Pre hispanic dining - trying something exotic

Sat on one of the downtown historic centres prettiest streets sits the "Restaurante Chon" - offering "fine pre-hispanic dining". With an extensive menu including Escamoles, Gusanos, Crocodile and grasshopper to name a few. Don´t be put off by the food combinations here - once you try some of these "delicacies" you maybe be pleseantly suprised and want to try more and more. Choose from a starter, soup, taco and to finish off a traditional mexican dessert.

A brief explanation of some of the food on offer :

Escamoles are the larvae of ants harvested from the roots of the agave or maguey and are considered a delicacy all over Mexico. They have a cottage cheese like consistency and taste buttery, yet slightly nutty.

Gusanos - you may have seen a gusano once open a time sitting in the bottom of a cheap bottle of tequila - the little "worms" are used all over mexico in tacos and some describe them as having a pork or bacon flavour.

Most main dishes at "Chon" cost between 150-250 pesos.

You can try some of this wonderful food at Restaurante Chon - open monday to saturday from 11am-7pm located on Calle Regina 160,Col. Centro - Downtown Mexico city.

http://www.restaurantechon.com/

More taco tips - the best of the best .....

Any Mexico city taco fiend will surely know "Tacos Beto - Los de Cochinada", served monday to saturday by the famous Don Beto himself after more than 30 years in the business. You can choose from the usual selection of pastor, longaniza, suadero or chicharrón and ask for your tacos with or without "cochinada"... (all the little bits that end up in the bottom on the pan !) These tasty tacos may look a little offputting to the untrained eye - but after one bite, you will be hooked!

TACOS BETO
LOS DE COCHINADA
Vértiz 1023, Narvarte, monday-thursday 17-4hrs, friday-saturday 19-7hrs.

Travelling to Mexico city with a dog

If you are thinking about coming to Mexico city with a four legged friend you should probably check out Reforma on a sunday morning which will be full of people walking thier dogs and riding thier bikes.

Reforma, one of the cities prinicipal streets is closed until around 2pm on sundays and people come from all over town to enjoy the "pedestrian only" pavements and roads. Usually dance groups and bands also play on the corners around the Angel of Independence monument and if can also pick up a free bike for the morning and afternoon at one of the little stands on Reforma if you leave an official form of identification.

Other "dog walking" areas are the Condesa, where every resident seems to own atleast three dogs and also "Parque España" also located in the condesa area on Nuevo Leon.

Xochimilcos "Island of Dolls".....

This bizarre little place is located in the canals of Xochimilco. Island and "musuem" owner Julian Santana began covering the island in dolls and asking them to protect him and the island over fifty years ago. Nowadays the island is cared for by a relative of the now deceased Julian Santana. The island is open to visitors for a small fee - its a strange and slightly creepy place but worth taking the time to visit if you are in Xochimilco.

http://www.xochimilco.df.gob.mx/turismo/isladelasmunecas.html

You can read Julian Santanas story on the official government site linked above (in spanish).

Tea in Colonia Roma at Caravanserai.

The Maison Française de Thé: Caravanseraï

Orizaba 101-A, on the corner of Alvaro Obregon, Colonia Roma;
phone: 5511-2877; e-mail: caravanseraimexico@yahoo.fr

http://www.caravanserai.com.mx/




Caravanseraï is a pretty french styled tea house in the Colonia Roma serving its customers a wide range as they lounge out in the back room of the store/tea house.
The place is charming and is a great place for any tea enthusiast to try out whilst in the city. I first went there over two years ago and was introduced to the place by a friend. When you arrive, you enter through the store which sells a wide variety of teas and the back room offers small, neat tables and over sized cushions and couches for you to relax and enjoy.. well, ofcourse, Tea !

Each pot holds around 3 cups and is priced pretty well. You could easily share between 2 or 3 or have a pot to yourself if you really are a tea lover.

Alternative Travel

• Journeys Beyond the Surface is an alternative-travel agency offering customized day trips to help you get to know any aspect of Mexico City that interests you. They accompany you so you have a safe yet challenging day. Their specialty is to take you to places that tourists generally do not get to see, to enable you to get a glimpse of what it is like to live in this city.

• Yollohtli means "The Heart of the Path" in nahuatl. Yollohtli brings you closer to the nature, mystical history and magic of deep Mexico. "Off the beaten track" tourism to get to know little-known prehispanic archaeological sites all over Mexico, for adventurers of all ages.