The Connection Between the Sacramento Valley and Jalisco, Mexico
~ Written for Sen. Ernesto Delgado, Mayahuel Tequila Museo
One thousand nine hundred eighty miles.
That’s the distance between Sacramento and Jalisco. Everything about Jalisco is different from Sacramento – the beautiful rolling red-dirt hills dotted with blue-green Agave plants that seem to almost glow from within, sparkling in the heat of the day. Driving along Highway 15 from Guadalajara to Tequila offers you an amazing contrast of red-earth clay in the highlands and loamy..
Mayahuel – Art, Architecture and Inspiration
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
As soon as you enter Mayahuel, you realize the architecture isn’t what we’ve all come to expect from Mexican restaurants. The colors are rich and yet evoke serenity. There are no arches or curves – in fact, the lines are level – balanced, proportional, continuous horizontal and vertical planes. Large areas of windows blur the lines between the interior and the world outside – the rooms are open and inviting. Patterns of light are..
The Life and Passion of a Restaurateur
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
Ernesto Delgado’s lifelong love of fine cuisine began on a hot, dry summer day in Atacheo, México….
The afternoon sun is golden, and dust glitters in the light as it floats up behind the footsteps of the man working to harvest the corn. The man’s son is only four years old. He has observed his father working hard every day on the Milpa (small agricultural farm), growing tomatoes, strawberries and corn to sell to eager buyers. As part of the..
Foods of the Aztec
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
What did the Aztecs eat?
We’d all like to think our 21st century diet is superior to anything ancient cultures may have consumed, but, at least in the case of the Aztecs this is likely not true.
According to historians, migrating tribes began to settle in Mexico prior to 1100 CE. Small, ‘city-states’ were formed, each a separate entity ruled by a Tlatoani, who led a council of nobles. As these city-states grew and prospered, those with more..
The Beautiful Poblano
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
The Rich History of the Versatile Poblano
The Poblano Chile originated in Puebla, Mexico, a region in the heart of the country. It is said to have grown wild in the mountainous areas near Puebla – quite possibly in Cholula, which is thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in Mexico.
Cholula was first settled by indigenous people between 800 and 200 BC. By 100 BC, the Olmecs had made Cholula one of Mexico’s most active cities...
The ‘Farm to Fork’ Movement – Fresh Food Past and Present
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
Sacramento is America’s Farm-to-Fork capital. The movement, which has been sweeping the nation in recent years, brings to the forefront the desirability of using fresh, seasonal meats and produce from nearby sources. Many chefs contract with local growers to ensure they will have the freshest of ingredients available to serve their customers.
After all, fresh food just tastes better. Picked at the peak of ripeness, produce contains more of..
El Tesoro Tequila – The Most Awarded Tequila in the World
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
El Tesoro Tequila – the standard by which all tequila should be judged.
Connoisseurs of fine Tequila have individual ‘favorites’, but nearly all will agree that El Tesoro is the gold standard by which fine tequila can be judged. We spent an evening with Senor Carlos Camarena, of El Tesoro Tequila recently – tasting the incomparable Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo.
Senor Camarena is an entertainer. He loves to tell stories of his life in a..
Dia de los Muertos at Mayahuel
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – it’s origins trace back hundreds of years to an indigenous Aztec festival dedicated to the Goddess Mictecacihuatl. In Aztec mythology, the Goddess was the Queen of the Underworld. Her role was to carefully watch over the bones of the dead and preside over the ancient festivals in honor of those who were no longer in the living world.
Prior to Spanish colonization of Mexico, the celebration was held..
Sunday Supper at the Ranch – Farm to Fork Event
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
The romance, joy, camaraderie and beauty of a local ‘farm to fork’ event in Sacramento will take place this year at the Pegasus Riding Club in Wilton. The annual Sunday Supper at the Ranch dinner is planned for Sunday, October 11th.
Join Mayahuel for this wonderful event which features some of the finest local cuisine served in a pastoral setting to benefit Project Ride.
Sunday Supper at the Ranch is Sacramento’s premiere Farm to Fork..
Fine Tequila is Like Fine Wine – How to Taste Tequila
Written for Señor Ernesto Delgado
Fine Tequila is very much like fine wine – and should be tasted in a similar manner.
Soils, weather and elevation produce very different, and distinct tequilas. Tasting tequila is something to be savored, and understanding the process will help you truly have a memorable experience.
In the valley lowlands of Jalisco, the days are hot and nights can be very warm. The soil is loamy, dark and volcanic. Tequilas produced from Agave grown in the..