The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Sunday, September 2, 2012

El saber del sabor

"El saber del sabor" translates as "the knowledge of taste," but more importantly, is the name of a remarkable fiesta, this year featuring 39 chefs from all over Mexico, their recipes, techniques, and their wonderful food.  This is the festival's third year.  I went to the first one and tried to go last year, but it was sold out.  This year it has really taken off.  It is an extremely big deal now.  I was very lucky to be invited (thx to H&R) to the inauguration last Thursday, which featured many or the local and regional cooks, plus Mexican wines and of course, mezcals. If you can believe it, this is the plaza del la danza, where the event was held.
Look at this incredible schedule of events, a ten day gastronomic extravaganza.  The festival features many of Mexico's absolute finest chefs and I mean the best.  Check out who's who.  The media was all over it.  I think this is Eleyna Reygadas being interviewed.
The south side of the tent was lined with tables and prep areas and once the signal was given, we were free to wander and sample as much as we wished.... which we definitely did.  I may never eat again I ate so much.  But why not?  Look at these dishes.  I am pretty sure this is pineapple.
 More piñas?, apples? plantains?  Who cares?  They look great.
 These gentlemen spit roasting pigs and chickens were a huge hit.
 
The lines were too long once they started serving, so we never got a taste, but if it tasted half as good as it looked....
 Tostadas laid out on banana leaves.
Frying up nice, big shrimp.
 And for opening night, some wonderful local cooks with tlayudas and their normal big smiles.
After arriving a 9 PM, I left at around midnight. thoroughly stuffed, but very happy after another fantastic Oaxacan event.  Man, this place knows how to do it, the whole quality of life thing.  It felt good and terrible to waddle up the ten blocks back to where I had parked.  Be sure to check out spxl's post over at Casa Colibri.

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