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4 - U.S.A. Independence Day - Celebrations along the Rio
4 - Birthday - Jane on Steel Magnolia
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5 - Birthday - Tantara Bill
6 - Birthday - Andy Rioux
7 - Birthday - Eugene Tijax
9 - Birthday - Peter on Rendevous

Friday, 03 July 2009

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Guatemalan traditional food .. Part 2

Features - Articles by Valeria

By Valeria Cerezo Mack

A very expensive meal ... (granpa cooked Valeria's pet rooster)

The lid on the pot is shaking and making a metallic trembling noise, burning with the hot aromatic steam which is trying to escape, like a playful faun …

There is little girl sitting at the kitchen table begging “mami” to hurry up! There is a busy aged woman going back and forth, with hands smelling like fresh herbs, with a colorful apron stained with juices and sauces.

Those gentle and experienced hands grab the little girls face as a loving voice whispers: ya va a estar listo su pepian mi’jita … mejor aprenda como se hace…

Valeria Cerezo Mack

And the lecture starts on how important this ingredient is and how you prepare it before it blends in with the rest, how important it is to cook so and so ingredients well or it will give you a tummy ache … always pay attention to this or that on the meat to make sure is fresh and tender … same as the aromatic steam, most of that conversation fades but leaves behind a trace that is impossible to forget or ignore.

Food is part of identity and also a part of our story, that’s why I enjoy writing about it, in Guatemala is particularly important as a way of communicating our feelings. recipes are passed through generations and our ingredients tell a story of their own about our dear country.

Comal y tortillas

Typical food is difficult to talk about if we really try tracing it back to its roots.

Before the Spanish came, we had no chickens! or cows … or other things that are part of the ingredients we use today in “typical “ food.

So I guess we can call typical food the result of the fusion of native ingredients with the ones the Spanish brought from Europe which at the same time, had Arab influence. Wow! Are we international or what!

White, yellow and black corn

The News - Latest News

RaJa makes classical moves

After Tuesday's performance of Kelly and Felix on violin and piano at Backpackers (and a surprise performance of Rodger (RaJa) Hanks dancing skills), a repeat performance was requested for today (Wednesday, July 1) at 4 p.m.

Despite Kelly's classical violin training, this is not put-you-to-sleep music but instead is a great toe-tapping, shake-your-booty, get up and dance combination of salsa, caribbean and popular tunes from Latin America and the states.

An added treat will include John of s/v FourAces sitting in on the performance with his mandolin.

And maybe RaJa will get up again and show his "unique" dance moves (ask him to do the 'moonwalk'!).

Tuesday's selections included Pretty woman, Cerezo en flor, Stranger in the night, La gota fria, Dust in the wind, I left my heart in San Francisco, and Granada.

Violinist Kelly with an excellent performance

There is no charge to attend the performance.

Happy Hour at Backpackers begins at 3 p.m. so come early for a good seat.

Honduran couple to perform at Backpackers

The News - Latest News

Violinist Kelly will be accompanied by Felix on the piano

Kelly and Felix, a talented couple from Honduras, will present a violin and piano performance from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, June 30) at Backpackers Hotel and Restaurante.

They will perform a variety of musical selections, from salsa to Caribbean with some surprise choices of classical and popular (sorry, no country western!).

There is no charge to attend. Backpackers' happy hour starts at 3 p.m. so come early for a good seat.

Over 60 attend Las Mexicanas grand opening

The News - Latest News

New addition at Xalaja

Las Mexicanas .. sisters Malleli (left) and Graciela

By Roy McNett
Editor
I'm not sure if anyone was able to get an accurate head count of those attending Restaurante Las Mexicanas grand opening Friday afternoon but it had to be in excess of 60 people in attendance to enjoy some samples of wonderful Mexican cooking and to welcome Graciela and Malleli to their new location at Xalaja Marina.

The two Mexican sisters were absolutely overwhelmed at the large turnout for their grand opening and managed to get through some panicky moments when the "demand" exceeded the "supply", but they managed well and everyone enjoyed the grand opening.

Restaurante Las Mexicanas .. photo by encor

Originally from Toluca, Mexico .. about 45 miles west of Mexico City ... and at an altitude of 2,600 meters, Graciela and Malleli prepare traditional dishes from the interior of Mexico as well as seafood dishes from the Pacific coast.

Please note: this is not Texas-Mexican border cooking .. which is wonderful on its own .. but is more like what you'd expect in locations such as San Miguel de Allende or San Luis Potosi.

Although the cooking is difficult to put in a category, it is wonderful to sample and enjoy.

Graciela is married to Gary, a deep sea diver and project manager for offshore oil field operations. Gary says he's not involved in the day to day operation of the restaurant but serves as the lancha driver, financier and fix-it-guy.

The two sisters previously owned "Sol y Luna" restaurant in the Rio Dulce canyon before deciding to open the restaurant here in Fronteras.

An overflow crowd attended

At present, the restaurant is open from 12 noon to 8 p.m. with Happy Hour scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. They'll be announcing Happy Hour specials soon.

For call in orders to go or for lancha service, call 5726 5043.

And, for a sample of their menu posted by Windy Dancer on our forum, click Here.

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