Cooking up the good life

I have mentioned the Mercado Central several times.  It is an indoor market with stalls, much likeThe Midtown Global Market, (where my catering kitchen is).  which is modeled after some of the more famous indoor markets in the U.S.  It is a brilliant concept, and greatly appreciated by folks like me who like to find their food close to the source, and ideally in bulk.  This market is not huge, but I have been able to find most everything that I want and need.  My favorite place is the spice/grain/flour stall.  The men all stand in the middle, surrounded by bins and the customers stand outside and tell them how much of something they want.  It moves quickly, and I am still working out how much half a kilo is, not to mention saying it all in Spanish….so I rarely feel as if I have gotten everything I wanted, but each time I come back I make a new discovery and learn a new word or two.

most every spice you'd ever need

Notice the "Lino" (flax seed)?

I am dying to know what Mendocinos do with ground flax seed, or quinoa.  I haven’t seen evidence of any of these things anywhere, so I am quite curious. There are also lots of dried beans, and while you won’t find corn tortillas anywhere, there is plenty of whole dried corn, corn flour and polenta. Again, I am curious to know what everyone is doing with all of these whole foods!

I have learned that the places to find “health food” and things like herbal supplements, whole grain pastas and crackers and natural sweets are called “dieteticas”.  They are scattered throughout the city and all seem to have more or less the same things, except the one I discovered very close to our apartment. They have FRESHLY BAKED whole wheat bread, pizza crusts, sweetbreads, media lunas (the crescent shaped pastry sold everywhere) and alfajores.  They have a kitchen in the back where they prepare everything.  I am strategizing about how to arrange a little trade or workshare with them…..

A few last photos from the market.  I was a little self conscious about taking out the camera, and definitely didn’t want to take photos of people, but it’s tough to pass up these classic shots of the meat.

I'm guessing intestines

For all you cured meat lovers

Slowly but surely I am finding my way to the places that will nourish and sustain us.  I still have much to discover about the food system here-who and where does it all come from, and what happens to all the waste? Is there a culture of sustainability?  If so, where and how do they fit into the larger culture here?

We did just discover that the local library is sponsoring a “Mes de la agricultura familiar”- a month about local agriculture, and there is a farmer’s market tomorrow.  I will definitely check it out, and ask as many questions as I am able to.  Thankfully I’ll have my translator (AKA husband) with me.