Mexican food is more than tacos and fajitas in Houston, Texas

Mexican food is more than tacos and fajitas, and Mexican Restaurant Hugo's in Houston, is an excellent place to experiment the diversity of Mexican cuisine.

Mexican chef, Hugo Ortega, is in charge of making sure that every dish at Hugo’s is as authentic in the United States as it would be in Mexico.

To begin the evening, I had spicy peanuts and empanadas made with plantain dough filled with cheese: the sweetness of the plantain invaded my mouth with each bite, and the cheese melted throughout my mouth preparing it for the next dish.

The menu offered a large variety of tempting dishes like: Tampiqueña BBQ meat, huachinango a la Veracruzana, duck with mole poblano, stuffed chilies, shrimps with black sauce, among others. I finally decided upon cochinita pibil, one of Mexico’s most typical pork dishes. The cochinita was so tender that I didn’t even have to bite it, since it melted as it touched my lips.

For dessert, I decided to venture myself with an interesting dish: chocolate cake with chilies. The strong taste of chocolate and the spicy chilies made an explosive combination: curiously, first you tasted the sweetness of the chocolate, while after a couple of minutes, you felt a spicy after-taste that enabled the taste to remain in your mouth for a long time.

After tasting the food at Hugo’s it is no wonder that the restaurant won several awards: Sante Award for the excellent traditional menu, "Houston Branch of The International Wine & Food Society Award", a mention as "Best Mexican Restaurant" according to Best of Houston-Host Press 2005, and an Award to the Restaurant of the Year in 2003 according to Houston Press.

For that reason, if you find yourself in Houston, stop by Hugo’s, it is a good option to escape the typical Tex-Mex food, and enjoy authentic Mexican food in a cozy and familiar atmosphere.

HUGO’S RESTAURANT
1600 Westheimer Houston, TX 77006
Phone: (713) 524-7744
Fax: (713) 521-7719

Working Hours:
Monday to Thursday and Sundays: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

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What better partners to visit NASA?

Written by Laura Vaillard with Carlos Crespo (Quito, Ecuador / Houston, TX, EEUU)
Pictures by Laura Vaillard and Nuria Minces (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

What better partners to visit NASA in Houston, than a guy who always dreamt to become an astronaut and a young lady who is not afraid to act out the girl she carries within?

Even though NASA was not far from where we were living, rockets and astronauts never interested me enough to motivate me to visit the Space Center.

However, due to my never-ending curiosity and my interest to see new things, these two individuals convinced me to drive up to NASA with them.

I did not expect much from the trip. Yet, I came back fascinated after seeing astronauts live from the Space Center and comparing models of how astronauts lived in space in the 70s versus how they live now in the XXI century.

I returned excited like a little girl, after balancing myself of a string and weighing myself in different scales that showed how much I would weigh if I were to live in Mars or Jupiter, instead of Planet Earth.

I was overwhelmed after looking at the size of Saturn V, and amazed after looking at pictures of the different mission crews, including Apolo XI, Mercury and Gemini.

It was a wonderful experience and I am very glad my friends made sure I did not miss it.
This time, Houston, we had no problem.

Machismo in Argentina: International Woman’s Day

People say “in ancient Greece, Lisistrata began a sexual strike against men in an attempt to end the war.” This way, she demonstrated the power women are able to acquire in a society.

During the Socialist International Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1910, the proposal to celebrate the International Working Woman’s Day was approved unanimously. From then on, different countries started to celebrate that day.

From that moment, the gap between men and women has begun to decrease little by little. According to the investigation about the place that women occupy today in Argentinean society, conducted by MindShare to 300 individuals in Argentina, “more than half of the people interviewed said that machismo is not as dominant as before, since people have been able to free themselves from ‘old prejudices.’”

However, the study also found that “37% of people interviewed said machismo in Argentina continues to be a reality.”

“On top of that, 27% of the 300 people interviewed by MindShare stated that men and women have equal labor rights. But 64% considered that in this field, ‘differences still exist’.”

MindShare also conducted a more detailed study about “how women perform in positions of power.” In this analysis, “52% thought that women are stricter than men, and almost an identical percentage said that both genders are able to perform their tasks with equal efficiency.”

“Regarding decision making, almost half of people interviewed (43%) considered that men show more security (firmness) and speed.” While, “40% considered that women are more competitive than men, and 33% attributed this trait equally to men and women.”

This study shows promising results, since it demonstrates that society’s perception towards women at work has been positively affected, even though women and men still have to be treated equally at work.

Enjoy and celebrate International Woman’s Day!

Dreaming to be a Carnival Dancer in Gualeguaychu

Pictures by Marina Paron (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Laura Vaillard

When I was small, I dreamt to become a carnival dancer when I grew older, and last weekend I almost accomplished my dream.

Friday night, after work, we drove my friend’s car through Route 12, also known “Death Route”, towards Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina.

“Take care.” “Drive safely,” people frequently told us before we left. Luckily, despite spending long hours crammed into a car with huge trucks speeding next to us, the drive was very smooth; there were only few cars driving through the emergency lane.

As soon as we arrived, we went to pick up the keys for “our house”, or “piggery”, a small room with two bunk beds, a kitchen set and a bathroom with faulty plumbing: to use the WC we had to open the water valve, but not for too long, because the sink had a leak and the bathroom would overflow; to take a shower, we had to wash our hair in the kitchen sink, because the shower only delivered a few drops which made it impossible to wash ourselves properly.

To take advantage of the night, we decided to go for a walk in search for a place willing to serve us dinner at 1 a.m. Luckily, we found an opened pizza place. We cooled ourselves down with cold beers and tamed our appetite with delicious and crispy clay-oven pizzas. That way, we prepared ourselves to start the night and dance until sunrise to the rhythm of murgas, rock, and Latin music at the birthday party of a local friend.

The next day, we woke up with our swimsuits practically on, ready to continue partying on the beach: we danced on the sand under the sprinklers with Spider Man, a doctor and Wonder Woman, we drank beer and fernet on the beach and swam in the river with “Maradona”.

The good vibe that people irradiated at Solar del Este was unbelievable! Everyone was willing to collaborate to make sure everyone had a good time.

The good vibe was extended throughout the entire night to the Corsodromo, where we danced to the rhythm of O´Bahía, Ara Yeví y Mari Mari, three “comparsa” that spread energy and colorful happiness. It was amazing to observe how the shinning and slender bodies danced with elaborated suits in between colorful feathers and floats with intricate designs.

Even though O´Bahía was the first “comparsa” , which is supposed to be the most memorable, it passed almost unnoticed with less energy than the other “comparsas” under the theme: “From the Initial Chaos to Enegy, I am O’Bahia, Mother Water, Creator of Life.”

On the other hand, Ará Yeví surprised everyone with its cooking theme: its designers were able to harmoniously integrate olives, strawberries with cream, cheeses and other cooking elements to the dancers’ suits. In its “Recipe for a Carnival Celebration”, choreographers and artists were able to dignify culinary elements in a dance filled with colorful elegance.

Finally, Marí Marí demonstrated why it has received so many awards, with suits that made reference to “Alexander the Great.” Even though it was the last “comparsa”, it was the group with more energy and presence in the Corsodromo. Marí Marí’s murga, dressed as warriors, provided the perfect closing to the night showing that this year they had also come to win the battle.

How to get there:

According to turismoentrerios.com, the best way to get there from Buenos Aires:

Take Zárate-Brazo Largo Bridge from Nacional Route N12 until Ceibas, where it connects with Route 14 until you reach Gualeguaychu.
TOTAL: 248 Kms.

Costs:
General: $30
Minors: $10

Dates:
January 2008:
Saturday: 5, 12, 19 & 26

February 2008:
Saturday: 2, 9, 16 & 23

March 2008:
Saturday: 1

Nicolas Cabre y Soledad Fandiño

Why say goodbye, if I am always coming back?

I have said goodbye so many times that I have lost count of how many there have been. However, there are less and less tears shed every time I leave, because I always end up coming back.

Two year ago, I said goodbye to Spain, a couple of months back, farewell to Argentina, and now, I say good-bye to Houston and “hello” again to Buenos Aires, the city that always awaits me with open arms, this time for longer (I hope).

I still have a couple of pending stories from the US: the trip to NASA, the adventures through the streets of New Orleans, my experience at the ice hockey game…

But I will intermingle these remaining articles with other stories in Argentina and stories from my collaborators, since that is the way our memory works: it continuously mixes the present with past experiences.

This way, with a letter that says “good-bye” and “hello” at the same time, I open a new chapter to this Surrealistic Life, this time, from Argentina.

Hope you continue to enjoy it!
Best wishes,

Laura

Dancing like a Cowboy in Texas

Yijahhhh. Two. Two. Oooone. Two. Two. Oooone.

We started the night dancing "two-step" in Wild West, a country bar in Houston, Texas.

We danced in circles around the dancing square along with men with boots, checkered shirts, and cowboy hats, and women with tight clothes and exaggerated make-up (a look that enhanced their beauty despite being outrageous).

We observed the cowboys and their peculiar clothing with amazement (we had only seen people dressed like that in cowboy movies). They also looked at us, our sober clothing and our lack of rhythm as we attempted to dance that type of intermittent vallenato called two-step.

With time, we got used to them, and they got used to us. Together, we continued to enjoy $1 drinks and the good vibe of the place as we uncovered a side of Houston we hadn’t explored before.


How to get there:
6101 Richmond Ave.
Houston, TX 77057
Promo: 713-266-3455
Happy Hour: 713-266-2282

Hours of Operation:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Wed-Thu: 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Friday: 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Saturday: 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sunday: 4:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Dance Lessons: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

San Antonio: Speckled Attractions

San Antonio is located about 200 miles from Houston, and it is one of the most popular destinations within Texas. It is well known for its various attractions: the attractive River Walk, “El Alamo” (that represents the battle where Texas became independent from Mexico, March 6, 1836), and its cultural and historic museums (El Alamo Museum, Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, among others).

Its historic district is very picturesque due to the Spanish architectonic influence. The Alamo Plaza is located in the heart of the historic district, where the Spanish Mission, and the chapel that hosts the Museum of Historic Artifacts are located. At the Plaza, one can also find a gigantic Alamo, whose smell is so pungent that it does not go unnoticed. In fact, one can probably reach the plaza by trying to find the source of that strange aroma.

“A block away from the Alamo Plaza, you can relive the historic Battle of the Alamo in the IMAX Theater of San Antonio’s Rivercenter and in the special effects theaters watching ‘Texas Adventure’,” according to Mile Leco from USA Tourist.

After visiting the museums and the historical part of the city, one should move over to the River Walk to take a break and relax while observing the boats floating down the river (if you happen to visit San Antonio during Christmas, you might be able to hear the chorus signing Christmas carols from the gongolas). If you happen to have time, it is a great idea to have a drink in one of the bars right on the Riverside or to take a boat ride down the river.

It is important to highlight, that San Antonio is not just a touristy destination. It also has a very active night life with various bars and live music.

Even if you travel in July or August (when it is very hot), or December (when it is simple chilly), San Antonio is a great destination with wide-ranging attractions that meet various tastes and all ages; it is almost an obliged destination for anyone visiting Texas.

How to get there:



From Houston, take I-10 West
From Austin or Dallas, take I-35 South

Love me like I want you to Love me: San Valentine's Day

“If they don’t love you as you want them to love you, it doesn’t mean they do not love you with all they’ve got.” Popular saying.

Sometimes we wish that our partner was more romantic, that he/she would send us flowers, leave us little presents or simply leave us a note wishing us a “Good day!”

And this wish tends to intensify itself during San Valentine’s Day, the day where we are supposed to celebrate love.

But, how do I materialize a feeling? What can I do to astonish the person I love? Do we really need to celebrate it?

Here are some stories of people who have celebrated it, and some experiences of those who decided it was better not to celebrate.

This is how they celebrated:

“The most romantic present is to create time to share together (and if it includes a trip, that’s even better!). My fiancé and I love to go to a place about an hour and a half from Boca Raton, FL called Naples, where we stay at the Ritz Carlton and since the moment we arrive we forget about any type of stress. It is a place where the plan is to lay on the beach all day with excellent attention (there are bungalows at the beach, and you drink mojitos and piña colada all day long), sunset falls on the sea and it is amazing, and the city is very pretty to go out for a walk or go out to eat.” Annabella (Boca Ratón, FL, EEUU / Caracas, Venezuela).

“I remember two years ago, I arrived from work and found Bernie at my place: he had lighted candles all over the house and he was cooking for me! He really showed himself off: spaghetti with prawns and everything! Isabel (Cuidad de Panamá, Panamá).

“When John and I dated in college, we celebrated our first valentine's day very low key because we spent a lot of money on a ski trip in January. I asked John to pick me up at my dorm room and to be hungry. ;) When he picked me up he gave me a rose with a card. Inside the card there was a Starbuck's gift card. He knew how much I loved it. He used to always surprise me at the reading room with a caramel latte. Then he handed me my favorite chocolate in the whole world, Ferro Rocher. So, I got a bag ready and when we got in the car I told him to take me to his place cuz I was going to cook for him an authentic Puerto Rican dinner. I was so nervous. Not only was this the first time I was cooking for my boyfriend, it was the first time I was cooking Puerto Rican food by myself. I made him arroz con habichuelas rojas y bistec encebollado. So I served him a plate and for like the longest five minutes of my life, he didn't say a word. Until finally he said, "wow baby, I'm gonna get seconds" lol It made my night. For dessert I got him his favorite ice cream, mint chocolate chip. That night we stayed up talking and when we looked out the window it began to snow. It was a perfect ending to our date. The TCU campus was gorgeous. I know it’s not a glamorous story but it's my favorite valentine's day ever. Simple but thoughtful.” Karlene (Washington DC, EEUU / San Juan, Puerto Rico).

“I have a friend who once did a treasure hung. In the morning she prepared breakfast for him, and in the afternoon she was not with him, instead, she would leave him clues where he could find the next clue. Each place had a special significance for them (favorite restaurant, place where they met, the house of the friends that introduced them). There was a clue and a present in each place. At the end she was waiting for him at the house as she cooked dinner and a present.” Annabella (Boca Ratón, FL, EEUU/ Caracas, Venezuela).

“If there's one thing I've learned about relationships and being romantic is this: sometimes the simpler the more satisfying. Chris and I have lived so far away from each other most of our relationship that to be honest we never made a big deal about valentines day or anything like that. Last year was our first year together and i think he forgot it was valentines days. I bought him a cheesy heart balloon and he made a nice spaghetti dinner, we drank some wine and we watched a movie. Sometimes simple is better...” Alexa (California, EEUU / Brasil)

And for those who do not really relieve in San Valentine’s Day, I have a store for you:

“Last year, I assumed Chelsea was not going to mind if I did not buy her a Valentine’s present, but of course, it ended up being one of the most stupid decisions and a clear boundary of my understanding of women. I had to go out at 9 p.m. to buy her a pair of earrings that ended up being really expensive. Another bad story, but anyhow, it shows how ridiculous some of us can be if we think San Valentine’s Day is not important enough to celebrate.” Arturo (Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala)

Wish you had a great San Valentine’s day! How did you celebrate it this year?

Salvadorean Pupusas: Strange Name for a Unique Taste

People from El Salvador have their own typical dish: Pupusas. These round plums are particular because of their name and also because they have their own national celebration: According to Legislative Decree 655 of El Salvador, the second Sunday of November is considered the “National Day of Pupusas”.

Nelson Sosa, from El Salvador, explains that the “National Day of Pupusas is very well known. He says the decree was created because Honduras or Nicaragua were saying that pupusas had originated in those countries and not in El Savador, while the dish, is indisputably, from El Salvador (they took the case to court and used historians, documents, etc to determine they originated in El Salvaor).

The word “pupusa” comes from the combination of the word “púpu” (scramble) and “tsa” (bulge), which would translate to “stuffed bulge”, according to José Manuel Bonilla, specialist in the nahuat language and national director of cultural development of Concultura.

There are two types of pupusas: corn and rice. “Rice pupusas are typical of a town called "Olocuilta", localed near the airport (San Salvador). For that reason, all Salvadorians that travel stop by to buy pupusas on the way to the airport”, says Daniel Rivera from El Salvador.

But, what makes these pupusas so special that Salvadorians have even reserved a day in their honor?

To answer this question I had to try them myself.

When I went to Washington DC, USA, a friend from El Salvador decided to introduce us to this delicious dish. We drove for about an hour to the place where they sold “the best pupusas in DC” to try them.

On a first impression, they reminded me of Colombian arepas: rounded, crispy and fresh corn disks. Only arepas are eaten by themselves, while you place curtido on top of the pupusas. Curtido is a mixture of cabbage, carrots, onions and green chilli soaked in vinegar.

Since we were a large group we ordered pupusas with different suffing so we could try a large variety: cheese, cheese and beans, “revueltas” (fried crackling (chicharrón), beans and cheese), beef and cheese with “loroco”. That time we did not try pupusas filled with “ayote” (a type of cabbage), and fish, among others.

My favorite ones were filled with cheese; they were not as heavy as the other ones, which allowed me to eat more. At the same time “revueltas” have a particularly explosive taste.

Even though it was a fun experience and I enjoyed this centroamerican dish, I doubt my love for food would ever take me to compete in the “pupusas eating” contest, where according to Daniel, “one time a guy ate 42 pupusas (when a regulas woman usually does not eat more than 3, and a average male usually eats 4 or 5!!!”).

If you ever get the chance, I would recommend to try pupusas, it is the entrance to El Salvador.

Welcome!

A Day in a Japanese Diaper

By Carlo Capua (USA/Toluca, Mexico)

Standing in the midst of 24 sweaty almost-naked men.
Wearing nothing more than a firehose-esque piece of cloth.
Ready to subject myself to full embarrassment.

No, I wasn’t a contestant on a Japanese game show. Last weekend I experienced the glory of Japanese culture to its fullest. Hands-on. Last Sunday I participated in my first sumo tournament (Japanese national sport).

Now this wasn’t the huge, stuffed costume sumo match that you do for laughs at a carnival. This was the real deal - bare butt and all.

Doug, the resident Sado ALT, convinced me to venture up to Sado Island and be a part of the 3-man gaijin team that would take the other Japanese teams by storm. Add Lance, and you’ve got 3 really white, hairy gaijin (word used by Japanese people to refer to foreigners).

Problem: I don’t have a proper Japanese sumo name.

It was fun thinking of a name that would ring fear into the hearts of the other Japanese competitors. My options were:

1) Bakana Amerikajin - “Stupid American”
2) Takahashi - those of you who read my marathon story would understand
3) Tenkomori - literally, “Mountain of Food”
4) Kenshoen – loosely translated, “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”
5) Sanadamushi – “Tapeworm”

I opted for #3 – Tenkomorikun. Lance chose “Taishokukan” (Massive Appetite Boy) and Canadian-bred Doug was “Momijiyama” (Maple Leaf Mountain.) Together, we would be Team Takokusekikun (Army of Nations.)

The rules of sumo are actually easy. There are two ways to lose a match:
1) Any part of your body touches outside the ring before your opponent, or
2) Any part of your body other than your feet touch the ground.

The hardest part was actually getting (un)dressed. The infamous “diaper”, called a mawashi, is impossible to put on alone. It’s basically a long, thick piece of rough cloth that’s worn like a G-string in the back, and wraps around your waist 4 times. Attractive.

Our first match would be against the defending champion team; actually, it was the first match of the entire tournament. Doug treated his first opponent like a ningyo (doll), and I stepped into the ring to face mystery man #2.

“Do I bow first, or squat? What’s the word for GO? Can I throw salt in the ring, at my opponent, etc?” We had already been explained proper sumo etiquette, but as I stood in the ring I felt all confidence slowly melting away. I looked across the ring and sized up the competition. My opponent wasn’t exactly in world-class shape. He was:

1) Fat. Really fat.
2) Balding.
3) Probably in his forties.
4) Sweaty.

I squatted with both fists firmly planted on the ground. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach. The referee gave me a pitiful look, and gave the Japanese word for “GO!”

I charged directly in to the sweaty mass of flesh in front of me. This guy wasn’t strong – he was just really fat. As I tried to get a firm grip on his mawashi, he backed me to the edge of the ring. “Uh-oh”, I thought. “The fat guy is going to beat me, and it’s going to be broadcast all over the island on Sado TV.”

Fearful of the pending embarrassment, I managed to grab his diaper and spin him out of the ring. To this day I still can’t figure out how I did it. I guess anything can happen when you’re half-naked.

We beat last year’s champion team! With our first victory under our extremely tight belts, Maple Leaf Mountain, Mountain of Food, and Massive Appetite Boy marched their way to a 3rd place finish overall, the best a gaijin team has ever finished in the tournament. And yes, there were more than 3 teams. There were 8 teams, to be exact. Our team and the other gaijin team “dobutsuen” (zoo) all had fun as the day’s “entertainment.”

The most touching part of the day was during the opening ceremony. Since there were Americans in the tournament, they dedicated 1 minute of silence to the nationally tragedy at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

This culture continues to amaze me.