February 2nd, or Candlemas day (we call it día de la Candelaria) is the day when we conclude with Christmas celebrations in Mexico.

Candlemas falls on forty days after Jesus’s birth, and is celebrated by Catholics as the the “Feast of Purification” or as the “Presentation of Christ at the Temple.”  In Mexico we celebrate this day by going to the church and then gather with family and friends, when tamales and atole are served by the person who bit into the little baby Jesus figurine in their piece of Rosca on January’s Three King’s Day.

Tamales Bento via Popartichoke on Flickr.

Atole is a traditional masa-based hot drink. Chocolate atole is known as champurrado. It is typically accompanied with tamales, and very popular during the Christmas holiday season (Las Posadas).

Tamales are a traditional Pre-Columbian Mexican dish.  In Mexico we have over 200 different varieties of tamales.  Back in the day they were cooked with sweet chile, tomato and seeds, mixed with beef, turkey, pheasant and quails.  Today some are sweetened with molasses, others spiced with mole.  Some are plain, others filled with meats or vegetables.

Making tamales via Manuel W. on Flickr

In its essence, tamales consist of masa (a type of starchy corn dough) that has been wrapped in leaves, then steamed or boiled.  Some come bundled in corn husks, others in plantain or banana leaves.  My favorites are tamales with huitlacoche (corn smut), with chicken in a green sauce, corn tamales, and tamales with potatoes.  Today, tamales are often eaten during festivities, such as Christmas, the Day of the Dead, Las Posadas, Día de La Candelaria and Mexican Independence Day.

Making tamales #2 via Manuel W. on Flickr

The varieties of tamales are as big as the imagination of the person cooking them.   I wish you a wonderful Candlemas day, enjoy your tamales.

Cover photo: Romana Lilic, LA76, via flickr.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE FESTIVAL BALLENA LOS CABOS IS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

IMPORTANTE: EL FESTIVAL BALLENA LOS CABOS HA SIDO POSPUESTO HASTA NUEVO AVISO.

[Para Español lee después de la imagen]

Los Cabos is proud to host “Whale Festival Los Cabos” (or Festival Ballena), which will take place between February 23 and 25, 2012. At the festival you will be able to learn about some of the marvelous marine species in our seas, especially about whales which come to give birth, mate, feed and play in the warm waters of Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean every year.

For three consecutive days Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo will present events of Artistic Expression – painting, photography, film, music, workshops and conferences with respect to the whales, so that all the visitors will have the chance to learn about these wonderful mammals, and have a pleasant learning experience.

Among marine mammals there are eleven the existing Mystiseti (baleen whale) species, eight can be spotted and observed on the coasts of this peninsula and, as incredible as it may seem, five of them are visible only in Los Cabos.

One of festival’s particular interests is the protection and care of marine life, not only for biological significance on the planet, but also for what this means to the local population in sense of the economic means.

At the event there are plans for a total of 11 parallel activities starting with a walk through the historical center of San Jose del Cabo, where you will be able to see the exhibition Visitantes Marinos, inspired by the whales, the sea & the  fishing an exposure of large format by photographer Alejandro Rivas, nature and tourism expo, a fair with over 30 exhibitors, which will let us know their programs for the conservation and tourism, photo exhibition of mammals, among others.

For daily festival program and more information please visit:
www.festivalballenaloscabos.com
www.facebook.com/festivalballenaloscabos
or send us an email to: info@festivalballenaloscabos.com

Main locations of the event:
- Cultural Pavillion, Cabo San Lucas.
- Marina, Cabo San Lucas.
- Art Walk, San José del Cabo
- Plaza José Antonio Mijares, Historic Center, San José del Cabo.

FESTIVAL BALLENA LOS CABOS.

Del 23 al 25 de Febrero se llevara a cabo el Festival Ballena Los Cabos, una festividad local e internacional, una convivencia familiar en donde podrás conocer y aprender acerca de las maravillosas especies marinas que habitan en nuestros mares, especialmente acerca de las ballenas que nos visitan cada año.

Durante tres dias consecutivos Cabo San Lucas y San José del Cabo presentarán eventos de expresión artística – pintura, fotografía, cine, música, talleres, conferencias – con relación a las ballenas, de manera  que todos los visitantes tendrán oportunidad de aprender, disfrutar y llevarse a casa un gran aprendizaje.

Entre los mamíferos marinos son once las especies de misticetos existentes; ocho pueden ser localizados y observados en las costas de esta península y tan increíble como parezca, cinco de ellos solo pueden verse en Los Cabos.

Es de particular interés del festival la protección y el cuidado de la fauna marina, no solamente por su importancia biológica en el planeta, sino también por lo que este recurso significa para la población local como derrama económica.

Se tiene contempladas un total de 11 actividades paralelas: empezando con un recorrido por el centro histórico de San José en donde visitaremos la exposición colectiva Visitantes Marinos, inspirada en las ballenas; el mar y la pesca una exposición de gran formato del fotógrafo Alejandro Rivas; expo naturaleza y turismo, una feria con mas de 30 expositores, que nos darán a conocer sus programas en pro de la conservación y turismo; exposición fotográfica de mamímeros, entre otros.

Para conocer la programación completa, información a dÍa y mas, te invitamos a visitar:
www.festivalballenaloscabos.com
www.facebook.com/festivalballenaloscabos
info@festivalballenaloscabos.com

Sedes:
- Pabellón Cultural de la República, Cabo San Lucas.
- Marina de Cabo San Lucas.
- Corredor de Artes San José del Cabo, Centro Histórico
- Plaza Pública José Antonio Mijares, Centro Histórico de San José del Cabo.

[Para Español lee después de la imagen]

The Baja California Sur ‘Architects Union’ Los Cabos chapter, is organizing the “2nd National Architecture Week Los Cabos 2012, The future of touristic beach cities”, in memory of the recently deceased Ricardo Legorreta Vilchis at the Pabellon Cultural de la Republica in the Marina of Cabo San Lucas.

Among the most notorious presentations we would have lectures by Fernando Gonzales Gortazar (January 23, 6:00 p.m.), The Spanish architects Cristina Goberna and Urtzi Grau, principals of Brooklyn-based Fake Industries Architectural Agonism, “a conglomerate that explores the potentials of architectural agonism and false constructions.” a topic that without a doubt sounds quite provocative in the context of the built reality of Los Cabos (January 26, 8:00 p.m.)

The best day seems to be Friday 27, where we would listen to Jose Castillo & Saidee Springall principals of the internationally acclaimed Mexican office 911sc at 6:00 pm, and after them the Korean architect Sang Leem Lee director of Space Group, without a doubt interesting lectures addressing the future of the economical, urbanistic and sustainable development of the city.

The lectures’ entrance is free and we believe of great interest for specialized professionals as also for the general public, we hope to see you there!

Today our communities development can’t be improvised, there’s no economy that can allow it, it is crucial to make the planning and action process more and more optimized, so the projects, ideas and visions can be materialized and trigger a positive urban dynamic. We do consider Los Cabos is in the right path for that with the municipal institutions like the IMPLAN as also independent collectives (who work parallel with this institutes) like the young CAPA collective active in our Baja Sur area.

Our cities future its a sustainable and inclusive future, where we all need to get involved and active in order to be able to materialize it successfully, that’s why we expect to see a lot of people joining us in this second lectures cycle “2nd National Architecture Week Los Cabos 2012”.

2ª Semana de Arquitectura Nacional Los Cabos 2012, El futuro de las ciudades turísticas de playa

El Colegio de Arquitectos de Baja California Sur Sección Los Cabos, organiza por segunda ocasión, el ciclo de conferencias “2ª Semana de Arquitectura Nacional Los Cabos 2012, El futuro de las ciudades turísticas de playa”, evento que como tal se realiza en honor y a la memoria del recientemente fallecido Arq. Ricardo Legorreta Vilchis en el Pabellón Cultural de la República.

En esta participarán siete arquitectos mexicanos, así como cuatro arquitectos internacionales provenientes de España, Canadá y Corea.

Entre los invitados al evento destacaremos la presencia del Arq. Fernando Gonzáles Gortázar el cual se presentara el Lunes 23 a las 6:00 pm. Los Arquitectos españoles Cristina Goberna y Urtzi Grau, directores de Fake Industries Architectural Agonism, un conglomerado de arquitectos basados en Brooklyn, NY, que “explora el potencial de la arquitectura agonista y las falsas construcciones” (como ellos mismos se definen), un tema que sin duda será muy interesante para la realidad construida de Los Cabos, ellos se presentan el Jueves 26 a las 8:00 pm.

Por otro lado el día más completo se presenta el Viernes 27, con los arquitectos José Castillo y Saidee Springall directores del reconocido despacho 911sc a las 6:00 pm, y posteriormente el arquitecto Coreano Sang Leem Lee director del despacho Space Group (www.spacea.com), sin duda serán platicas muy interesantes que abordarán el futuro del desarrollo económico/urbanístico y sustentable de la ciudad.

Estas pláticas en el Pabellón Cultural de la República son totalmente gratuitas. Y serán de gran interés tanto para público especializado como para el público en general que esperamos asista numerosamente.

Hoy en día los desarrollos de nuestras comunidades no se pueden dar el lujo de improvisar, no hay recursos que lo permitan, es crucial hacer cada vez más operativo el proceso de planeación y acción para que los proyectos, las ideas, las visiones, se materialicen y aceleren con ello una dinámica urbana positiva. En esto consideramos que el municipio de Los Cabos va por buen camino al contar con jóvenes profesionales dentro del IMPLAN y los institutos de planeación municipales y estatales, así como colectivos independientes (que trabajan a la par de estos institutos oficiales) pro activos como es el caso del colectivo CAPA en esta región de la Baja California Sur.

El futuro de nuestras ciudades es un futuro incluyente y sustentable en el que todos necesitamos involucrarnos y comenzar actuar, para poder materializarlo exitosamente, por ende esperamos ver mucha gente acompañándonos en estas pláticas de la 2ª semana de Arquitectura Los Cabos 2012.

[Para Español lee después de la imagen]

Surfsipuedes shop invites you to their 3rd annual S.K.A.T.E. challenge sponsored by SSP Skateboards.

This Saturday 21st of January, 12.00 PM in the Magisterial Park in San Jose del Cabo. You can sign in to participate the day of the event at the location with a cost of 30 pesos (they recommend to get there early). The event is announced to start at mid day (12:00 pm).

There are 5 categories
-girls (open cat.)
-beginners
-intermediates
-advanced
-best trick (open cat.)

There’s prizes for the top places in each categories. for more info go to: https://www.facebook.com/skatesipuedes

La tienda Surfsipuedes invita al 3er reto anual S.K.A.T.E. patrocinado por SSP Skateboards,

Este sábado 21 de Enero en el Parque de la col. Magisterial en San Jose del Cabo. La inscripción tiene un costo de 30 pesos y será el mismo día en el lugar del evento (se recomienda llegar temprano). El evento inicia a medio dia (12:00pm).

El evento contará con 5 categorías:
chicas (cat. abierta)
principiantes
intermedios
avanzados
mejor truco (cat. abierta)

Habrá premios a los primeros lugares en todas las categorías. No faltes te esperamos! más información en: https://www.facebook.com/skatesipuedes

Text by: Romana Lilic
Photos: LA76 Strategic Design & Photography
Published in: ESCAPES #7

“I BELIEVE in an emotional architecture.”, once said one of Mexico’s most influential architects, Luis Barragán. Barragán reinvented Mexican modern architecture with sensuous aesthetics, vivid colors, attention to spaces and light, while accentuating the building’s natural surroundings. Emotional or sensual architecture is just how we could describe the style of San Jose del Cabo’s new contemporary home by acknowledged Mexican architects Javier Gutiérrez Toscano and Antonio Plá from ColectivoMX.

Casa Gavión evokes an emotional reaction at your first encounter. The impact of its massive proportions, volumes, forms, textures and colors will not leave you unmoved, guaranteed. Before continuing to explore its spaces indoors and outdoors, we recommend that you take off your flip flops, as this home is best enjoyed barefoot. Then stretch your arms, open your hands, and get ready for a flood of sensations. Casa Gavión is literally a sensational home.

In an awarded architectural studio ColectivoMX, well known for their regionalism in home design, they had four principles in mind during the creation of this impressive nature conscious home; passive pollution of the area by using regional materials and local labor force during the construction, sensibility of the materials by using different textures and reinterpreting their usage, integrating the indoor and outdoor spaces, and thus maximizing the usage of the space, while keeping the home user friendly with low maintenance costs.

The concept of the home is based on its residents and the enjoyment of all the spaces, where exterior becomes equally important as interior, complimenting the great weather of Baja California Sur. All the spaces in Casa Gavión are looking to the exterior, with each room having its own garden or terrace.

Dining and living room open to the large terrace and patio with the pool and lounge area. Bedroom on the ground level looks to the cardon cactus patio, and the kitchen opens to the stone patio and the garden. Both master bedrooms on the 1st floor each have their own terrace, and on the 2nd floor there is a large terrace with 360 C views of the Sea of Cortez, adjacent golf courses and the majestic mountains, ideal for sipping wine at sunset and star gazing.

The key characteristic of this home and the essence for its name is the rock wall, “gavión”. While you will notice gavión at the sides of the federal highway between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, the architect reinterpreted its use and its excellent isolation features to protect the spaces in the home from the sun while at the same time making it function as blinds, letting the air through the wall and cooling the area.

The advantage of owning a home in Baja is being able to live inside and outside at the same time. When walking around, you will notice that this home is without windows: pocket doors have been built throughout the home, so when you are in, you can have them wide open and enjoy the fresh breeze, the salty ocean smell and the birds singing. Windows in Casa Gavión function as a security asset: you use your windows when you are not using your home. The orientation of the home, cross ventilation, pergolas and a rock wall ensure isolation within the home and eliminate the need to use the air-conditioning.

Eternal summer was one of the reasons for different textures, implemented in this home. Rock wall, pebble stones, gypsum, stucco, rustic plaster, fine plaster and wood are only some of the materials you will enjoy while walking around barefoot. In the main patio alone you can experience fine grass, beach sand, water, stucco and rustic plaster, which you can enjoy depending on your feelings and desires. Let your children play in the house and see how impressed by the textures they will be. The architect’s daughters are walking around barefoot with their hands stretched out, touching and feeling everything that surrounds them with great joy.

In the past, hearing the term “ecological home” we used to think of high construction and high maintenance costs. Luckily, with  advances in technology, acceptance of the eco standards world wide and with it also lower implementation prices, Javier Gutierrez confirms that the construction costs of this home didn’t exceed the construction cost of any regular home.

The home has been planed and prepared to help you save energy and money, while protecting the nature at the same time. Prepared system for solar energy will help greatly reduce the consumption of electricity. Grey water usage system is installed and ready to use. Ingenious planning of the pool, consisting of dipping pool, swimming pool and jacuzzi reduces the water consumption generally used in homes with pools. Besides that, the roof, which is the largest source of heat to any house, is isolated with thick high density foam, thus reducing the need for AC.

Hard to comprehend for anyone having experienced the summers in Baja, but proven true, is that in Casa Gavión you don’t need to use air-conditioning, even in the hottest summer months. The cross-ventilation, isolation, the mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, open pocket doors, ventilators and breeze assure a fresh wind through all the living areas. Even though, air-conditioners are set for days or moments too hot to handle.

Casa Gavión is truly a sensational home. It will tickle your senses and bring out emotions, every day, guaranteed.

*Casa Gavión is FOR SALE. Contact us for a brochure and to schedule a tour: escapes@cbriveras.com.

See the full photo gallery from our photo shoot:

Casa Gavion, San Jose del Cabo – Images by Romana Lilic @LA76

Read an article about Casa Shelly, an awarded home by architectural studio ColectivoMX.

A rumor in Los Cabos this week started evolving around the SuRi Yacht, which was seen in Puerto Los Cabos and Chileno Bay. Because of its name, luxury motor yacht SuRi can’t shake off the rumors that it is Tom Cruise’s yacht, but with the help of our friend, Cabo San Lucas photographer Marcel Kaiser, we came along a news item from Fairfax NZ News, which confirms that the rumor is just a rumor.

Wherever it goes, “Tomkat” rumours will surely follow. But the gossip, stemming from the name of the motor yacht that is the same as the Cruises’ daughter, has got it wrong. Yacht Escort Ships owner and builder of the SuRi Stan Antrim said the rumours the motor yacht was owned by the Cruises followed it wherever it sailed. While he would not reveal the real owner’s full name, he was a wealthy American who worked in the financial sector, Mr. Antrim said. The motor yacht’s name was taken from the first two letters of the owner’s wife’s name, Susan, and the first two letters of the businessman’s own name, Rick, he said.

Despite a US$30 million (NZ$43 million) price tag and featuring a hovercraft, speedboat, dune buggy and jetskis, the converted crab boat was actually a support vessel for a superyacht, the JeMaSa. Mr Antrim said the JeMaSa was taken from the first two letters of the names of the owner’s daughters Jennifer, Maggie and Sarah.

Yacht Charter Description

Motor yacht SURI (52m) is an ideal support yacht (shadow boat) to compliment the equipment and accommodation on board your ‘mother ship’ luxury yacht. She contains all the water ‘toys’ and equipment imaginable including a gym, Jacuzzi pool, sundeck, as well as jet skis and specialists tenders etc.

SURI, unlike some support boats, also boasts a luxurious interior accommodation for up to 12 charter guests in the form of a lovely master suite with sitting room adjacent and a further double cabin, twin cabin, and a convertable, all with ensuite bathrooms. During SURI’s recent refit, there were two additional guests cabins added. She also offers a exterior sunning, BBQ and dining areas and a well fitted lounge and dining area along with electronic entertainment systems and the usual creature comforts.

The support yacht has:

A-Star helicopter
4-person Hover craft
35′Stancraft mahogany speedster
28′ aluminum landing craft dune buggy
37′ Intrepid
Numerous jet skis, rowing shells, sailboats, kayaks, dive gear, ski equipment

NOTE: Please confirm with your yacht charter consultant as to exactly what equipment will be included and any licenses and special conditions required for its operation.

Yacht Charter Accommodation

Motor yacht SURI can accommodate up to 12 guests in 4 Double, 1 Twin, and 1 Convertible cabin all with en-suite facilities

Yacht Charter Specifications

Charter Amenities and Extras

Audio Visual Equipment and Deck Facilities Seatel 4004 Sat TV system Kaleidescape DVD server Crestron controls (12) Runco LCD TV’s (46″ – 27″). Communications (2) Furuno 2020 w/ARPA KVH Mini-M SatCom Compass w/2 GPS Simrad autopilot Hailer AIS (2) VHF radios Sperry gyro compass Dirigio Mag Furuno NavNet system electronic charting (2) Furuno sounders Fleet 77 voice Panasonic PABX telephone loud aviation radio.

by Mariano Arias Diez
Contemporary Urban Space
Architect, a10studio
Feed back: info@a10studio.net

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR (BCS), the youngest state of Mexico (37 years), has been acknowledged as one of the most beautiful places in Mexico, and due to its proximity to the United States, often referred to as a second home retreat for baby boomers. With the growth and development of Baja the interest and migration of young professionals to this unique place have grown as well. Young professionals are good for BCS, not only because we’ll have a generation that will continue the legacy of the land, but mostly because they are the ones who will be able to promote it, build it and make it grow with new creative and quality ideas. Today, we need strategic urban planning, development of walking areas, functional drainage systems, traffic re-direction, sustainable, efficient and cost effective ideas and implementation, which will improve the future of the towns and of people who live here.

Due to several reasons, it wasn’t always possible to find the best quality for things we would like to do in this region. Slowly, this has changed, and the once popular demand for caricaturized “Mexican” homes often seen in some western movies, has started to be replaced with contemporary design, sustainable living and a preservation of local nature.

Young professionals in BCS have been often under-appreciated. Good news is that young architects with academic and professional international experience have started coming here, recognizing its development potential and a challenge they want to be part of. In this occasion, I’d like to talk about four young architectural offices established in BCS, which have recently received national and international recognition for their work in the area:

Colectivo MX is an architectural office with Los Cabos and Mexico City offices, guided by Arch. Javier Gutierrez. They received a Silver Medal in the X Mexican Biennale of Architecture in 2008 for their project Casa Shelly, an ecological home located on the East Cape, which uses solar energy to generate electricity, has pool with salted water, a system for re-use of treated water and other ecological techniques.

Another example of young talent is fabriKG, guided by Arch. Gonzalo Elizarrarás, in Los Cabos, and Arch. Benjamin Scharf in Berlin, Germany, who were nominated in the category of Future Residential Projects at the World Architecture Festival Awards 09 in Barcelona, for their project Knit Atelier House.

From La Paz, collective TALCO, leaded by Mauricio Sanchez Torres and Adriaan Schalkwijk, who, in cooperation with Alejandro Dacosta, developed the project Aquatic Park Coromuel, which received 1st place in urban development on national category at the CEMEX 2009 awards.

Lastly we’d like to mention a10studio, with presence in Los Cabos and Mexico City, whose project Re.evolution lounge+bar has been extensively published in acknowledged and specialized design and architectural media, and is nominated for the international award “Restaurant and Bar Design Awards” in the U.K.

These four young architectural offices are a small example of talent that we have in the region today, and we’ll be surely hearing about them in the future. Hopefully, planning and urban authorities, developers and clients will support the young talents, listen to their new ideas, views and possibilities for the better future development of our State.

The column was first published in the printed edition of ESCAPES magazine #5.

Is this what you want for Baja California Sur?

You participated in the historic SOS of January 16th where more than 9000 citizens expressed our desire to protect Baja California Sur from toxic mining practices. Your participation is needed once more!

SOS EMERGENCY, SEMARNAT IS ABOUT TO AUTHORIZE THE MINE SAN ANTONIO

The multinational mining company presented its Declaration of Environmental Impact to SEMARNAT the last working day of 2011 taking advantage of the holiday season. We are URGENTLY organizing to collect as many signed petitions as possible to ask for a CONSULTA PUBLICA from SEMARNAT which can stop the installation of this mining project in BCS. We need the petitions by January 9th according to the governmental deadline.

This is the ONLY AND LAST OPPORTUNITY that the law gives us in order to protest against this mining project.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?:

AT RISK

ONCE THE COMPANIES OBTAIN ALL THE PERMITS, THEY DO NOT RESPECT THE ENRVIRONMENT OR THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA. There are similar cases worldwide and in Mexico you only need to take a look at San Luis Potosi, among others, and ask the residents of the area surrounding the mine, situated in what was once EL Cerro de San Pedro, in order to realize the “respect” that the mines give the environment and the people living there.

We need to unite against these multi-national companies, who do not pay state or municipal taxes, and who merely give a pittance to the state of Mexico in comparison with what they take. They provoke irreversible environmental damage of grave consequence to our health and that of our children, in exchange for a few jobs and a lot of CONTAMINATION.

Participate in the chain by sending this information to your contacts: 1 for you, 2 for your family and 3 for all… 1,2,3 for the CONSULTA PUBLICA!

For more information:
www.medioambientebcs.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/medio.a.sociedad
www.facebook.com/pages/Baja-Sur-Viva/138669849520478

Thank you for your collaboration! Together we can conserve Baja California Sur as a sustainable destination.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download and print the first 2 pages of the following format http://www.mediafire.com/?g3u6advxx5u93cb

2. Sign it and annex a copy of your IFE credential (both sides). Only Mexicans and nationalized foreigners can sign.

3. If you live in LA PAZ, bring it to: TEPONIEVES, located in the MEGA plaza from 10 am to 9 pm or in BIO_INGENIERIA located at #1115 Sonora St. (and Marcelo Rubio, 2 blocks from the San Diego furniture store) from 9 am to 5 pm.

In CSL: MARIA CANELA CAFECITO on 16th September between Vicario and Morelos from 9 am to 11 pm.

In San JOSE: EL RINCON DE YAM, down the street from ELEKTRA on the trans peninsular from 10-2pm and 4 to 6pm OR in the reception of El Encanto Inn on the corner of Morelos and Comonfort.
You can also merely bring a copy of your IFE (both sides) and sign a petition ready at either of the two drop off points in SAN JOSE.

DEADLINE that we have to turn in the signed petitions: MONDAY, JANUARY 9th

In the western Christian tradition, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. Here in Mexico we celebrate “Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos” (Three Wise Men Day), the day when the Kings arrived bearing gifts for just born baby Jesus. This day is a traditional day of exchanging gifts, and in some cases, like in my family, the Three Kings bring more presents for the children than Santa.

One thing I love about this day is the “Merienda de Reyes” (light dinner), a truly multicultural event. The Spaniards brought us the tradition of celebrating the Epiphany and sharing the Rosca de Reyes (sweet ring bread). We enjoy the Rosca served along with corn Tamales, which was the pre-Hispanic food per excellence, and hot chocolate, another Mexican discovery.

According to the custom, we place small porcelain baby Jesus figurines baked into the bread, the dolls are hidden because it symbolizes the need to find a secure place where Jesus could be born, a place where King Herod would not find Him.

We gather in family and each of us cuts his own slice of the Rosca. One by one we carefully inspect our slice, hopping not to get the figurine. Why is this? Because whoever gets the baby figurine shall be the host, and invite everyone present, to a new celebration on February 2, when we celebrate the Día de la Candelaria or Candle mass day, with tamales and atole.

How do you celebrate the Epiphany? I would love to hear of other traditions around the world on this day.

Photos of the three wise men by LA76 Strategic Design & Photography.

The advantage of living at the ocean is – among many others – that fresh fish can be found at anytime! For all the seafood lovers out there, especially you who like tuna, Capella Pedregal‘s Executive Chef Marco Bustamante has shared with us his recipe for one of our favorite tapas style starters: Tuna Carpaccio in Yellow Sauce (you will find it at the Don Manuel’s Dinner Menu under Tapas Style Starters, Cold: Ensenada Tuna Carpaccio, Red Onion, Citrus and Aji Amarillo.

AJI AMARILLO SAUCE
*6 servings
1,8 oz. Aji Amarillo Paste
50 ml Rice Vinegar
25 ml Grapeseed Oil
15 ml Soy Sauce
3 Limes (Juiced)
Place paste, vinegar, soy sauce and lime in juice in a bowl and
whisk vigorously while adding oil in slowly.

PLATING RECIPE
4 oz. Sliced Tuna
5 ea. Finely Sliced Red Onion
6 ea. Orange Segments
4 ea. Lime Segments
¼ tsp. Chives
1 oz. Aji Amarillo Sauce
Orange Salt

Slice Tuna and garnish with remainder of the ingredients and finish
with orange salt and aji amarillo sauce.

Buen provecho!

On the image: Capella Pedregal’s culinary team + Ensenada Tuna Carpaccio, Red Onion, Citrus and Aji Amarillo