Many people shrivel in their seats when they see the sommelier coming their way, thinking he or she is only going to recommend the most expensive bottle on the list. But that’s not the case today. Gone (or at least exceptionally rare) is the old tuxedo-clad man who spoke down his nose in affected French, [...]

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When you land at the airport in Obregón, Mexico, as we did on our way back from Puerto Vallarta, you can buy candied apples for $2 a piece. And here’s the best part - the Mexican Immigration and Customs officials are the ones selling them! Like Girl Scouts selling cookies they have them sitting [...]

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No matter how hot and humid the weather, we are always drawn to the smell of freshly made tortillas in Mexico. While meandering around the old-town section of Puerto Vallarta, we happened upon “Tortilleria La Gloria,” a fresh Tortilla factory. A staple and omnipresent element of the Mexican diet, “Tortillas de Maiz,” or corn tortillas, [...]

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Since we are in Mexico, I thought it only proper that I dedicate at least one blog post to the venerable chili pepper. Here in Mexico you often hear the refrain “si no pica, no es comida,” which roughly translates to “if it’s not spicy, it’s not food.” Suffice it to say that folks here [...]

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I’m in Mexico on vacation and have been reflecting on that fact that I’ve spent of about 2 years of my life here altogether….boy has the country changed over those years! When I visited for the first time in the early eighties, I was a high school language student in the colonial town of San [...]

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Phew, this vacationing business is hard work! Deciding between the pool and the beach is just a bit more than I can handle. After a long hard day in the sun I crave something crisp and fresh.  The perfect snack in Mexico (or anywhere, really) is sliced jicama and cucumbers with chili powder, fresh squeezed [...]

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Oh how I adore a good green peppercorn sauce. Over a juicy steak, on top of a fillet of fish, oh the options abound!
We found a lovely little can of green peppercorns in brine recently. These little peppercorns pack a peppery punch - say that three times fast. Not clear-your-sinuses-hot though, after a few bites [...]

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It’s Easter Sunday, and as I write this I sit aboard my dad’s 1958 Beechcraft Bonanza bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico via Phoenix, James Taylor singing in my ears. The beautiful clear skies that surround us conjure up memories of past Easter Sundays.
My very first memory, in fact, is of Easter Sunday 1970 and I [...]

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I love discovering new foods at farmer’s markets. Last weekend we discovered purple asparagus. I had never heard of purple asparagus! White, yes, and of course green, but not purple.
We were told the purple variety has four times the sugar and is much more tender than its green sister, and that the bigger stalks are [...]

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“Pssst! Hey, man, you got any of the good stuff? I ask sotto voce. No, I am not looking to buy controlled substances on a seedy street corner. The good stuff I’m looking for are fresh halibut cheeks. I guess you could say it is an addiction of sorts. This delicacy is quite hard to [...]

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