I’m back from vacation. Spent last week trying to catch up on emails and tour requests, and ignoring the nagging voice whispering, “You haven’t updated your blog!”
We had a nice time. In California, I made salsa for my grandma. It was the first time I cooked for her and she was wowed — she kept saying “I didn’t know chile could taste like that.” We also sipped strawberry margaritas by the pool. Penny had commanded me to visit La Casita Mexicana in Bell, so my dad and I went and stuffed ourselves with queso fundido, mole and chile en nogada. (My first of the season! It was fantastic.)
In Arizona, Crayton and I lazed by the pool, and I read three books on my Kindle: The Butterfly Mosque, Stillwater Saints and A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion. I also got to meet Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza — she’s the chef at Phoenix’s Barrio Café, and a firecracker of a woman. If you’re in Phoenix, you should go to her restaurant and save room for the cajeta-filled churros.
A few photos from my trip:
Watering my grandma's lawn at sunset
Chips and mole from La Casita Mexicana in Bell
Mole made with tuna roja, anchos and guajillos at La Casita Mexicana
La Casita Mexicana's luscious chile en nogada. If you live in Southern California, you MUST try it.
Charring the purplish-green miltomates I found at the Mexican grocery store in Pico Rivera
Blending the salsa. My dad took this picture, which was very sweet of him. (He actually took several of me making salsa.)
My roasted tomatillo and chile de árbol salsa. Grandma loved it.
Salad, grilled nopales and chicken
The famous strawberry margaritas
My grandma's backyard at sunset
Lesley and Chef Silvana of Barrio Café
oh my gosh this post just made me sooo hungry!
Now I want me some mole…. Great pictures.
Thank you Leslie for the lovely post! I too have been to La Casita in Bell and loved it! In fact, I think we had all the same dishes (we wanted to sample everything)!
I miss my family in California, however, you posted tid bits of life there as I remember it!
Muchas gracias!
Flora
Yum! We live in San Diego and make frequent trips up to LA. I’ll be sure to put La Casita Mexicana on our list of places to eat!
Just discovered your blog tonight while searching for ponche recipes. (I had just read about it in a Day of the Dead book). Love your blog, and I’m glad you went to Barrio Cafe in Phoenix. It’s definitely one of my favorite restaurants here!
Thanks Laura! Glad you enjoy the blog. 🙂
I recently learned about the amazingly delicious chile de arbol salsa when I came across your blog in a search for a recipe. Your salsa looks like it has the exact consistency and color that I’ve been looking for, and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind posting the recipe for us. Thank you so much, I can’t wait to try some of the places you’ve recommended too!