We rolled into SoCal right around dinner time and made a beeline for Alfredo’s, a place we visit often and for good reason. The carnitas here is excellent. Tonight I mixed things up and swapped the usual rice for fries, and wow, that was a great call. I would absolutely do that again.

Also in the photo are the Chile Verde, Carnitas Burrito, and Carne Asada Burrito. Only Koa was able to finish his meal. He’s only in his 20s so he can still eat a huge meal without skipping a beat

The portions are massive, so I ended up taking more than half of my meal home. That means I have at least one more delicious lunch waiting for me!

Source

Koa and I kicked off our road trip from Texas to California today and put in a solid 10 hours on the road. We rolled into Lordsburg, New Mexico, checked into our hotel, and then headed straight to Ramona’s for dinner. I stuck with the old standby, Combination 1, which comes with a taco, enchilada, and tamale. It hit the spot after a long day of driving. Tasty, comforting, and definitely something I would order again.

Source

Tonight was taco night at our house, and it was a good one. We had al pastor and barbacoa to choose from, plus two kinds of salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, serranos, avocado, onion, cilantro, cojita & oaxaca cheeses, and plenty of lime. I ate so many tacos that I honestly lost count.

We warmed the corn tortillas on our comal before tucking them into the tortilla basket, and it made a huge difference. They came out soft, warm, and full of flavor. Definitely the right way to do taco night.

Source

Tonight we had friends over for a Mexico and New Mexico inspired meal, and it was such a great night. I made a big batch of green chile stew, and Mariko made chicken en molé enchiladas, mango habañero salsa, and salsa ranchera. We also made plenty of homemade corn tortillas, plus a mushroom, onion, and pepper filling for tacos.

Our friends brought over tequila and margarita mix to go with everything, which was perfect. To end the night on a sweet note, we also had a dulce de leche cake for dessert. Amazing food, great company, and an all around awesome evening.

Source

This afternoon I met up with some family who were in town for a wedding, and it turned into such a nice little get-together. We met at La Piscina and treated ourselves to tasty Mexican food and some really good cocktails. It felt great to sit around the table and catch up with people I have not talked with in a while. The whole thing had a relaxed and happy vibe, and it was such an easy and fun way to spend the afternoon.

As a little bonus, I somehow scored a perfect street parking spot. I even got to put my parallel parking skills to work, which always feels like a tiny victory. Fun stuff!

Source

Mariko left for Japan today, so I’m handling dinners until she returns. For tonight, I made a big batch of carnitas in the Instant Pot and set out ingredients so we could each put together our own nacho plates. Everything turned out really well, and the best part is we have enough leftovers to enjoy again tomorrow!

Source

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!

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

Source

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!

Source

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!

Source

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!

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.

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).

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.

Source