tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398221400738351120.post6745614344163240613..comments2024-03-08T00:20:09.564-08:00Comments on The Curious Blogquat: Trip Report: Oaxaca - The Restaurants, pt. 2The Kumquat Guyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11291803719601268432noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398221400738351120.post-72972204705432322882009-10-28T07:28:38.329-07:002009-10-28T07:28:38.329-07:00Great posts!
Yes, La Biznaga is one of the best. ...Great posts!<br /><br />Yes, La Biznaga is one of the best. Much better than Los Danzantes and most of the other restaurants recommended on TripAdvisor, like El Naranjo. El Naranjo was beautiful when Iliana de la Vega owned it (she sold the restaurant to a guy from Connecticut after the crisis of 2006), but now it's just plain awful.<br /><br />But you're not staying through los dias de muertos, then? What a shame! My husband and I are living down here until the end of January, our second six-month stay in two years (he's an archaeologist and works in a Zapotec village right next to Teotitlan del Valle). Muertos is quite interesting and filled with wonderful food, from the chocolate etole out in Oxo or the snacks and mezcal out in Etla for the comparsas, or the traditional pan de yema and chocolate you can have out in the more family-oriented celebrations in Tlacolula valley. <br /><br />From what I can see in your posts, you've missed some excellent street food which is where you find the real heart of Oaxacan cuisine. Do not fear the street food. We've been coming down here every year since 2003 for my husband's work, and the only times we've been sick have been from eating at 'reputable' restaurants and cafes. Plus with the swine flu fear, the hygiene has gone way up. Many street vendors have hand sanitizer gels for you right at the counter. Remember to use sanitizer after being on the bus or in a cab and you'll cut down your chances of getting sick considerably. <br /><br />Tlayudas Libres on Los Libres is a late-night favorite -- the street is packed with locals after 10 or so and well into the morning, with people double-parking in front of the stand to pick food up on their way home. It's quite a scene. The empanadas at Mercado Merced can't be missed -- one of the women there was written up in the NY Times a few years ago, deservedly so. I prefer the stand closest to the door, but they're both great. Then there are memelitas at either of the Pochote organic markets (there are two now, one on Rayon near Xicotencatl and one up in Xochimilco in the church courtyard) or tamales from either the woman up on Abasolo or the other woman down near the Alameda. Hot chocolate at Brujula, coffee at Nuevo Mundo, mole out in San Agustin de Etla at Juquilita Comedor (her tortillas are amazing!!) and some freshly grilled meat, cebollas and chiles served on a fresh tlayuda found deep in the Sunday market in Tlacolula. I guess you need to come back!<br /><br />And definitely check out planeta.com before your next visit. Ron keeps the site up to date with all of the latest news on the markets and restaurants in the valley. Remember to go the markets (not just Juarez and 20 de Noviembre) and strike up conversations. You'll be amazed what you discover! Nieves, barbacoa, and empanadas in Tule; traditional Mixe food (maag) at a family's house in La Chigolo. The food is great, but it's the experience of meeting locals and eating with them that really makes Oaxaca special.Katehttp://www.kateingold.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398221400738351120.post-8883091195011709912009-10-25T16:09:12.209-07:002009-10-25T16:09:12.209-07:00That question is the core of my next post which I&...That question is the core of my next post which I'm struggling with. I'm heading out for a drink tonight in hopes of clearing my thoughts on Oaxaca as a foodie destination.Gfron1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09293609846439667977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398221400738351120.post-45415000680256563462009-10-25T14:47:28.396-07:002009-10-25T14:47:28.396-07:00Sounds like a great trip. A refreshing break from ...Sounds like a great trip. A refreshing break from the everyday if nothing else. I've been reading the reports as you posted them but wanted to wait until you finished your food reports to jump in. So I'm kinda picking up a "great experience but nothing mindblowing or thought altering" feel. Do you think it's because it just wasn't as remarkable foodwise as you hoped or do you think the fact that you live in an area already heavily influenced by the type of food you experienced took away some of the potential wow factor for you? I'm looking forward to your thoughts on viewing it as a foodie destination. I've always had this image in my head that it would be amazing... now I'm wondering.Tri2Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03781214300077457797noreply@blogger.com