Category: Food

Coffee, Tapas, and Mezcal

, , , , , Food, Slice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment on Coffee, Tapas, and Mezcal
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/430 sec, ISO80
 “Café” Mexico City, 2025

Today was one of those perfect work-and-play days. After a productive afternoon, I met up with Mariko for coffee at a cozy café, then we strolled over to Cudillero Tapas y Vino. We visited Spain a few years back and fell in love with the tapas lifestyle, so finding a place like this in Mexico City was such a nice surprise. We feasted on seafood, sausage, and some amazing croquettes, all paired with a lovely bottle of wine. The service was top-notch, and they even wrapped up our leftover wine to take home – how classy is that?

On the way back, we wandered into Bla Bla Bla Salud! for a mezcal tasting. The host, Andres, was super friendly and taught us a fun way to enjoy mezcal – with lime and insects! It was actually delicious. He even shared his ska playlist with us, which totally matched the mood. What an awesome night out in Mexico City!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Tapas” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/60 sec, ISO400
 “Mariscos” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Tapas” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500
 “Mezcal” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/640 sec, ISO80
 “Gato” Mexico City, 2025

Tlayudas and Enmoladas

, , , , , , Food, Slice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment on Tlayudas and Enmoladas
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO160
 “Tlayuda” Mexico City, 2025

For lunch today we stopped by Tlayudas Metate, and I ordered the Tlayuda Mixta. If you haven’t had one before, tlayudas are a delicious Oaxacan dish made with a giant toasted tortilla packed with all kinds of tasty fillings. Mine was the “mixta,” loaded with beef, Oaxacan chorizo, black beans, melty Oaxaca cheese, a bit of “asiento” (pork butter), and a sprinkle of crisp cabbage. Every bite was amazing! Mariko ordered the Enchiladas de Mole (Enmoladas) which were also fanstastic. And the price was so inexpensive! Two huge dishes of food and two drinks for about $21 USD. Love it!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO200
 “Enchiladas de Mole” Mexico City, 2025

I spent the rest of the day working, but I did get to enjoy the view of the pretty clouds over the city.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/4600 sec, ISO32
 “Pretty Clouds” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/1200 sec, ISO25
 “Pretty Clouds Over the City” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/7100 sec, ISO80
 “Street View” Mexico City, 2025

Mexican Breakfast, Sushi, and Yakitori

, , , , , , Food, Slice of Life, Traveling1 Comment on Mexican Breakfast, Sushi, and Yakitori
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO64
 “Sopa Azteca” Mexico City, 2025

It was back to work for me today, and I have to say, I’m really enjoying this whole workcation idea! Mexico City is only one hour ahead of US Central time, so it’s super easy to stay in sync with my coworkers. It’s been a great way to dip my toes into the digital nomad lifestyle.

For lunch, we kept it simple with eggs, soup, and coffee. Later in the evening, we walked over to a Japanese restaurant for sushi and yakitori, which turned out to be pretty tasty. After dinner, we did a little shopping at the market and then headed back to our Airbnb to watch the Independence Day festivities on TV. We decided to skip the crowds at the Zócalo for el Grito, but it was still fun to watch all the excitement from the comfort of the couch!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO160
 “Café de Olla” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
 “Sushi Time” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Yakitori” Mexico City, 2025

Mercado Sonora, Camarones, and Lucha Libre

, , , , , , Food, Slice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment on Mercado Sonora, Camarones, and Lucha Libre
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/160 sec, ISO64
 “Molcajete” Mexico City, 2025

Today kicked off with a visit to Mercado Sonora. I had heard it was big, bustling, and perfect for finding inexpensive dishes, and it did not disappoint. We were also hunting for a molcajete to bring home, and ended up scoring a fun pig-shaped one!

After our shopping spree, we had lunch at El Puerto de Don Roque. Shrimp is their specialty, so of course we ordered a couple of plates. The food was fantastic, and since the place was packed with locals, we knew we made the right choice.

We lugged home our heavy haul of plates, bowls, and the pig molcajete, then took a quick rest before our next adventure: a Lucha Libre experience. The evening started in an apartment near the arena, where our host gave us a crash course on the history of Mexican wrestling, the rules, and the etiquette. We even learned a few colorful phrases to shout at the wrestlers, which is actually encouraged! A young wrestler stopped by to answer our questions about his career, and all the while we enjoyed beer, mezcal, and vegetarian tacos.

Then it was time for the main event at Arena México. There were six matches in total, including one with women wrestlers. Each fight was full of energy, drama, and fun. We had such a blast, especially once we got the hang of yelling our new swear phrases at the villains. What a night!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/250 sec, ISO64
 “Camarones” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500
 “Pre-Match Education” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO400
 “Red Fire Dragon” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO125
 “Masks Outside the Arena” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO1000
 “Lucha Libre” Mexico City, 2025

Photoshoot, More Food, and Shopping in CDMX

, , , , FoodLeave a Comment on Photoshoot, More Food, and Shopping in CDMX
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/6.4, 1/50 sec, ISO1600
 “Morning Americano” Mexico City, 2025

Today was packed with adventure! We started the morning with a photoshoot with a professional photographer, hitting up Mercado Medellin, Libertario Café, and the nearby park. I wore my brand-new Mexican shirt along with my trusty Hawaiian ukulele aloha shirt, and Mariko wore an amazing Mexican dress. I can’t wait to see the finished pics!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1000
 “Photoshoot” Mexico City, 2025

Afterward, we headed back to the Airbnb for a bit before catching an Uber to San Angel Inn Restaurant. The food was amazing. We tried wild mushrooms, empanadas, beef tongue tacos, and the classic Chile en Nogada. Mariko sipped on a mezcal margarita while I treated myself to a Coke, which tasted extra good since I rarely drink soda. The prices were on the higher side, but the courtyard was beautiful, and the staff was super. Also, the bread they served before the meal was really tasty! There’s something special about Mexican butter too… super creamy.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/310 sec, ISO80
 “Chile en Nogada” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/340 sec, ISO80
 “Wild Mushrooms with Ajillo Sauce” Mexico CIty, 2025

Next up was the San Angel bazaar, where we picked up some mezcal. We were hoping to find a tortilla basket but couldn’t find one we liked. To recharge, we stopped at Le Pain Quotidien for coffee, “matchai”, and a giant concha pastry that was almost too pretty to eat (almost).

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO80
 “Afternoon Coffee” Mexico City, 2025

Our Uber ride back was entertaining thanks to a very chatty driver, and after a short rest at home, we ventured out again. Despite a rainy walk, we made it to a wine bar that was unfortunately closed, but luck was on our side because we ended up at Bar Basico. It turned out to be a fantastic spot and the perfect ending to a fun-filled day.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO640
 “Bar Basico” Mexico City, 2025
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/4, 1/450 sec, ISO640
 “Mezcal Margarita” Mexico City, 2025