Dreaming of Chiapas from across the Pacific

I've been traveling for about a month now, but these clips remind me of why I can't wait to go back home to Mexico. I think Chiapas is definitely one of my favorites from the Estrellas del Bicentenario series...



I can't wait! When are we going gordo???

This wasn't there yesterday!

I thought that maybe, maybe, it was the McChicken I had the night before. My last craving as a 28 year old.

Hmm.

But no.

My belly finally popped out! This is my baby's way of saying, "Here I am!!! Happy Birthday Mom!"


Best. Present. Ever. 

(along with my gordo, of course!)

Dining Anew

The other day after the Food Expo (another post to come about my discoveries there), we decided to check out Monica Patiño's newest addition to her restaurant empire - Delirio.

First, a few things about Monica Patiño. Silly me had no idea who she was until we got to Mexico, but she is quite the celebrity chef here. This of course means the requisite upscale restaurant, cookbook, and self-branded product line that, in today's world of self-marketing, is a must in order to be recognized as a successful cooking guru. I've also seen her on TV, though I have to investigate as to whether it was actually her show.

Maneuvering Mexican Markets

Most weekends we head off to Cuernavaca - to de-stress from city living. But staying in Mexico City every once in a while does have its perks. One of which is discovering the many markets this metropolis has to offer. Instead of plowing through second hand gems and local crafts you find at tianguis, we decided to visit a market that was sure to satisfy our palates. 

I'm talking about the Mercado San Juan. This place has been around forever, and it has become widely know for having exotic meats and a variety of ingredients you won't find elsewhere in the city. It's become a staple for chefs who look for the perfect item to create their dishes. 

The Seventh!

I can't get enough of these videos! It makes it nearly impossible to decide where to vacation next!



The seventh in the series features Quintana Roo. Simply breathtaking. Gives me goosebumps.

To believe or not to believe?

As a kid I used to remember my yaya (nanny) flip out every time she would see a black butterfly or moth inside the house.

A huge part of Filipino culture centers around their superstitious beliefs. Although my family itself did not pay much attention to these "explanations", growing up around Espie and Rosal* pretty much guaranteed all sorts of crazy ideas, stories, signs, omens, and whatever it was they told themselves to justify strange or eerie occurrences.

After doing some research (read: internet browsing), I found that not just Filipinos, but most Asian cultures believe the black butterfly or moth to be the reincarnation of a spirit that has come to visit. European cultures seem to attach a more somber meaning to these creatures - as an omen of death.