Ruth in Condechi

What a great studio apartment in Condesa! Have already forwarded this to a few friends for consideration. As to other options the hotel Maria Cristina on Rio Lerma ( check out yahoo travel) has been Marilyn Tausends ( Culinary Adventures) place to stay for years. The rates are from $50 to $100. Rio Lerma runs parralel to Reforma on the north and if you want to do the museums its all walking distance for the most part. Another try is www.hostelsweb.com that lists a $17 rate for a private room, located on Durango and Tonala it might be an option. I do not know it personally, but will take a look just for my own info. Hippodromo Hotel will be a LUXURY boutique hotel ( with prices to match) check out the www.modernmexican.com site though because the restaurant should be a WOW. Have a great trip and do keep asking questions, better prepared is the way to be in our megalopolis.

Do start buying El Universal on Thursday morning early because they have augmented the Friday "Estilos" section with a magazine section called Menu! It has a calendar of events, recipes and interviews with the foremost culinary luminaries of the DF. It is trying to provide an all inclusive view of all things FOOD. As for the Slow Food programs there might not be another until October. I will post as soon as I know and hope you can join us next time. I will personally get you the tickets. Slow Food is in need of of an infusion of "new blood" here and hopefully you would enjoy yourself so much you might want to join. Let me say that the food is incredible every time I have been to an event and that the initiated are quick to respond. I will be posting a story on the Xoconostle trip on www.international-iacp.blogspot.com during the next week but the report on the Dia de las Ciruelas is still on the site. It is at the bottom of the page. It might make "la boca agua" as they say but go ahead risk it. As well, don't know if you've heard but Chef Richard (Ricardo) Sandoval is coming back home to the DF. With Maya and Pompano restaurants in NYC , Zengo and Tamayo in DC and Denver he is about to open right here in my backyard of Condesa! Sometime in mid-September will be the grand opening of Hippodromo Hotel and Hip Kitchen on Ave. Mexico just north of Ave. Sonora. More later!

So sorry that you had such bad luck on this. The trip was "absolutely fabulous". When I learn how to post pics I will!

taxis.

nickarte: FYI -- Slow Food DF convivium is sponsoring a "Xoconostle mi Amor" day trip to the ex-hacienda San Jose del Marques in Hidalgo on Saturday July 29. Cost for SF members is $250P and $60P for transportation, non-members $300P. For more information call or e-mail Giorgio D'Angeli at El Tajin # 5659-5759/ 58124292 or giorgio@avantel.net. Laboratorio n. 52 Xoconostle mi amor Muchos ignoran las virtudes culinarias del xoconostle. Es dulce, ágrio, versátil, delicioso, sorprendente. Está conquistando grandes mercados en el mundo. Te invitamos a conocerlo de cerca el sábado 29 de julio en la ex-hacienda San José del Marques en Hidalgo. El menú de esta fiesta campirana incluye: Curados de pulque y Enchiladas de la Hacienda Ensalada de jícama, lechuga de Ixmiquilpan, zanahorias y xoconoxtle con vinagreta de miel de xoconostle Mixiote de cordero de Hidalgo Barbacoa de hoyo de Hidalgo Salsa de molcajete con Xoconostle y Salsa borracha al pulque Tortillas de maíz criollo hechas a mano Bombín de Xoconostle con helado de coco orgánico (receta de Alicia Gironella De Angeli) Dulces de xoconostle de la Hacienda Agua de Xoconostle Cerveza. Saldremos a las 10.30 a. m. en camión de lujo desde el Auditorio Nacional, regresando por la tarde alrededor de las 6 p.m. Costo: Socios de SF y un acompañante: $250 c/u.

You've chosen a great time of the year to visit the Distrito Federal, the weather is perfect, cool in the morning, hot after noon and back to cool for early evening. In fact bring a light sweater if you expect to be out after 7 or 8 PM when it does turn chilly. As to the cab ride from the airport, you have to purchase a ticket for cabs inside the terminal and a ride from there to Condesa (my nabe --more commonly referred to as Condechi ) might cost between $150 Pesos (1bag and a 4 door sedan) to $300 P for 2 to 4 bags and a van. DO NOT pay for anything bigger than a 4 door if you don't need it. The ride can vary depending on the arrival hour, anything between 7 AM and 9PM can be a horror and last an hour or more. The cab ride between 10 PM and 6AM is usually about 15 to 20 minutes! Its a BIG city and traffic jams anywhere are not uncommon. But if you are actually staying in Condesa think of the West Village deserted with 2 beautiful parks and incomparable dining ever other step. My own recommendations for this area are (1) Ticoncito for tacos al pastor (2) El Bajio,just opened after 35 years a second spot, in Parque Delta on Ave. Cuahetemoc (3) El Raco on Ave. Sonora (across from Parque Mexico), catalan style, for their salt baked huachinango (4) La Botica, Campeche 396, for Mezcal tastings (5) Frutos Prohibidos, Amsterdam 244 for help with the hang over in the form of great fresh juice combinations and finally (6) for a great view and relaxed snacking the roof top terrace of the Condesa DF hotel on Ave. Veracruz a stones throw from Praque Espana. There is so MUCH more in the rest of the city aka. Jardin del Pulpo in Coyacan on the corner of the public market, Fonda San Angel on the Plaza Jacinto ( Saturday artesanias market), El Tajin also in Coyacan for breakfast and lunch ( owner Alicia D'Angeli was foremost in the proposal to UNESCO to designate Mexican cuisine Patrimonio Oral y Intangible). I'd better end now but if you want more -- just let me know!