-David Lebovitz
The first time I went to Mexico
was sometime back in the 1980s. And from what I’d heard, I was sure that I
would never come back. Most stories suggested danger lurking from every
corner of every city and town, even in the oceans, where who knows what could
happen to you in there. Or at the very least, I’d certainly be laid up in
bed, doubled over from accidentally drinking the water.
Since that first trip, where I sat
on warm beaches sipping Mexican beers and eating spicy ceviche made from seafood
that the fishermen brought in each morning from the clear blue ocean, I’ve
been to Mexico maybe five or six times, and each time, made it back just
fine. (Except for once, when I had a rather unpleasant return flight, made
worse by a full plane with one restroom that was out-of-order. Which might
have been attributed to a run-in with some mezcal.)
Because I live farther away now,
it was nice that a bit of Mexico came to me — and didn’t involve and
unpleasant return on a plane. Susana
Trilling was coming to Paris and my friends Kate and Judy urged her to get in touch with
me.
Susana had invited me over for a
homemade Mexican dinner at her friend’s place in Paris, where she and Jesse,
her son, were staying. But having cooked in my share of Parisian kitchens,
which are often tiny and not well-stocked for serving groups (or preparing
Mexican fare), I invited her to my place to cook, since I pretty much have
any kitchen tool and ingredient one could imagine. Including some Mexican
ones.
She unpacked her haul from the
market in Paris, as well as lots of little packets of spices, seasonings, and
a box of stone-ground Oaxacan
chocolate, ground with cinnamon and sugar. I couldn’t resist
and tore into the box, pulled out one of the handmade bars, and took a sniff.
I love the smell of brusque, coarsely ground Mexican chocolate, and I was
happy to hear we’d be having a Mexican dessert Susana would be baking with
it.
Continue Reading Mexican Dinner
with Susana Trilling, in Paris...
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