oaxaca

A Gringo in Mexico: The Best of 2014

January 4, 2015 // 0 Comments

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – As we enter 2015, it’s time to take a look back at some of the destinations, events, cuisine and people that were featured here on the A Gringo in Mexico blog, Baja.com, Chowzter.com and our Facebook and Twitter feeds in 2014. And to thank you, our readers, [Read More]

Dining in Oaxaca: 12 Essentials in Mexico’s Food Capital

June 10, 2014 // 9 Comments

Mercado Benito Juarez, Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico

OAXACA DE JUAREZ, OAXACA – Over 10,000 years ago, small tribes that had hunted and searched for food during the Ice Age settled into the Valley of Oaxaca and a life of farming the grains, vegetables and plants they had previously foraged. Over time, cooking and local food sourcing traditions [Read More]

Get Over the Volcano: An Open Letter to Anthony Bourdain

May 5, 2014 // 114 Comments

May 5, 2014 Dear Mr. Bourdain, My name is W. Scott Koenig. I am a San Diego-based blogger at http://www.AGringoInMexico.com, a small site I started about two years ago to report on the fantastic experiences, people, food, culture and trips my wife Ursula – and now 6-year old son Wolfie [Read More]

Chowzter announces winners for 2014 World’s Tastiest Fast Feasts

May 1, 2014 // 6 Comments

Chowzter, The World's Tastiest Fast Feasts 2014, London, England, UK

LONDON – On Sunday, April 27, the second Chowzter World’s Tastiest Fast Feasts Awards took place at London’s L’Anima Cafe announcing the winners of the world’s very best dishes. El Gringo, “Chief Chowzter” for Tijuana and Oaxaca, was in old Blighty for all of the pomp and [Read More]

Weaving Rugs and Culinary Traditions in Teotitlan del Valle

January 15, 2014 // 1 Comment

Restaurant and Galeria Tierra Antigua, Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

TEOTITLAN DEL VALLE, OAXACA – Over 20,000 years ago, small Mesoamerican tribes roamed the frozen Valley of Oaxaca to hunt mammoth, deer and other game. They foraged the mountain forests surrounding the valley for edible plants. As the ice age rescinded it’s frosty fingers, the tribes [Read More]

Traditional Temazcal: Sweatin’ with the Oldies in Oaxaca

December 30, 2013 // 11 Comments

OAXACA DE JUAREZ, OAXACA – As El Gringo’s taxi rolled into the dirt road, ramshackle neighborhood of Privada Villa Alta on the outskirts of Oaxaca city, I wondered if the driver knew where he was going. Having just been to Los Cabos a couple of months ago, this looked like the last [Read More]

Night of the Radishes: Playing with Food in Oaxaca

December 25, 2013 // 0 Comments

OAXACA DE JUAREZ, OAXACA – In the 16th Century, the Spanish brought many new food staples to recently conquered Mexico. One of these staples was the radish, originally from China. In subsequent years, Mexican farmers grew and harvested the vegetable in the valley of Oaxaca. When taking their [Read More]

FMGM 2013: Celebrating Mexican Cuisine

October 11, 2013 // 0 Comments

Foro Mundial Gastronomia Mexiacana, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

ACAPULCO – The Foro Mundial de Gastronomia Mexicana (World Forum on Mexican Gastronomy) kicked off yesterday in Acapulco at the Mega Expo Feria Mundo Imperial Acapulco. After a long day of travel, El Gringo scratched, stretched, showered and hopped on the bus to the venue with his fellow [Read More]