Pasillo de Carnes Asadas (by G)

I got into Oaxaca in the late afternoon and decided to check out some of the markets. One of them turned out to have an awesome alley lined with little stalls selling strips of meat that they grill up on a charcoal grill for you. There are probably a dozen little stalls all of which seem pretty much the same. I picked the closest one to a vacant seat and got a mix of chorizo, pork and beef. It´s awesome you just get a bowl lined with butchers paper and filled with tortillas and a bunch of meat. Another little store comes around offering beer, salads and salsas. I got a beer and some guacamole.

The chargrilled meats were excellent - surprisingly the beef was tastier than either the chorizo or the pork. I´m pretty sure nothing like this exists where I live and that´s a major shame -  if I was running things everyone would be within easy walking distance from an alley of grilled meats at all times.

Mole Poblano with Chicken (by G)

I don't get it. I suspect I will never get it.  Everyone goes nuts for mole but I´ve had a couple in Mexico now, they both tasted similar and they didn´t appeal to me. Infact I made a mole once - Biggs would probably back me up that it was not a very pleasant experience, but from memory it did not taste all that different to the ones I've had recently.

I understand there are a huge variety of moles out there - many of them must be excellent, I haven´t come across one yet and Í´m a bit reluctant to keep trying.

Cheese, Apple, Yoghurt (by Biggs)

I had a late night Skype date this evening so wasn't in the mood to cook anything. I scavenged through the fridge and found some cheese, and apple and yoghurt that I had before bed.

I hope G comes home to feed me soon.

Pizza (by Biggs)

Okay, day three of spag bog didn't go so well. It was a MASSIVE day and I got some great news so.....I guess that results in take away pizza. Back on track tomorrow. Maybe.

Arabe Tortillas (by G)

Arabe tacos seem popular in Oaxaca so I thought I should give them a try. I think maybe they are just another name for asada tacos but I´m not sure. What I do know is that they are delicious. I got an arabe tortilla and an arabe burger with the same meat but the addition of ham and cheese. Delicious. These were more flavourful than the asada tortillas I have had, I think it was the addition of caremelised onions.

After my tortilla and burger I got greedy and ordered some kind of stirfried meat, bacon, ham, onion, capsicum and cheese concoction. It was also good - how could it not be with so many good thing in it, but in retrospect I would rather have had another meat filled roll.

Seven Days of Vegetarian Spag Bog: Day 2 of 7 (by Biggs)

Day two.....with the addition of cheese.

Dinner de Muertos (by G)

My first night in Puebla I headed out to look for something to eat. I saw a crowd congregating down the end of one street and decided to check it out. Turns out it was a fiesta for the last day of Dia de Muertos - awesome. There were some terrifyingly rickety looking rides and side-show alley games, a book stall and food vendors.

I went straight in for some deep-fried tortillas type things stuffed with something savoury that may have been mashed potato - the flavour was good but the amount of oil was a bit overwhelming.

After that I took a wander and found the parade was just starting. I hate parades normally but this one was cool. Giant creepy skeletons, huge crazy looking bugs, groups of people dressed as ghouls and pirates, an almost infinite procession of brass bands playing all sorts of random tunes from the Beatles to the theme from the Flintstones. My favourite float was half a dozen women in street clothes on a small flat-bed truck with a banner saying, ´Gloria´s Hair and Nails', classic.

The parade went on for ages and by the end I was feeling peckish so I got what I thought was a type of potato stew which turned out to be a sweet syrup with chunks of peach and sugarcane in it. I dislike sweet things but I could not see a way to discretely dispose of it so I drank it down.

Later still I summed up the courage to approach one of the old ladies working at a sort of pot with a wide flat rim.  What they do is simmer small tortillas in red and green sauces and a load of grease every now and then sprinkling on some shredded pork. When the tortillas are good and soaked they line them up on the rim and wait for someone to buy them.  They are eaten with the hands, very messy. They were awesome though, lovely grease, an intense reduced pork stewy flavour and the occasional string of pork meat.

I discovered later they are called Chalupas - I highly recommend them.