Translate

A little about Playa Zipolite, The Beach of the Dead . . .

Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.

Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.

A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.

Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.

Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.

I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.

REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.

ivan

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

8 strange foods to eat in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico Posted by Michele Peterson on Jun 3, 2014 in Food and Drink, Mexico, Mezcal, Puerto Escondido | 10 comments

8 strange foods to eat in Puerto Escondido, 

Oaxaca, Mexico

Posted by  on Jun 3, 2014 in Food and DrinkMexicoMezcalPuerto Escondido | 10 comments
8 strange foods to eat in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
There’s no better way to dive into a culture than by sampling  the local cuisine. Here are a few strange foods in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico. Are they delicacies or fear-factor dining? Take a bite ( or a sip) and decide!
1. Salsa de Chicatanas: At the beginning and end of the rainy season, locals gather baskets full of flying ants as the insects escape from their flooded nests. The black ants are then toasted on a clay grill called a comal and ground in a molcajete to make salsa de chicatanas, a treasured spring delicacy. The ants are so prized you won’t find them in the market so your best bet is to sign up for a food experience with Gina Machorro at the Information Booth or befriend one of chefs at a restaurant such as Las Margaritas, that specializes in local cuisine.
Tasty trio of grilled chicatana, a la Mexicana and salsa for tacos Credit: Gina Machorro
A tasty trio of grilled chicatanas (ants), ants a la Mexicana and ant salsa for tacos Credit: Gina Machorro
2. Tamales de Tichinda: These warm tamales are stuffed (and accompanied) by fresh black snails. Look for them near the Colotepec River or try them in the towns surrounding Chacahua Lagoons National Park.
3. Chapulines: Crunchy, toasted and spiced grasshoppers are delicious in tacos or on their own as a quick snack. Take a food tour with Gina’s Walking Tours for an introduction to these crispy critters or buy some in Benito Juarez Market and experiment with them as topping for your favourite dish.
chapulines at Benito  Juarez market  in Puerto Escondido Oaxaca Mexico
Pick up some toasted chile grasshoppers called chapulines at Benito Juarez market
4. Cuitlacoche: This unique black corn fungus is so revered for its earthy flavour that it’s known as the Mexican truffle. Appearance-wise, the delicacy may be as appetizing as a lump of coal, but the black gold fetches top dollar in local markets.
5. Mezcal: There’s a reason that artisanal mescal, tequila’s quirky cousin, is steadily earning its place on bar shelves worldwide. While tequila production is restricted to only one type of agave, skilled Oaxacan mescaleros craft mezcal blends using up to 20 different types, resulting in subtle nuances in flavour ranging from citrusy to smoky. For an adventure in taste, try a shot of Don Franco, a potent local  liqueur or indulge in mezcal made with pechuga (raw chicken breast).  Worm salt will make it taste even better.
Mezcal production in Oaxaca
Mezcal production in Oaxaca, Mexico
6. Nopal: Visitors are likely to raise an eyebrow when first spotting the prickly plant on the menu, but nopal cactus is one of Mexico’s most iconic ingredients.Try it for yourself at the market, where you can watch Zapotec or Mixteco vendors remove the spiky spines, peel the rind and then stack the shiny paddle-shaped leaves to go. With its delicate, tangy flavour, cactus is versatile.
nopal in Puerto Escondido's Benito Juarez Market
Shop for nopal in Puerto Escondido’s Benito Juarez Market
7. Mole: This staple, which can refer to a variety of traditional sauces, takes hours to make and is a must-have at any Mexican celebration. Though Oaxaca is known as the Land of Seven Moles, if you’re forced to choose just one, go for the mole negro: a rich, spicy and smoky-sweet sauce made from tomatoes, almonds, raisins, chocolate, plantain and chilis, including the rare chilhuacle variety, grown only in southern Mexico.
8. Paletas: Icy paletas, made by freezing purified water with sugar and fruit, offer a quick and delicious way to cool off in the heat. Expect to find watermelon, guava and mango along with exotic creations like tequila, gooseberry or jicama with chili and gardenia petals.
Fresh fruit paletas or popsicles in Oaxaca Mexico
Fresh fruit paletas or popsicles in Oaxaca Mexico
Travel Planner
Oliver Dawson and Alvin Starkman of The Beer and Mezcal Lover's Tour of Oaxaca, Mexico
Oliver Dawson and Alvin Starkman go local during The Spirit of Oaxaca Mezcal and Beer Lover’s Tour of Oaxaca, Mexico

Sample plenty of artisanal mezcal, authentic Oaxacan cuisine and craft beer during the 7-day  Spirit of Oaxaca Mezcal and Beer Lover’s Cultural Tour, taking place on November 1, 2014. While the tour doesn’t go to Puerto Escondido ( yet), it goes deep into the countryside of Oaxaca to meet local mezcal producers.
You can also sample artisanal mezcal at the special  dinner events hosted by The Mexykan Supper Club.
Suzanne Barbazet, the About.com guide who’s a wealth of information about Mexico, also offers custom and specialty tours of Oaxaca through Discover Oaxaca Tours. Read about my unforgettable experience with Discover Oaxaca Tours during Day of the Dead in my postCemetary-tripping in Oaxaca City Mexico. 
Download the Puerto Escondido Travel Essentials mobile travel app with 185 insider tips on restaurants, hotels, vacation rentals and activities. It’s available for $2.99 for iPhone, iPod, iPad and Andorid in the App store and on Google Play.


    



- See more at: http://michelepeterson.com/2728-8-strange-foods-to-eat-in-puerto-escondido-oaxaca-mexico/#sthash.kCMc9toM.dpuf

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you. Comments are welcome.

ivan