SUNDAY WITH FRIENDS

This past Sunday, we spent the afternoon with our friends, Adriana, Antonio, Chef Gerardo, Mel and Nena.  Adriana and Antonio are the owners of Cafe Firenze and Chef Gerardo is...well...you guessed it...the chef at Cafe Firenze.  Mel and Nena are friends from Michigan that are spending the month of January here in San Miguel de Allende.

The menu for the day was traditional Mexican food.  We started the afternoon with a little wine while Sam showed off her new painting for our bedroom.  That will have to be another blog story.

Antonio decided it was time to make some margaritas.  Sam had her new glasses ready.  She walked into town on Friday and purchased them.  Well, back to the margaritas.  Antonio mixed, sweet and sour mix, freshly squeezed lime juice (squeezed by Bob), passion fruit, Jose Cuervo Tradicional Tequila, the same tequila infused with orange and lemon peels, Cointreau, mineral water, and lots of ice.  Shake, shake, shake and there you have it a very delicious margarita!

We served Mexican Shrimp Cocktails with the margaritas.  They were a perfect match!

Now on with more wine and more conversation.  Chef Gerardo and Bob worked the grill making arrachara, grouper, and nopales while Antonio was putting the finishing touches on the tongue for tongue tacos.  Yes you read that correctly...tongue tacos.

Adriana made fresh pico de gallo and Antonio made fresh guacamole.  It was a feast to enjoy with great friends.

Of course in Mexico, one must have a shot of tequila to aid digestion.

For dessert, we had a wonderful flan.

A good time was had by all.  Here is a link if you want to see more pictures:

https://picasaweb.google.com/113657035663785110260/SundayWithFriends12212?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNvC2JOnydTx8AE&feat=directlink

2012 FIRST DAY OF TEACHING AT LOS RICOS



Today was a very busy day.  It was our first day of teaching English at Los Ricos de Abajo.  Sam is the lead teacher for the 5th and 6th graders.  She has 19 students in the class.  Sam also has other teachers assisting her.  For the past few months, Sam has been putting together her lesson plans. 

When we arrived at the school, the students were eager to see everyone.  It is a lot of work and it takes a lot of energy.  However, the students give back to us so much more.

After teaching the 5th and 6th graders, Sam is also a co-tutor for four 7th grade students.  By the end of the day, the students and the volunteer teachers are tired.

Here is the link to see photos that were taken today:  https://picasaweb.google.com/113657035663785110260/2012LosRicosFirstDayOfTeaching?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLiBk6C6kNOUeQ&feat=directlink

HACIENDA LAS TRANCAS



On Sunday we spent a wonderful afternoon with our good friends, Juan Carlos and Rebeca.  They made plans to take us on a surprise adventure for the day.  We had no idea where we were going.  Juan Carlos had a cooler filled with beer and white wine and a backpack filled with red wine.  We drove about 40 minutes from San Miguel de Allende into the countryside.  When we arrived, we drove up to this amazing hacienda...Las Trancas.  The hacienda is over 450 years old and it currently owned by an American couple from North Carolina.

When we went to the front door, Rebeca rang this huge bell.  One of the staff opened the door, smiled and greeted Rebeca by name.  She welcomed us to the hacienda and asked us to take a seat on the back patio.  A few minutes later, we were brought refreshing margaritas and homemade totopos and guacamole.

After about 30 minutes of chatting and relaxing, we were given a personal tour of the entire hacienda.  We were able to see all 11 suites (we were not allowed to take any pictures in the suites), the kitchen area, comedor that seats 22 people at one long table, the SPA that gives one hour massages for less than $25, the gym, the outdoor pool and hot tub, the horse stables, vegetable garden, etc.  Oh, did I mention that we were the only guests at the hacienda?  It was our very own private hacienda for the day.  For more information, check out their website:  www.HaciendaLasTrancas.com

Once the tour was over, we each had a beer on another patio and enjoyed the magnificent vista.  A short time later, the dinner bell rang.  It was time to eat.  We could have eaten on any one of the three patios or in the comedor.  Rebeca and Juan Carlos selected the comedor.  The staff had set the table for the four of us.  For starters, we had mushroom and nopal soup, followed by a garden salad with apples drizzled with jamaica dressing.  The main course:  chiles rellenos, one was a poblano pepper stuffed with meat and the other was an ancho chile en escabeche with plantanos and cheese.  The side dishes were arroz rojo con jitomates y cebollas asados and papas fritas francesa and auga de pina.  And yes, fresh homemade tortillas and salsa verde.  For dessert we had helado de mango fresco.  Oh, did I mention that we could bring in our own beer and wine?  So of course we had plenty of wine to accompany our meal thanks to Juan Carlos and Rebeca.



After comeda, we retired to another outdoor patio where one could relax in a hammock.  Yes, we were kings and queens for the day.  We did meet the real king of the hacienda...OJ...as in orange juice.  He is a cat and a well fed cat at that.



What a great day with great friends!!  Check out the photos we took at: https://picasaweb.google.com/113657035663785110260/HACIENDALASTRANCAS?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCO_WgJyfkM3xjQE&feat=directlink

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

Last night for New Year's Eve, we made reservations for dinner at our favorite restaurant, Cafe Firenze. Antonio and Chef Gerardo put together a fantasic 6 course menu. The staff was busy all day long making preparations for this big night. They had about 65 reservations. Antonio ordered a white tent that he put in front of the restaurant so he would have extra seating. It was a good thing Antonio had the tent because it rained for about over an hour. We actually had a thunderstorm including lightning. No one really cared because we really needed the rain. Table cloths, white napkins and wine glasses adorned the tables. Everything looked wonderful. Here are a few photos from last evening: https://picasaweb.google.com/113657035663785110260/NewYearSEve12312011AtCafeFirenze?authkey=Gv1sRgCNnNs6DT4oebfA# Here is what was on the menu: 1st Amuse Bouche: Foie Gras Mousse on Brioche toast and Vin Santo wine reduction 2nd Choice of: Black truffle risotto Lobster ravioli, vanilla bean beurre blanc Kobe beef bruschetta 3rd Choice of: New England style clam chowder, or Organic beet carpaccio with toasted garlic goat cheese aioli 4rd Intermezzo Tangerine smoothie 5th Choice of: Roasted Black Grouper, pumpkin risotto Duck Breast, wild rice, raspberry and hibiscus flower demi glace Lamb Chops, pomegranate glaze Wild boar and porcini mushroom ragout, homemade Pappardelle pasta 6th Choice of: Baby banana bread pudding Tiramisu, Don Julio tequila cream sauce We finished our dinner around 8:45 p.m. The next seating was at 9:00 p.m.; however, those guests arrived early and the restaurant was packed. We want to thank Antonio, Chef, and the staff for a very enjoyable evening. Our "hats off to you" and we hope you have a wonderful 2012. After dinner, we took a casual stroll home. Got to bed early, reminisced about 2011 (we certainly had a lot that happened in 2011) and just enjoyed being together. We totally missed ringing in the new year and the fireworks. Well, there is always next year. From our home to your home...Happy New Year!