Manuel Iguina is one of the most successful restaurateurs in Washington, D.C. Originally from Puerto Rico, Iguina has helped open Oyamel (high-end Mexican), and Cafe Atlantico (Nuevo Latino Cuisine). His latest venture is Mio, which focuses on Urban Latin American Cuisine. I ate at Mio recently and discovered a delightful new twist to Latin American [...]
Posts under ‘food’
What Food Tells Us About Latin America
The food we eat not only sustains us, but defines who we are. Our values, lifestyles, and physiques are shaped by our diet. One of the aspects I enjoy most about visiting Latin America is experiencing a food culture that is different from the U.S. I used to fret that the proliferation of Wal-Marts and [...]
Breaking Bread and Rules of Etiquette in Mexico
After touring a park with views of a giant canyon in Guadalajara, Mexico, it was time to find something to eat. Outside the park were several small cafes that catered to the students of the nearby university. We picked our cafe and sat at a table. Especially hungry, I asked our waitress for two beef [...]
What Candy Tells Us About U.S.-Mexico Relations
One of the things that’s so intriguing about Mexico is how foreign it seems, despite sharing a common border with the U.S. While subtle cultural differences exist between the U.S. and Canada, “Mexico often seems as different to us as Ecuador or China,” the People’s Guide to Mexico notes. But as the number of Hispanics [...]
Some Tips on Tipping in Restaurants in Latin America
Like many rules of etiquette, violating a country’s tipping practices can lead to hurt feelings and uncomfortable situations. Tipping is something you want to get just right. Not tipping enough engenders ill will and poor service, while tipping too much puts an unnecessary drag on your travel budget. Because tips or “propinas” are a basic [...]
The Hidden Complexity of the Rain Forest
When I imagined what walking through a rain forest in Costa Rica would be like, I pictured a lush green area that was teeming with plants, birds and animals. So when I hiked through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, all of the plants and orchids I saw were pretty much just as I pictured them. But [...]
Iguanas, Grasshoppers and Guinea Pigs
The first time it occurred to me that people eat iguanas was when I heard Wall of Voodoo’s 1980s pop classic Mexican Radio. The relevant portion of the song says: “I wish I was in Tiajuana, eating barbequed iguana…” Wikipedia notes that “until recently” iguana was an important meat in the culinary traditions of the [...]
