Habanero Happy Family

( Xhico in Mexico City )

After finally finding my salt-shakers shaped like agua fresca barrels, I was walking through one of my favorite markets in Mexico City - Mercado de Medellín. I love this market because you can find typical kitchen utensils plus anything you want to cook to put those utensils to work.

Diana, her daughter and son, Carlo - the makers of Salsa Yucatiik

Habanero Salsa varieties from "Yucatiik"

As I left the produce section toward the exit, I saw some tools at work. It was a five-gallon bucket of orange sauce with a ladle at rest. It had obvious just filled several little jars that sat to the side. As I passed I could smell something intensely spicy. I looked up at the shelves and realized that I had stumbled upon a mini salsa factory. Not just any salsa factory, a habanero salsa factory. Who was behind this delicious magic? I made my way around the corner and found a woman seated having lunch with her son. They both jumped to their feet to help me as soon as they realized I was there ready to consume salsa.

Crema de Habanero being bottled at Mercado Medellín

Crema de Habanero being bottled at Mercado de Medellín

The woman with a kind face and gentle smile was the genius behind incredibly spicy and creamy salsa. Her name was Diana. With her son, Carlo, by her side she brought her family's recipe's from the Yucatan to make these habanera varieties of "Yucatiik" brand salsa. After many questions in my not so elegant Spanish, Carlo began speaking to me in English. Then Diana began to speak English also. Before I knew it, we were haven't a fluent conversation in Spanglish! They were really wonderful people. She told me that her sister also made food typical of the Yucatan, so I'm going to try that out on my next visit to Mexico City this summer.

Her salsas are a Habanero Cream, Spicy Habanero Red Salsa, Peanut Habanero (it's killer on chicken) and one called "Kut". It's a thick black salsa made with smoked habaneros. I'll be trying that on a steak soon.

Habanero Chilis in Mercado de Medellín

I took my friend Tanya by a few days later, because she had to know about this treasure known as Diana. If you're lucky enough to have dinner with me, I might share some of her salsa with you!

Find Diana's Yucatiik homemade salsa stand at Mercado de Medellín. It's right at the edge of where the produce section changes to bottled goods/prepared foods, around the center ... I know it's not a great description, but I'll have to study exactly more next time!

I went back for a Torta de Pierna con Mole

As I said, it was pretty hard for me to pass up the Torta de Pierna con Mole on the way in to Churrería El Moro. While we were eating churros, Tanya was ordering from the small kiosk outside the churrería. They only had three menu items, but only one of which I remember: Torta de Pierna con Mole. I;m pretty sure they had tacos, but that's irrelevant when it comes to this sandwich. The idea of that tender pork leg, drenched in mole sauce on a bolillo roll was sounding more tempting as I saw Tanya devouring hers. So I made the decision to have a midnight snack after my midnight snack. This is a decision I did not regret.

This is a damn good torta!

Churros & Chocolate: Churrería El Moro

Churros and hot chocolate, El Moro Churrería, Mexico City, DF.

Giant Churro spirals fresh out of the fryer, El Moro Churrería, Mexico City, DF.

After some al pastor tacos, Eme and I headed to meet Tanya and grab some churros and chocolate. Eme told me about this churro place, Churrería El Moro, that served fresh, hot churros. I could smell the dough frying and hot chocolate in the air. But at the same time we were passing a small stand outside serving mole tortas and tacos and I was already being distracted. I later went back for a mole torta. but I had to get to these churros.

Churros, El Moro Churrería, Mexico City, DF.

Dipping my churro in hot chocolate, El Moro Churrería, Mexico City, DF.

We proceeded inside past what seemed to be an endless spiral of churros frying. This quaint cafe has been here since 1935 and the waitresses are in beautiful costume greeting with even more beautiful smiles and a list of hot chocolates from sweet to bitter. The churros arrived and were quickly swept off the plate. They were soft and chewy inside with a crunchy outside made extra crunchy because they were covered in sugar.

Fortunately for me (and you) they are open 24hours a day, everyday of the year. So no excuses!

El Moro Churrería, Mexico City, DF.

Churrería El Moro
Eje central Lázaro Cárdenas #42
06000 Mexico City, Mexico
Metro San Juan Letrán

The Inventors of Al Pastor: El Tizoncito

Al Pastor roasting on the spit at El Tizoncito, Mexico City

Upon my arrival in Mexico City, there was much confusion finding my amiga, Eme, at the airport. Fortunately there were some incredible sculptures by Jorge Marín to distract me, as well as a friendly, handsome security guard who I gave some of my art stickers.

Sculpture by Jorge Marín, Mexico City, DF, Mexico

By the time I found Eme at another terminal, I was already starving. We grabbed a cab and headed toward our digs in the Condesa neighborhood. We were fortunate enough to have friends staying at a mansion so we were able to live large there for a few days while attending the Material Art Fair. Which by the way was amazing. You'll read more about that later. We have tacos to talk about.

We dropped our bags on the first floor of the mansion and headed down the street for tacos. Conveniently, there is an El Tizoncito, just blocks away. Tizoncito claims to be the inventor of Tacos al Pastor. We arrived to the marinated slices of pork loin stacked in the shape of a spinning top. The name comes from the "style of the shepherd" and is cooked very similarly to shawarma and gyros. The meat slowly spins and roasts and then thinly sliced onto tacos. At the top of the meat is a piece of pineapple that gets richly sweet as it cooks and a thin slice is added to the tacos. It's just enough subtle sweetness to compliment some of the spicy salsas.

Salsas at El Tizoncito, Mexico City

After we were seated, we were seated by a very friendly waitress and an even more friendly tower of chips and salsas. There were four very different salsas - a tomatillo with green chile, pure serrano, chile de arbol and morita chile. There were liquified beans also served which helped cut the heat when needed. The michelada (beer with lime juice and salt) also helped mellow things out.

Al Pastor Tacos at El Tizoncito, Mexico City

And then... the tacos came. Tender roasted slices of al pastor, pineapple with white onion and cilantro. Perfection on my plate. The taste was delicious and I couldn't get enough. I stopped after six. Only because I knew I was having churros later.

Visit El Tizoncito website for menu and locations.

First Real Food I had in Colombia

Yes, the first thing I had in Colombia was a Coffee from the Juan Valdez Café at the airport in Bogota. But once we scrambled around all morning and ended up on a six hour bus ride to Barranquilla, I was definitely getting hungry. I needed a snack.

Indian and Coco Bread hang from sticks wrapped in plastic bags.

Man selling Coco Bread on the bus in Colombia

Delicious Coco Bread in Colombia, the first thing I ate.

Fortunately at all the toll booths, there are men and women selling all sorts of things. There are armfuls of fried savory snacks with cheese, plain and bacon flavors. There are sweets and breads, popsicles and soda pops. Often people board the bus selling these delicious treats when you stop in village or at one of the local toll booths where they walk up and down between the cars and hop on buses for a short ride. I was very grateful for this service.

Stuffing my face with Coco Bread

At one point a man boarded the bus with several sticks loaded with bread hanging. What he described as "Indian bread" was apparently naan. I love naan - it's one of my favorite breads. Luckily for me he also had a "coco bread" which was naan laced with coconut. I went for that and it was incredible at the first bite. The bread was moist and slightly oily from the coconut. The inside was flecked with coconut shavings. Sweet and simple - I couldn't have asked for a better snack.

Slightly oily, but full of flavor - Coco Bread

Coconut flakes inside the wonderful Coco Bread

Fruit Loop - Crazy fruits of Colombia

Fruit in Colombia: Tomate de Arbol, Pitahaya, Lulo, Granadilla, Maracuya, Curuba, Feijoa

One of my favorite things to eats is fruit. Since I was a kid, I've loved fruit. Strawberry, watermelon, nectarines and citrus being among some of my favorites. Occasionally in California we get to see some tropical fruits like dragon fruit or plantains. But on my recent trip to Colombia, I was thrown for a loop. I encountered fruits I've never seen or imagined. At one breakfast, I found myself asking, "How do I eat this?".

Buying fresh fruit at the market in the plaza

Most of all thought the strange textures, bright flavors and exotic looks of the fruits of Colombia inspired me. Fruit is widely available on street corners at small stands throughout Colombia in cities and small villages. It's common to buy fruit on the streets from a cart or a freshly squeezed orange juice. Better yet, a freshly made juice from Lulo or Zapote will really make your mouth happy. Fresh fruit juice on the streets of Colombia became one of my favorite indulgences. Though everyone says to avoid fruit and juice on the streets, I ingested both daily without any problems. Just be wise and trusting of the person you buy from. If you're buying juice make sure it is made with bottled water or milk. Bagged water or milk is okay too... It sounds strange to us, but the often use bagged water. It helps cut down on cost and waste.

Fruit sold on the streets of Barranquilla

PLANTAINS & BANANAS

GRANADILLA

First thing in Colombia, Coffee

Colombians like their coffee. Usually, black or tinto as they call it. First thing was first while waiting at the airport in Bogotá was I need a coffee. It was early in the morning and I had been up for too many hours thanks to Continental Airlines screwing up the first day of my trip because once we were on the plane, they discovered that "the computer was not up to date". How reassuring.

Café con Leche at Juan Valdez Café

Anyhow, I needed coffee to wake me up. So I went to have my first Colombian coffee where any Colombian would get theirs. The Starbucks of Colombia, Juan Valdez. Yes, the guy we grew up seeing with his donkey on TV commercials is the mainstream Colombian coffee chain. You will find these in malls, airports and stand alone cafes throughout the country. And you can count on it to be a fresh, good cup of coffee. Better than any Starbucks in the states.

Pastry with guava filling at Juan Valdez Café

So, I had a great cup of coffee sweetened with panela (dried sugar cane) and a pastry filled with guava. Yum.

Use Panela (dried sugar cane) to sweeten your drinks for a richer flavor

I'm back!

It's been nearly a month since I've shared anything with you. That's because I've had a month long journey through Colombia and now I have alot to share with you. I'll be posting all the delicious meals I've experienced in South America. Some of the best street food I've ever had - fried to perfection; Refreshing fruits along the Caribbean Coast and strange fruits made into wonderful natural juices; Amazing restaurants with dirt floors on the beach, culinary delights recommended by Anthony Bourdain, and home cooked meals at my friend's mom's restaurant in Bogotá.

Man selling fruit on village street in Colombia

I'll be posting all week, so check back everyday for new discoveries from Colombia. Also follow me on Facebook for more details and photos.