and they made it a lot of fun. One now lives in Mexico City but used to live a block away from me in Brooklyn and the other lives in Manhattan and used to waitress with my cousin's babysitter, Bev, in Mpls years ago! There was a lot of MN and NY talk.

The day started with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients. I just love visiting markets when i travel!! We bought fresh masa dough for the yellow mole.



Then we bought all the fruits and vegetables.






And chiles



The meat was already waiting in the kitchen, but it is always interesting to see all the American health codes thrown out the window (other cultures seem much more daring with their food)



Lots of grasshoppers for sale



We bought sun-dried shrimps for a soup



And then we bought fresh fish



Fresh zucchini blossoms for garnish



I kept bumping into piñatas as we walked around

Location:Oaxaca, Mexico

Santo Domingo

The Santo Domingo church's cloisters hold a lovely historical and cultural museum. While the exhibits were interesting (especially the photographs of the revolution) the space itself was wonderful.












And I saw another of my new favorite Mexican outfits!!!



I will be scouring eBay for something like this as soon as I get home!!

Market

We took a little field trip outside of town today. I have learned that any time a guide takes you out in most countries they are in cahoots with various vendors to get you to buy things!! It works. I ended up with some things that I will like for a long time and some that may get shoved to the back of a drawer. It was still fun to see the smaller towns outside of Oaxaca.

Today was market day and that was crazy!! So, so many people! And so many things to look at. I took some photos as we walked through the labyrinth.






















I just loved the hallways of bread and all those hats!! Mexican men dress like cowboys down here. I love it!!

Agee our hot walk we went to a little place for lunch and a beer tasted to good!



A great label.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca is beautiful and sunny and the people are so nice! I have taken some time to sit and enjoy the warm sun the past couple of days. All too soon I will be back in cold, wintry Brooklyn.

Our hotel is near the church of Santo Domingo. It is a lovely old church and the young couples seem to love using it as a make-out spot at night.









We went to a couple of museums today and saw some beautiful old jewelry, textiles and clothing. This is my favorite outfit, by far!





The top is beaded and the skirt is covered in sequins!!! The museum shop even had a couple of old skirts like this, but the guy was really sketchy about only accepting cash, so I tearfully said goodbye.

A lunch today a waiter complimented me on my Spanish! While it was very nice to hear all it means is that I say a few words well. It does motivate me to really learn, so that next time I can respond with more than one or two words!

Location:Oaxaca, Mexico

Love

Bad English makes me smile. I did not order off this menu, but I hope the Juliana of vegetables and wallpaper fish were good.

Frida

We went to Frida Kahlo's house on the way to the airport this morning. It was so wonderful! As oasis in the middle of crazy Mexico City.





We were not allowed to take any photos inside the house (such a shame as it is so colorful and charming), but I snapped this photo up the steps into Frida's daytime bedroom.





The gardens are so lovely.





I want a house just like this!!

Location:Mexico City, Mexico

Teitihuacan

I forgot the cord that allows me to load photos from my camera onto my ipad, so I have no photos of yesterday. Bummer.

We went to Teotihuacan, a pre-Colombian architectural site outside of the city. It was so interesting to look at, and nice to walk around (when we weren't being offered cheap souvenirs). There are two huge pyramids there - we decided not to attempt them since walking down a short flight of stairs there was quite scary.

For dinner last night we went to Pujol. It was so, so good! We agreed it was one of the best meals ever. And we had a really nice Mexican wine!

Off to Oaxaca today after a quick visit to Frida Kahlo's house.

Location:Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City

We arrived in Mexico City yesterday afternoon. It is sunny and mild. Such a nice change from all the winter! We went straight to the Anthropology Museum - all the museums are closed today, our only day here! They had some beautiful things from all the ancient cultures wiped out by the Spanish.




Some of the exhibits were displayed outside. It was beautiful.



The museum is in the middle of a park and is free to all Mexicans on Sundays. It was nice to see so many families there.



This piece is made from so many tiny feathers. So beautiful. I can't imagine how much time it took (or how many tiny, little birds).



I couldn't resist taking a picture of this guy. I think the nicest thing to say is that it looks like he is wearing a sombrero on his lap (that was not my first thought, though).