....15 years of salivating

My Tia immediately upon my arrival in Mexico City presented me with a host of activities and events she coordinated for the two of us to participate in a fashion that is uniquely hers. With this full range of activities given, she also provided a window of opportunity for me to address any special requests that I wanted to engage in while visiting the City. I almost immediately mentioned my need, my desire and the quest that would fulfill a 15 year yearning. Some would reserve this type of longing for deep, heavy things- but no no- not this chica..folks I pine for Argentine beef! When my Pops and I had visited our Tia long ago in this ancient, sprawling, and crazy city we were first introduced to Cambalache- an Argentine restaurant in downtown Mexico City. The memory of how good that meat tasted has never left me. The allure here is that you are served this sizzling plate with a slab of steak prepared to your liking (which if I can interject any CG advice here- medium rare to rare- always on beef!!) to your table and is served with the customary condiment- chimichurri. Adding to the flavor is the way in which the meal is consumed, each person throws their fork and knife on the platter and carves off a bit of the meat for themselves as they go ensuing an immediate intimacy as only can happen when truly dining in a communal type fashion. So tonight was our night to revisit where I fell head over heels for this wondrously simple and impressive meal. My Tia and I dined in greatness at Cambalache, at her favorite table, great drinks, fabulous service. Let me pause- we are talking servers waiting in every alcove watching your every sip and bite, so they can sweep up and fill your glass when it gets a little low and your plate needs changing-five stars- bravo. The meal was great. I must say though that the most fabulous thing I walked away with in addition to a nice light feeling by lilting a couple of drinks back and the blessing of a divine meal- was the company. These moments had are ones to be cherished-ones I know I am lucky and privileged to partake.

My first Posada

On Sabato (Saturday) I attended my first Posada- which is a traditional Mexican Christmas celebration in which the Nativity is re-enacted. However this particular party I attended was a Posada in name only. It ended up being more of a "who's-who" party. The host of this party is Kikon- an Asian man that was born in Peru and then moved to Mexico City- I suppose to seek better exposure for his talents. He is a singer and an actor. Kikon is very warm and funny and all guests are put at ease with his charm and hospitality. My Tia Nan whom is my host, interpreter,chauffeur and social coordinator- is in the entertainment biz in Mexico City- so much of her friends and acquaintances are someway or another in show business themselves.

Immediately upon arrival there were video crews swirling around with their cameras and mics in tow- and interviews poolside were already being conducted with a famous actress -Maria and a very famous singer-Dulce. There were at least two different TV stations represented and at least one magazine and one newspaper all at the posada to conduct interviews and to record the events of the evening.

Essentially the party ended up being a gathering of partaking of spirits, food and laughter. I made friends with the English Speaking types- since my Spanish is bordering on this side of horrible! Funny thing- I took Spanish in High School and I took a bit of Italian a few years ago- but when I was in Italy trying to communicate in Italian- the words that would come to me were Spanish, now being in a Spanish speaking country meagerly attempting to communicate- the words that keep flooding my mind are Italian! Go figure!

All the ladies were bestowed a gift from Kikon- the ladies that he knew more intimately received a lacy little pair of undies in accord with the Mexican tradition- in either red-symbolizing love or yellow-symbolizing wealth. For those that were either maybe above the age threshold of bestowing racy little things or that Kikon did not know quite as well were given some super cool earings. One of the actors that was at the party- Enrique- was indignant of Kikon's sexist partiality in gift giving to the ladies- and he insisted of its injustice- he was then given a gift of his own-in proper order, that being boxers.

Needless to say this group certainly knows how to have fun and I made friends easily- and was very glad to partake of Kikon's annual Posada.

viva la mexico

I have embarked on yet another journey. I am spending the Christmas and New Year Holiday in Mexico City with my great-aunt. I have been here only once before- at the beginning of my adolescence the age of- braces- back brace- the epitome of awkwardness and middle-schoolness! I am now getting to take things in with not only eyes that have had experience to focus them- but also eyes that are fresh to the world. This undoubtedly will be a fabulous trip with lots of parties, delicious food, and wonderful spirits, exquisite company and the allure of meeting new people and places.

Yesterday I was greeted with tacos with homemade tortillas, tequila and fresh papaya....thank God I didn't have to die to go to this heaven!

Perspective of Portland Pretension

What the hell is wrong with Portland and its constant debauchery of fashion…I love to roll out of bed and head directly out the door without brushing my hair with the best of em…but shit I am not about to campaign to make it a regular part of my fashion regimine….come on you guys are really attracted to those dirty hair unwashed- crumbled laundry kind of chick- come on really? Portland surely does have this thing- where the people in it think that they are better than the rest….wash my hair- "who the hell do you think you are?" Iron my clothes- "hello?" Wear boots that don’t have holes in them- "again who the hell are you?" "Man this is a state of mind-My dirty messed up hair – Im better than washing my hair…washing your hair is for those corporate types..we don’t do that here..we need to become one with the earth in like a recycled green type way, man..actually we want to become so close to our food and what makes our food that we actually rub chicken manure in our hair- yeah…we are that cool…and we’re smarter than you too…can’t you tell? My black rimmed glasses should all ready exude my smartness- duh. I make coffee better than you, I make kombucha better than you, and I wear flannel better than you. "

Uncovering a secret........

I have started a new component to chicgastronome. I am bringing the public WBPDX- Blueberry Hill Productions and Feel the Love Studios in a virtual format- sharing my passion for food and food finds through my voice and style.

My most recent broadcast-

Jim and Pattys:

4951 NE Fremont Street- Portland, OR 97213

Serves: Stumptown Coffee

Hours: M-F 6AM-5PM

Saturday: 8AM-5PM

Sunday: Closed

il recipe y lei (recipe for y'all)

I have decided that every now and again I will post relevant recipes. In light of the past Thanksgiving Holiday and the Christmas Season now upon us- I will impart two recipes direct from Feel the Love Studios, which adorn my family's table every year for both Holidays. Hope you adore them both.

POTATO ROLLS

**THIS IS A RODMAN FAMILY RECIPE!

375 degrees

-2 1/2 tsp. of active dry yeast dissolved in 1 1/2 c. of lukewarm water

-2/3 c. of unsalted butter

-2/3 c. sugar

-2 eggs

-1 c. of warm and mashed potatoes

-1 tsp. of salt

-6-7 c. of flour

1. Mix the wet ingredients first

2. Add in flour and mix- my preferred method is diving in with my hands

3. Continue to knead dough and add flour until you have a nice smooth round ball of dough

4. Place dough in a buttered bowl and cover- let rise for a couple of hours or until noticeably different in size

5. Roll the dough into lovely little round balls and place on a buttered sheet pan

6. Let rise again until double in size- or nice and puffy

7. Bake for 15-20 minutes (golden brown on top)

**OPTIONAL STEP/TIP: After Step 4- You can refrigerate the dough over night. Then when you are ready to bake just continue with Step-5

CRANBERRY SAUCE

- fresh or frozen cranberries

- sugar

- orange juice

**This recipe does not have measurements but I will throw out a few hints as how to gauge

1. In a pot place as many cranberries as you would like sauce

2. Turn on heat to a medium- medium/high heat

3. Pour in orange juice- just enough to barely cover the cranberries

4. Add sugar- you have to go by taste- but to give you an idea for about 6 cups of cranberries I add 1/2 cup or maybe a little more of sugar

5. Cook until the cranberries begin to pop, and the orange juice cooks off

6. You can remove the cranberries from the heat when the sauce has thickened

7. Let cool for a little while- then place in a dish or bowl of your liking. You can serve this warm or cold. It lasts at least a week in your refrigerator.

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...giving Thanks

Let it be known-Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday- because the focus of this day revolves around two of my most favorite things 1) Family and 2) Food! I happen to be particularly lucky because I not only love my family but I like them, too. and the majority of them happen to be pretty dang good cooks- so its a win- win by my account!

I guess this is my proclamation-making it known that I am damn blessed. I have siblings that give me hell and love all at the same time, friends that offer support equal to the air I breathe, incredible parents that gave all of us 5-Rods the best gift ever (in addition to life)- love, work ethic and self-confidence, delightful grandparents that make/made us feel special always, and a huge network of aunts, uncles and cousins- and step-siblings, and significant-others- that make things sparkle.

A couple of years ago I heard a very interesting report on NPR, stating that after your immediate needs are met; ie: food, shelter, clothing- the amount of wealth above meeting these basic needs is of no relevance to ones happiness. I mention this to make no moral or political statement- because I love things and fine things nonetheless probably more than anyone- its more or less interesting to me- because I have thought about this from time to time- and mirrored it to my own life situations and have found it to be so true. A little nugget for you to ponder perhaps.