Thursday, November 20, 2014
Mamasita now has a Master Mezcalier Posted by Meg Crawford on Nov 20, 2014 in Food & Drink, News
Mamasita now has a Master Mezcalier
“For everything bad, mescal; for everything good, the same” – old Oaxacan saying.
Mescal, like its compatriot spirit tequila, can conjure up visions of youthful, ill-advised drinking hell, but Nick Peters, manager of Mamasita, is on a mission to improve its image.
Peters’ first experience with mescal wasn’t flash either, although things have changed pretty radically since then. “About nine out of ten people had a pretty terrible first experience with tequila or mescal,” Peters laughs. “They come into our restaurant thinking that and they don’t want to try it, but nine out of ten people will actually take the plunge and give it a bash. It’s a lot different from the stuff we used to drink in the park.”
Peters has been at Mamasita, Melbourne’s best-loved authentic Mexican drinking and dining establishment, for four and a half years now and became an operating partner as of this year, but his love affair with Mexican cuisine goes back way further. About 15 years ago he was kicking about in Spain with a couple of Mexican, Central American and South American fellas who helped him to get a grip on Mexican flavours and understand the Spanish influence on the food. While he’s kept a pretty keen interest in Mexican tucker since, he’s equally interested in mescal and tequila, so much so that he’s just qualified as a Master Mescalier.
In order to qualify, Peters undertook a pretty rigorous course sanctioned by the Mexican Government in Oaxaca, the home of mescal, which tested him on every aspect of mescal making: all the way from identifying various types of agave plant, from which mescal is made, and telling whether they are ripe, through to production and bottling.
The qualification also means that the Mexican Government deems him competent to produce his own hooch.“It’s given me a very different level of appreciation for what’s involved with mescal production as opposed to other spirits,” Peters explains. “Every single aspect of making mescal is difficult, the initial part being that plants take from six to 20 years to mature. It’s not like grain or corn where you’re getting a crop every year. You’ve really got to think about what you’re doing.”
You can grow agave anywhere there’s not too much rain, but you can only call it mescal if it comes from one of the eight certified mescal making States in Mexico. That said, Australia’s got some suitably arid bits, so Peters is now keen to investigate making a home-grown spirit. “I know people who have got stills who are dying to do it,” Peters enthuses.
Just as excitingly, Peters has also been given the green light to run the initial stages of the Master Mescalier training in Australia (the last stage needs to be completed on the ground in Oaxaca). Depending on interest, Peters is looking to run the course here as early as next year.
The course has also inspired Peters to broaden the already impressive array of Mamasita’s beverages. While Mamasita has always had a gob-smacking tequila and mescal list, it’s always been more heavily weighted towards tequila. Peters plans to rectify the imbalance by introducing more mescal and bumping up the mescal cocktail list. It’s a timely development because folks are becoming increasingly curious about mescal and Peters has some views as to why.
“It’s really old school and romantic – a mum and dad cottage kind of thing,” he observes. “In a time when everything is being corporatised and big brands are owned by bigger brands, with mescal there’s still a really good opportunity to get products and brands that haven’t been messed up by a boardroom. It’s a guy with a donkey on the side of a hill and a hole in the ground and he cooks the stuff himself and puts it in a bottle.”
If you’re interested in the course drop Peters an email at info@mamasita.com.au.
Magic Falls Photo: cascadas mágicas de Copalitilla
Magic Falls Photo: cascadas mágicas de Copalitilla
cascadas mágicas de Copalitilla (Iosifkirov, May 2013)
Huatulco / Zipolite
http://www.todohuatulco.com/zipolite.html
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In Zapotec means "Beach of the Dead." Nudist beach located in the State of Oaxaca, southern Mexico Profundo.
Zipolite became famous in the 70s when whole colonies of hippies came to enjoy this beach was the only nudist beach in Mexico.
In low tourist season is a little more quiet, just in case the weekend is a bit more movement.Images for Cascadas MagicasThe Magical Waterfalls Copalitilla is located approximately 1 hour and a half from Huatulco and belongs to the community of San Miguel Port which is characterized by large plantations of coffee farms , in addition to a rich flora and fauna that adorn the landscape . mystical and unique colors in this place besides commune with nature and to bathe in its waters , you can perform the following recreational activities: hiking, swimming (on small scales) by the natural pools, observing the flora and fauna of the region , Canyoning, Ziplining, biking, camping, abseiling and visits to coffee farms.
http://www.todohuatulco.com/huatulco-cascadas.html
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The Magical Waterfalls Copalitilla is located approximately 1 hour and a half from Huatulco and belongs to the community of San Miguel Port which is characterized by large plantations of coffee farms , in addition to a richflora and fauna that adorn the landscape . mystical and unique colors 
Additional notes: - THE MAGICAL WATERFALLS! November 20, 2014 waterfallfix When Lindsey asked if we wanted to go to camping at the Cascadas Magicas (magical waterfalls) our answer was a solid…heck yes! But we had no idea exactly how incredibly magical and out of this world these waterfalls would be. First, imagine taking a 3 hour drive through thick green jungle along a bumpy, gravelly dirt road in hot, humid weather.
http://lifeonworldtour.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/the-magical-waterfalls/
THE MAGICAL WATERFALLS!
When Lindsey asked if we wanted to go to camping at the Cascadas Magicas (magical waterfalls) our answer was a solid…heck yes! But we had no idea exactly how incredibly magical and out of this world these waterfalls would be. First, imagine taking a 3 hour drive through thick green jungle along a bumpy, gravelly dirt road in hot, humid weather.
Then imagine parking next to a mystical, turquoise, mineral rich pool, jumping into said pool, splashing around, and even swimming beneath a waterfall. After cooling off, you would set off on the hike to the cascadas magicas, thinking to yourself, “wait these aren’t the magical waterfalls?”. Hiking along the clay trail lined with moss, twisty trees, and big green leaves in every direction, you stop when you see a rope swing hanging from a tree! Jon tests it out first of course.
Keep on hiking and you reach the Cascadas Magicas. You pause and take in the breathtaking beauty of nature. A man-made wooden railing and some rope guide you up the waterfall (like literally through the rushing water) and into a cave (that’s right, a cave). Jon goes through the cave first without hesitation. Carolyn yells, “Jon what are you doing!? You aren’t going in there, are you!? Wait for me!” Lindsey follows like a champ. We are lowered into a small and surprisingly clean and bug-less dark ravine where we follow the water out a hole that takes us back to Edgar who is playing with their dog Maya in the pool below.
You might decide to stay for a bit in the cool water, then hike back to the campground, make some rabbit for dinner, play some cards with hot cocoa. Then sleep to the sound of rushing water.
Breakfast at camp
You’d likely wake up the next morning slowly with coffee and scrambled eggs, play some more cards, and then head to the “big” magical waterfalls, thinking to yourself “wait, there are bigger waterfalls!?”. What better way to spend a weekend than among nature’s two most incredible wonders- waterfalls and good people. Here are more magical pictures:
And the icing on the cake this weekend was picking up Carolyn’s sister, Julia!!! She has stopped by to spend a few days with us on her way back home to San Francisco after a two week work trip in Nicaragua. More on our reunion in the next post. Hasta luego!
Lyoban is originally a zapotecan word (LYO-BAAN). The word refers to a holy place where the "cloud-men" arrived when they were able to achieve the higest level of spirituality. There they stayed, in the Lyo-baan for eternity. Maintaining peace and balance, day by day. LYOBAN has been our home for more than 15 years
Lyoban is originally a zapotecan word (LYO-BAAN).
The word refers to a holy place where the "cloud-men" arrived when they were able to achieve the higest level of spirituality. There they stayed, in the Lyo-baan for eternity. Maintaining peace and balance, day by day.
We are proud to say that we have hosted thousands of guys from all over the world. Many of them return every year. Through the years we have tried to create a great environment for our visitors. We want you to feel like you are at home.
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