Mexico in My Pocket Articles p.1
By Eliana Flores-Barber
When you think of Día de Los Muertos, what do you imagine?
Food? Cempasuchil flowers? Catrinas? Altars? Family? An intimate celebration?
Traditionally, Día de Los Muertos is celebrated in households or cemeteries - two places where families can connect with their departed loved ones.
In Mexico City, however, this all changed with the release of Sam Mendes’ film Spectre (2015).
Spectre is the fourth film in which Daniel Craig portrays the cunning, independent, and infamous 007 spy, James Bond. In proper 007 fashion, the film opens with Bond chasing after a villain through a parade in Mexico City in which attendees were dressed in skeleton outfits, Catrina attire, suits, and all things Día de Los Muertos.
The cinematic universe is known for influencing society and being influenced by society. In a nearly full circle motion, the creators of the opening scene of Spectre took influence from Day of the Dead celebrations all throughout Mexico and created a scene like no other.
Floats, marionettes, thousands of dancers, skeleton masks, music, elaborate costumes, food, and so much more. Simply put, Hollywood created a Mexican spectacle, and the influencer became the influenced.
Fascination with Día de Los Muertos celebrations skyrocketed following the release of the film. Tourists and locals alike now anticipated a real life parade - one that resembled the film.
Mexico then had to execute a celebration to match the high energy opening scene of Spectre.
The country’s Tourism Board decided to pull in their resources and create a Día de Los Muertos parade not only for the honoring of their tradition but to draw in more tourists.
In order to fully capture the film's spectacle, the parade included many of the costumes and props which were used in the movie.
Unlike the film, this parade also celebrated the traditional Mexican and Pre-Columbian cultures as they included Aztec dancers.
As reported by the BBC, it cost $500,000 to create the parade, 650 volunteers to put it together, and more than 250,000 people came to watch.
While many believed the film recreated a real life parade, it was in fact the 007 franchise which inspired the 2016 Día de Los Muertos parade in Mexico City.
What We Know About the 2022 Parade
The parade will be held on October 29 and will last roughly five hours. Per the last five years, it is suggested to arrive early as viewing can be difficult. Streets increasingly become crowded as the day goes on and many roads are closed down.
The parade route starts at the Zocalo and ends at Campo Marte, so you can line up to see the parade anywhere between those two locations.
Most information will be announced in late September/early October by the CDMX Tourism Department.
By Nadia El-Yaouti and Eliana Flores-Barber
You can’t have a proper Cinco de Mayo celebration without a shot of authentic Mexican tequila. Don't shop just any brand either.
Here are 10 Mexican tequila and mezcal brands your taste buds will thank you for. Made with the celebrated Mexican agave plant and lots of love and tradition, these brands command a second look.
1. La Gritona Tequila
The all woman team behind La Gritona Tequila has created a tequila brand beloved by locals and Americans alike. Behind each bottle is a drink crafted with the best agave the Jalisco region has to offer.
Owner Melly Barajas Cárdenas is from Guadalajara, Mexico and worked as a clothing designer prior to her tequila endeavors. Her first introduction to tequila was by her father who told her he always dreamed of having a tequila made in his name. From that moment, she decided to make her father’s dream come true and eventually her tequila brand turned into much more.
2. Doña Vega Mezcal
Another brand inspired and developed in small town Mexico near the region of Oaxaca is Doña Vega Mezcal. Creator Sonya Vega has established a beverage steeped in family history and Mexican tradition.
Owner Sonya Auvray Vega is Mexican-American. She was born in the States, but both her mom and dad are Mexican. Prior to starting her own mezcal brand she had been working in public relations for 18 years and has great knowledge about what it takes to launch a brand. After having tried mezcal for the first time, she became hooked and took a year to learn more about the spirit and how it's made, ultimately allowing her to grow closer to her roots.
3. Tequila Corralejo
Tequila Corralejo originates from Hacienda Corralejo and uses 100% agave in its production. The brand features an array of beverages to suit your celebratory needs.
Owner Leonardo Rodriguez Moreno took over ownership of Hacienda Corralejo in 1994 and vowed to continue producing premium tequila for the brand. Hacienda Corralejo was established in 1770 in Guanajuato, Mexico and also introduced pure blue agave tequila to the market. This tequila continues to be a Mexican family owned brand.
4. Clase Azul
This carefully crafted mezcal is just as delightful as the artisanal bottles they come in. The brand uses Cenizo agave, a rare variation of the agave plant which grows in Northern Mexico’s Durango to create this celebrated drink. With a range of tequilas to choose from, Clase Azul offers a flavor for everyone.
Owner Artuno Lomeli was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and is now living in Los Angeles. He first created his tequila brand 20 years ago with a mission to save Mexican artisan culture by incorporating their designs into his bottles.
5. Casa Mexico Tequila
Rich in history and in flavor, Casa Mexico takes the tradition of authentic Mexican distillery to create an amazing, crisp flavor. With a lineup of three refreshing flavors, this tequila brand made with 100% agave is certainly one you’ll enjoy.
Mexican-American owner Eric “Don” Buccio created this tequila brand to embody his heritage and family traditions while also having a drink that will get people smiling. He has partnered with Mexican-American actor Mario Lopez and Mexican-American boxer Oscar De La Hoya to further help his mission of celebrating their culture through tequila.
6. Casa Dragones
Each bottle of Casa Dragones Tequila is hand signed and numbered, so you know you are getting an authentic taste of Mexico. With a modern process that uses Mexican craftsmanship, Tequila Casa Dragones the flavor is rich and unmatched.
Known as the ‘First Lady of Tequila’ Bertha González Nieves was born in Mexico City where her family lived for 5 generations. She previously worked at Jose Cuervo International as an executive however decided she wanted to move in a different direction and create a brand that is focused on attention, detail, and hand craftsmanship.
7. Familia Camarena Tequila
Tequila production is in the Camarena Family’s genetics. Since the creation of their first distillery in the early 1900’s the company has been family runned. Passed down through generations, their current tequila brand continues to be family owned with Carlos J. Camarena Curiel as its current master distiller. Every Camarena product tells their 250 year story which began in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.
8. Tequila Pueblo Viejo
This brand has a long standing history since its development in 1886. Today, Pueblo Viejo has grown into a contemporary brand beloved all over the globe. Its vibrant purple bottles are just as exquisite as the flavor inside.
Don Delfino González was over 50 years old when he created Pueblo Viejo Tequila. This sugarcane agave tequila is made in Distilleria San Matias which is famous for making some of the oldest tequila brands in Mexico. Pueblo Viejo has held a leading position in the tequila industry for more than 130 years, and their original tequila was made in 1886.
9. Lalo Spirits
For co-owner Eduardo “Lalo” González, tequila is a family affair. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico and being the grandson of premium tequila maker Don Julio González, his knowledge of tequila production and trends has allowed him to create a new brand which helps carry on his family’s legacy. Working with his friend and co-owner David Carballido, Lalo Spirits is focused on perfecting blanco tequila with only three ingredients- 100% blue agave, yeast, and water.
10. Tequila La Malinche
Tequila La Malinche has over 70 years of tradition behind its craftsmanship and distillery process. The brand produces the tequila with the agave plants of Tequila in the Jalisco region and sticks true to tradition and culture of authentic Mexican tequila.
Crafted in Don César García’s legendary distillery house Tequilas del Señor, La Malinche was named after an indigenous woman who worked as a translator for the conquistadores. This tequila brand diligently observes each step of their production process to ensure the best quality drink for its consumers. García first moved to Mexico at the age of 16 and lived there through his adult years as he created his well-known distilleries.
Mexican-American writer Eliana Flores-Barber contributed to this report.
By Eliana Flores-Barber
Do you prefer your morning traditional style with eggs, bacon, and hash browns? Are you a fruit person and like to make yourself a parfait in the morning? Or do you like something on the sweeter end?
For those of you who enjoy a sweeter morning, what if I told you that a certain dessert is traditionally eaten as a breakfast food or midday snack with a cup of coffee?
This golden, crunchy, cinnamon sugar wrapped fried dough is a staple in Mexico and Spain.
An authentic Spanish churro is thin, with a star shaped figure which allows the outside to become crispy while the inside stays warm and chewy. It's this dual combination of crunchy and chewy which makes each bite of the churro so mouth wateringly delicious.
While the churro recipe is undemanding, pinpointing where the churro originates is much more puzzling. According to a BBC Travel article, some historians credit the Arabs for developing a recipe similar to the churro, while others have seen similarities between the churro and fritters from a Roman cookbook dating back to the first century A.D. What is well known is in the late 19th century Chocolatería San Ginés began serving churros with cups of warm, dark chocolate.
In Mexico City, churros weren’t introduced until 1933 when Francisco Iriarte moved from his small town of Elizondo, Bazatán, Spain. Noticing there were no pastries like the churro, he decided to install a small vending cart in the Zocalo and give Mexico another taste of Spain.
As an homage to his home, Iriarte named his new small business “El Moro '' which in Spain is the nickname given to churro vendors at festivals and parties.
Slowly this sweet and fragrant fried dough grew in popularity throughout Mexico City. Being so widely accepted, Iriarte was able to turn his vending cart into a shop, where visitors can come and be engulfed in sweetness.
Located in Eje Central, Mexico City, Iriarte opened his doors to the public only two years after his arrival.
1935 not only marked the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, but the opening of the historic churro center. For El Moro, opening during this time meant they were serving famous figures from around the world and CDMX residents alike.
Sadly, Iriarte passed away five years after his grand opening. Seeing how influential his work was, Iriarte’s three brothers José, Santiago, and Ignacio packed their bags and moved to Mexico. Carrying on their late brothers work, they furthered the love Mexico City residents have for churros.
This beloved churro shop continues to be a family owned business, being passed down from generation to generation. It is a place where friends and families come to enjoy a sweet treat, to take a break from the day and enjoy a cup of coffee, and visit a historic bakery.