http://www.exploremexicoblog.com/index.php/site/index/ A blog exploring Mexican culture, language and lifestyle. en shari@lagueramedia.com Copyright 2009 2009-04-23T16:25:26-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/viva_literature/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/viva_literature/#When:16:25:26Z Is Mexico a narco state or a book lover’s paradise? It depends on what you read. [jump to UTNE Reader] Is Mexico a narco state or a book lover’s paradise? It depends on what you read. [jump to UTNE Reader] Experience Mexican Culture 2009-04-23T16:25:26-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/meet_carlos_fuentes/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/meet_carlos_fuentes/#When:16:15:43Z Writer, narrator, playright and essayist. His work has been translated into a dozen languages and covers the entire genre range: novel, short story, essay, film and theater script. Writer, narrator, playright and essayist. His work has been translated into a dozen languages and covers the entire genre range: novel, short story, essay, film and theater script. Among his most notable works: Las buenas conciencias (The Good Conscience), Los dias enmascarados (The Masked Days - his first collection of stories), La región más transparente (Where the Air is Clear), La muerte de Artemio Cruz (The Death of Artemio Cruz), Los cinco soles de México; Memoria de un milenio (The Five Suns of Mexico: The Memory of a Millennium), Orquídeas a la luz de la luna, Los años con Laura Díaz (The Years with Laura Díaz). He was born in Panama, Panama on November 11, 1928. He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and took the Econonmics Seminar offered by the Institute of International Higher Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. He served as delegate to Mexico in Geneva and ambassador to Mexico in France. He worked as a teacher at a number of North-American and European universities as well as founder and co-director of several literary magazines. He has received a number of literary awards, both national and internationa; amoung these the National Award of Leterature of Mexico, the Cervantes Award and Prince of Asturias of the Arts Prize. > Find a selection of his books in English at Amazon.com > Visit his website: www.carlosfuentes.com.mx (in Spanish) Personalities 2009-04-17T16:15:43-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/april_message/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/april_message/#When:16:35:25Z This month in adentrate, we begin an exploration of famous Mexican personalities in recent history -- writers, playwrights and actors, musicians and photographers. The bios you find here are courtesy of Dos Casas, a luxury boutique hotel in San Miguel de Allende. On the walls of their Wine Bar and Restaurant, you will find a tribute to the people who have passed through San Miguel de Allende, adding to the colorful heritage of the city. With their permission, we are reprinting their book, "Menu of Personalities", a compilation of biographies. A big thanks to Dos Casas!This month in adentrate, we begin an exploration of famous Mexican personalities in recent history -- writers, playwrights and actors, musicians and photographers. The bios you find here are courtesy of Dos Casas, a luxury boutique hotel in San Miguel de Allende. On the walls of their Wine Bar and Restaurant, you will find a tribute to the people who have passed through San Miguel de Allende, adding to the colorful heritage of the city. With their permission, we are reprinting their book, "Menu of Personalities", a compilation of biographies. A big thanks to Dos Casas! Personalities 2009-04-03T16:35:25-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/mysterious_mole/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/mysterious_mole/#When:15:50:15Z The French boast of their bearnaise. Indians are known for tantalizing curry, and Italians for rich, thick marinara. In Mexico, the undisputed national sauce is mole, an intoxicating blend of chocolate, chiles, garlic, onions and nuts and so much more. "As far as I am concerned, it is one of a handful of classic sauces from around the world," said Richard Sandoval, author of Modern Mexican Flavors and chef at Maya in New York and San Francisco. "It's so potent, so powerful, yet in this country so misunderstood."The French boast of their bearnaise. Indians are known for tantalizing curry, and Italians for rich, thick marinara. In Mexico, the undisputed national sauce is mole, an intoxicating blend of chocolate, chiles, garlic, onions and nuts and so much more. "As far as I am concerned, it is one of a handful of classic sauces from around the world," said Richard Sandoval, author of Modern Mexican Flavors and chef at Maya in New York and San Francisco. "It's so potent, so powerful, yet in this country so misunderstood." The misinformed refer to mole (pronounced MOH-lay) as "that Mexican chocolate sauce." Although chocolate is indeed an ingredient in some moles - if cooked properly, only a mysterious hint remains when the sauce is served over turkey, chicken, seafood, pork or roasted vegetables such as potatoes. There is no definitive mole, but rather endless versions that differ from family to family, from region to region. Mole, which comes from the Aztec word molli, meaning concoction or stew, is believed to have been created in the late 1600s by a nun in a convent in Puebla de los Angeles, outside Mexico City, to honor the archbishop for building a nearby convent. According to food historians, she spared no expense, using the best and most expensive ingredients to create the dark, savory sauce that grew to tantalize a nation. Today, Oaxaca has the reputation as Mexico's best state for mole, followed by Puebla and Veracruz. The famous "seven moles of Oaxaca" compose a rainbow of earthy colors such as black, brown, brick red, yellow and green. The region's most famous variety, mole negro, uses six kinds of chile, almonds, raisins, pumpkin seeds, tomato, garlic, onions, plantains, chocolate, spices, chile seeds, lard and more. Try this Red Mole Sauce (Mole Coloradito) recipe from Restaurant La Olla, Oaxaca México. Mexican Cuisine 2009-03-02T15:50:15-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/bachata_music/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/bachata_music/#When:18:30:40Z Next time you're out listening to Latin music, you may hear this rhythmic music and see dancers moving in a fun, sexy style very different from salsa or cumbia. It's bachata! Click to watch a selection of bachata music videos. More about the history of bachata after the jump. Next time you're out listening to Latin music, you may hear this rhythmic music and see dancers moving in a fun, sexy style very different from salsa or cumbia. It's bachata! Click to watch a selection of bachata music videos. "Bachata, a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are often romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. In fact, the original term used to name the genre was amargue ("bitterness," or "bitter music"), until the rather ambiguous (and mood-neutral) term bachata became popular. It has been compared to the blues, although in modern times it bears similarities to R&B. Bachata was created primarily by servants, who played it after their work days ended. They made the music out of ordinary objects like those commonly found in a backyard such as trash cans and fences. In some rural areas of the Dominican Republic. The bachatero, like the bluesman, sings about pain and trouble; one difference, though, is that while the bluesman hops on a southbound freight and keeps moving, the bachatero gets as far as the neighborhood bar and looks for solace in a bottle of rum in a dark corner! Someone once said that the name Bachata came from a African and Taino words that put together means Dance of the Black/Taino Woman"". You can find bachata music in most dance clubs throughout Mexico along with salsa, merengue and cumbia. [wikipedia] Experience Mexican Culture 2009-02-10T18:30:40-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/21_de_enero/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/21_de_enero/#When:20:07:41Z Ignacio Allende's birthday is January 21st. Allende is a national hero of Mexico and many places and streets including San Miguel de Allende were named for him. Allende was a captain of the Spanish Army in Mexico who came to sympathize with the Mexican independence movement. He attended the secret meetings organized by Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, where the possibility of an independent New Spain was discussed. He fought along with Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in the first stage of the struggle, eventually succeeding him in leadership of the rebellion. Allende was captured by Spanish colonial authorities while he was in Chihuahua and executed for treason.Ignacio Allende's birthday is January 21st. Allende is a national hero of Mexico and many places and streets including San Miguel de Allende were named for him. Allende was a captain of the Spanish Army in Mexico who came to sympathize with the Mexican independence movement. He attended the secret meetings organized by Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, where the possibility of an independent New Spain was discussed. He fought along with Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in the first stage of the struggle, eventually succeeding him in leadership of the rebellion. Allende was captured by Spanish colonial authorities while he was in Chihuahua and executed for treason. Historical Moments in Mexico 2009-01-17T20:07:41-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/abrazo/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/abrazo/#When:21:43:50Z Ritual of the Embrace One Mexican custom that has a subtle but profound influence on personal relationships, which nurtures friendships and helps fulfill the deepest emotional needs, is the abrazo (as-BRAH-zoh). As practiced by Mexicans today the abrazo has been formalized for convenience. Your right arm goes over the left arm of the other person. Your left arm, in turn goes under the other person's right arm. Both persons tilt their heads to the left, so they are looking over the other person's right shoulder. The embrace is accompanied by patting the other person's back with the right hand.Ritual of the Embrace One Mexican custom that has a subtle but profound influence on personal relationships, which nurtures friendships and helps fulfill the deepest emotional needs, is the abrazo (as-BRAH-zoh). As practiced by Mexicans today the abrazo has been formalized for convenience. Your right arm goes over the left arm of the other person. Your left arm, in turn goes under the other person's right arm. Both persons tilt their heads to the left, so they are looking over the other person's right shoulder. The embrace is accompanied by patting the other person's back with the right hand. The abrazo, or hug, is the oldest and most powerful means human beings have of expressing kinship and love, for showing joy and pleasure at happy times and sorrow at sad times. Yet in most non-Lation societies its practice among adults is rare. There's a Word for it in Mexico 2009-01-10T21:43:50-06:00 http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/la_rosca_de_reyes_or_three_kings_bread/ http://www.adentrate.com/index.php/site/la_rosca_de_reyes_or_three_kings_bread/#When:21:22:28Z On January 6th Three King's Bread or Rosca de Reyes is a sweet bread traditionally served during family gatherings. This colorful bread has a baby Jesus doll baked inside. The person who gets the doll in their piece of bread provides the food and drink for the next celebration, La Candeleria on February 2.On January 6th Three King's Bread or Rosca de Reyes is a sweet bread traditionally served during family gatherings. This colorful bread has a baby Jesus doll baked inside. The person who gets the doll in their piece of bread provides the food and drink for the next celebration, La Candeleria on February 2. In 2009, the world's largest Rosca de Reyes is being served in Mexico City. To read the article in Spanish, click here... What's Happening in Mexico 2009-01-04T21:22:28-06:00