nickarte

I think they have cash machines, only problem is they don't have anything you want to spend the cash on.

Actually, I am going to Vientiane because I am sponsering (privately, i.e. directly) a kid to go to university, so I am going to visit him. No, Vientiane is not particularly happening. Makes Pnom Penh look like Paris. oh well. I'll just shut up and eat my bats.

I will be traveling around Burma (I hope!) in December and also a few days in Vientiane. Does anybody have some specific recommendations (i.e. with addresses or locations) on where to go. Hint: I eat in markets.....

← It might be a perilous walk, what with the Circuito and all, I don't think it's a very pedestrian friendly route - maybe better by taxi!

There is a special Oaxacan cultural fair going on now through September 14th, 2008. There are several huge restaurants set up serving all the typical Oaxacan specialties as well as many small stands selling moles, cheeses, chiles etc. and crafts. It is located outside of a big mall, the "Plaza de las Estrellas", at the Circuito Interior and Av. Marina Nacional, not far from Polanco. You can reach it by metro (Normal) as well. Well worth it for the food. We ate there yesterday - all 7 of the famous moles were on the menu!

Aguila y Sol is still closed as of mid August 2008, so take it off the list!

I would skip Pampano, but otherwise all of Ruth's suggestions are good. You might also consider the Coyoacán, San Pedro de los Pinos or Medellín markets where there are well known simple restaurants serving typical Mexican seafood specialties. El Jardin del Pulpo outside the Coyoacán market is great. Both Tezka and Biko are excellent Basque (not "Vasque") style places, probably the two best restaurants in the country right now, up there as well is Jaso.

There is an area here (in el DF) where they sell restaurant equipment, and a couple of high end fancy kitchen stores I could lead you to, but honestly, I have no idea what a "combi oven" is....

Now that Ruth has been "outed", here is her website: www.mexicosoulandessence.com She may have some suggestions on private classes.....

I wonder if La Criolla in Polanco might have it. No, Ruth, you can't replicate it...it's from Extremadura, and is used in many southern and Gallegan (Spanish) recipes. Better have someone who´s going to Spain pick you up a couple of cans at Corte Inglés - I just saw it there and it costs about 1 euro!

I will be driving across the north of Spain from San Sebastian (have lots of recs already) ending up in Santiago de Compostela. Can anybody recommend places to eat along the way? I prefer old-fashioned traditional food, am less interested in Michelin stars, and can't afford them anyway.

Here's the link to Amazon to see it: Good Food in Mexico City

The Glutton has the last word....let's get back in the kitchen!

The guys who do the glass thing are desperately poor and are "performing" for tips. While it is horrible, and I agree not to encourage it, they are in no way threatening to the public. The only bad thing I've ever heard to happen on the metro is pickpocketing.

We went to Tezka last night (Thursday, August 9th, around 8:45) and had a wonderful meal! I still think it's the best restaurant in Mexico! The service was not intrusive at all, if slightly unorganized: a few repeat "would you like to order now"s (only two bread refills)and there was no music on at all, thank God. We actually appreciated the casualness, it made us feel more relaxed. The food was excellent. Outstanding was an appetizer of wild mushrooms and foie gras: the mushrooms (which are in season here right now) were sauteed, a beautiful seared piece of foie, and a transparent sauce of emulsified egg yolk, very light and subtle. We split it amongst the three of us and it was more than enough, as, of course, it is very rich. Also nice was an ameuse bouche of "gazpacho de almendras" basically, the traditional Spanish ajo blanco, light and fragrant. My "ciervo" a wild venison, in "salsa de acietuna negra" was a perfectly done piece of meat, although the sauce was so subtle it was almost lost on me; I still enjoyed it. The Basque concept is to my liking as the food is unpretentious served as Julia Child would have liked, i.e. "natural" looking, no architecture or drizzles. (OK, I think there was a foam something, but we forgave it). We ordered the house wine (a Rioja reserva) which is reasonable at $350 pesos and it was excellent, we needn't have gone any higher. Desserts, as I have found before, are not so exciting, although you get some little chocolates and goodies for free which are enough. The chef, who greeted us was not Bruno Otieza, but a young (and good looking!) Spaniard from the Islas Baleares; unfortunately I did not catch his name. So, all in all a fine experience, 3 1/2 stars, and we will go back. Oh and the bill was $600 pesos or about US $55 per person. Not bad for all that!