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Esteban

Jul 12, 2005, 11:55 AM

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Let them cook it....in Mazatlan

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There is a place on Aquiles Serdan where all the shrimp is sold. The ladies there, sell callos de acha, langostina, jaiba and a few other things. Today, with friends, we are going to buy a kilo or so of shrimp and take it about a block away, into a bar, where they will cook it for 40 pesos. We'll drink some beer to relieve the pressure of the heat, eat the shrimp and kick back. Sometimes it's just nice and easy to leave the cooking to them. We are looking forward to shrimp al mojo del ajo.

(This post was edited by Esteban on Jul 13, 2005, 7:58 AM)

Esteban

Jul 13, 2005, 8:06 AM

Post #2 of 25 (2749 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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We bought two kilos of headless, from the sea (as opposed to estuary or farm grown), big big shrimp. My friends also bought 400 grams of fresh picked Jaiba (crab meat) for 50 pesos. The Changuera put a little block of ice with the bag of crabmeat to keep it fresh. We walked a block away with the full 2 kilos of fresh shrimp to Dunias Restaurant and had all of it cooked up "Mojo de Ajo". It came back from the kitchen in a big platter soaking in a buttery garlic sauce. There was a large fresh green salad on the side and of course tortillas and freshly made salsa. We all gorged ourselves on the tasty shrimp. We drank beer, listened to the Sinaloense music and chatted away for almost three hours. When I got home I slept for three hours.

Bubba

Jul 13, 2005, 11:32 AM

Post #3 of 25 (2740 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Hold it right there Esteban:

As far as Bubba knows, the origin of a wild shrimp, whether from esturarian grounds or the open sea is not relevant. In fact, as a former denizen of the huge estuary known as Mobile Bay, I can assure you that shrimp born and raised in esturarian waters are the best kind since they suck up that catfish poop from the bottom and that gives them that special flavor. They screw up shrimp by freezing it which ruins it altogether.

The other estuary I lived on, known as San Francisco Bay, is no longer to be placed in the same category as Mobile and Chesapeake Bays.

What really caught my eye was your assertion that you found fresh picked crabmeat in Mazatlan. An assertion I, frankly, doubt. When we lived on Mobile Bay or in Pensacola we bought freshly picked chunk blue crab meat that was to die over. We could never find this in 30 years in San Francisco and frozen picked Dungeness crabmeat is among the most disgusting substances on the planet.

Tell me you are not lying and I'm on my way to Mazatlan despite its bad reputation.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Jul 13, 2005, 4:50 PM)

Esteban

Jul 13, 2005, 12:03 PM

Post #4 of 25 (2737 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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I have gone crabbing in the Puget Sound for Dugeness and haven't had any mo bettah crab than that. However, the softshell blue crab, when deep fried is very tasty. I'm happy with any kind of shrimp be it estuary or sea. It's all frozen now although it's a brine quick freeze which preserves the flavor more than any other way.

The crabmeat comes from what looks like a blue crab but I'm no expert. It ain't Dungeness. The meat is comprised of very small pieces. I've also seen the crabs for sale but I wouldn't want to spend the time picking out the meat. Way too much work. I'm pretty sure it's fresh as fresh can be. My favorite way to eat it is in a California roll with avacado, cuke and Wasabi.

Mazatlan has a bad reputation? Only if you stiff that guy who sold you 50 keys ;-)

maw7815

Jul 14, 2005, 8:35 AM

Post #5 of 25 (2703 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Reading about crabmeat gives me a craving for the easiest appetizer recipe using canned flaked crabmeat. Take 1 8oz pkg of softened cream cheese and mix it with 3-4 green onions sliced with the tops- then spread it on a plate and top with cocktail sauce- then top with crabmeat that has been rinsed and drained. Refrigerate and serve with crackers. How do you say Bon Apetit in Spanish?
Mary Ann Waite

juditha16

Jul 14, 2005, 9:28 AM

Post #6 of 25 (2697 views)

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Re: [maw7815] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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¡Buen provecho!
Judith

maw7815

Jul 14, 2005, 9:40 AM

Post #7 of 25 (2692 views)

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Re: [juditha16] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Gracias! I will try to memorize that!
Mary Ann Waite

Bubba

Jul 14, 2005, 2:23 PM

Post #8 of 25 (2679 views)

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Re: [maw7815] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Mary Anne:

Canned crab meat I love it! ? Cream cheese?

If there is a heaven you have described the condiment table. Thanks for reminding me why I'm returning to the South. Is there anything inedible in Houston ? If there is reincarnation, is Houston where you end up if you have led a pontified life? Where else is the beefroast the highest life form?

(thanks Bubba for allowing me the poetic license...Esteban)

(This post was edited by Esteban on Jul 14, 2005, 4:09 PM)

Bubba

Jul 14, 2005, 5:26 PM

Post #9 of 25 (2661 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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My pleasure, Esteban. Thanks for cleaning up Bubba's act.

By the way,those of you living in Ajijic can buy frozen blue crab chunk meat (about $8US for 1/2 kilo) at Super Lake that is quite good as it is quick frozen in ice water. They also sell Zatarain's crab cake mix which is supurb. Damn good if I must say so myself!

Gayla

Jul 15, 2005, 9:20 AM

Post #10 of 25 (2634 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Bubba

Zatarain's is the South's best kept seceret. Try the seasoning/breading blend they have for catfish. Then you'll really think you died and went to heaven. And yes, cream cheese is wonderful and will fix a multitude of cooking problems.

G

Marlene

Jul 15, 2005, 6:17 PM

Post #11 of 25 (2608 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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I just have to ask. What happened to the Chef's hat? Was there a kitchen explosion?

We have never been charged in Dunias to have the shrimp cooked...but maybe because you special ordered it to be cooked in garlic and received salad and tortillas? (That would be worth every peso though- it sounds delicious) They used to bring out caldo too, gratis. At any rate it is a GREAT deal. It's long been one of our secret spots. You can get alot of shopping done in there if you need birthday or Christmas gifts. The vendors come through selling everything from soup to nuts as I am sure you noticed.

Esteban

Jul 15, 2005, 6:33 PM

Post #12 of 25 (2605 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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I should have mentioned in the second post that we were not charged for the shrimp. I guess, when I asked at first, the price quoted was if we didn't sit there and drink beer. However, we must have drunk over the minimum because the cooking was gratis. Yes, vendors galore. Even triple X DVD's. The music was a little overbearing but next time, we'll sit up by the fountain where the brood of chickens were carousing. At least that's how I remember it.

Marlene

Jul 15, 2005, 6:41 PM

Post #13 of 25 (2604 views)

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Re: [Esteban] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Oh good! Free is always good in this world of prices going upward constantly. Yes, the rooster/fountain area is where we like to sit too. I think there is only one resident rooster actually but I could be wrong. I guess maybe they thought the rooster was more self-sufficient than a parrot would be. My favorite moment there (other than eating shrimp) is when the owner opens the upper back door and drives his (rather expensive) car in and parks it right in front of the tables. The service is good...it is a great place to take visitors. Very colorful.

Carol Schmidt

Jul 16, 2005, 9:49 AM

Post #14 of 25 (2580 views)

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Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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Bubba wrote (snip): >Thanks for reminding me why I'm returning to the South. Is there anything inedible in Houston ? If there is reincarnation, is Houston where you end up if you have led a pontified life? >

Did you announce somewhere else that you are moving to Houston? Is this true or am I misunderstanding what you've written?

Heavy, greasy cooked-forever red sauce that somehow tastes burnt that covers many "Tex-Mex" dishes in Houston makes many dishes in Houston inedible to me. Give me a light barely-simmered or raw tomatillo sauce, the flavor from pre-grilling the veggies, any time.

Carol Schmidt

Esteban

Jul 16, 2005, 10:59 AM

Post #15 of 25 (2568 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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I took the liberty to modify/edit Bubba's post; poetic license.

Switch everything around....take the opposite point of view to see what Bubba actually wrote....example: edible for inedible...

Is Bubba moving to Houston? Only when Kenny Stabler starts playing quarterback again.

Bubba

Jul 16, 2005, 11:02 AM

Post #16 of 25 (2567 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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No Carol. I've had my fill of the Gulf Coast. We love Mexico and thank our lucky stars we retired here.

sfmacaws

Jul 16, 2005, 3:44 PM

Post #17 of 25 (2551 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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I think you've been eating at the wrong places in Texas. I'm not a big fan of TX but I've had some great food there. Tex-Mex food can be some good eating. It's a style of its own. The sauce you describe is something I've luckily never run into.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bubba

Jul 16, 2005, 6:25 PM

Post #18 of 25 (2538 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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Jonna, mi amiga; why in God's name would you write an ode to Texas cooking from Yuma, AZ? Do you realize that you are the first person to actually stop in Yuma since 1961 not delivering the monthly supply of three tons of processed finger-lickin' surimi chicken fixin's for the local hicks in what is deservedly known as the belly-button of the Jimmy Swaggart Praise the Lord and Pass The Biscuits Raise the Tent and Place yo money in the Hat and watch Jimmy cry and tell us one more time how he has sinned and Thank you Jesus Universe.

I actually worked in Yuma for 10 years one week. Bob's Big Boy saved me but only with the A/C turned down to 70 and extra Bob's Big Boy Blue Cheese dressing to go with my radish-flower, black olive and quarter tomato frozen iceburg lettuce salad with the Saltine crackers and a glass of Christian Brothers "Burgundy" wine to enjoy with my netted candle holder illuminating the red plastic seating area and laminated menu proclaiming that all this was "cooked to perfection".

sfmacaws

Jul 16, 2005, 7:38 PM

Post #19 of 25 (2528 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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Yes, Yuma is a world unto itself. Our main entertainment is watching the F16's come in over our head to the Marine Air Station down the road.

There is a Cracker Barrel here, that's for when you need a cholesterol boost with some grits and gravy and turnip greens with vinegar. There are some really good watermelons being sold alongside the road. There is probably some good AZ/MX food as well but I haven't looked for it. One of the joys of RVing is that you can cook your own food if you don't like what's out there.

As to why I've been here in the lovely 115* weather? It's because I'm having some major teeth problems and my dentist is in Algodones, Sonora - just a bit down the road from here. The teeth have put a hold on our plans to head north to cooler weather. Mimi and I are becoming real desert dogs, we are out and about in this heat like it was a balmy 80*. I have a feeling we are going to freeze if we ever get up to the Bay Area.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bubba

Jul 16, 2005, 9:41 PM

Post #20 of 25 (2522 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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Well, OK. I admit it. I actually like Yuma. You should be aware that I also like other strange places such as:

Taft, CA (Perhaps the strangest place in 'Merica)
Bakersfield, CA
Honeydew,CA
Seligman, AZ
Uniontown, AL
Bon Secour, AL
Davenport, CA
Tlacotalpan, Veracruz
Apalachicola, FL
Destin, FL (circa 1953 - gone forever and never to be seen again)
Cedar Key, FL
Izamal, Yucatan

Except for Destin, which was one on the most charming places on the planet and is now destroyed by "progress", these are pass through places. Stay for more than three days and expect Spanish Moss to start growing in your ears. You will also have an uncontrollable urge to rename your wife Maudie and say stuff like, " Lordee, Maudie hit shore is hot, reckon you could brang me another beer out of the Frigidaire?"

Incidentally, Brigitte and I wish you and Mimi good luck on the path of Hurricane Emily which seems to be heading close to Akumal. Hopefully for you two , the storm will veer north but who knows at this point. My sister lives on Mobile Bay and we expected the worst from Dennis. She was lucky as we hope you will be.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Jul 16, 2005, 9:49 PM)

sfmacaws

Jul 17, 2005, 4:10 AM

Post #21 of 25 (2516 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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Quote

Incidentally, Brigitte and I wish you and Mimi good luck on the path of Hurricane Emily which seems to be heading close to Akumal.

Thanks for the wishes, I'm pretty nervous about it. It looks like it is heading directly for Akumal. The sat images are pretty impressive, the eye is so clear and defined. I don't see any way that it won't be bad. Such is life in the tropics and as long as the people are safe, the rest can be fixed. At least you have some warning with a hurricane, unlike earthquakes, and can get most people to safety. That whole peninsula is so low and so flat that there is nothing much to slow it down.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Camille

Jul 21, 2005, 8:10 PM

Post #22 of 25 (2469 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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How I Spent My Two Weeks in Houston

Say what you will about the weather, the traffic, the pollution, or the politics, and there is much to be said about them all, as a dream destination for the palate, Houston ROCKS! The ethnic diversity of the city is so thorough it has become a vast covered-dish supper, with each nationality bringing an ingredient which quickly becomes a necessity....
Neighborhoods have street signs in English and Korean, or Vietnamese, or Hindi. I shop at Kim Hung Vietnamese Supermarket, Phoenicia Meditterranean Foods, Dutchman Seafood...
And here's a few things I've enjoyed this last visit:
Seafood Delight Salad (with Crunchy Jellyfish!) at Van Loc
Prosciutto-wrapped Scallops on Spinach Polenta with Capers and Mushroom Wine Sauce at La Mora
Mussels in Tomato Lemongrass Broth at Mockingbird Bistro
Tuna Tartare with Cucumbers and Wasabi Cream at Beso
and a meal I prepared in the kitchen of my host,
Garlic-stuffed roast chicken
Pork tenders with fig conserve Stewed tomato, onion,and okra, all from the garden
Iron skillet Cornbread
Fresh Lady Creme Peas

Before I leave next week I mean to get into some soft-shelled crabs, and some of those big blue hard-shelled babies, and maybe Lankford's absolute ultimate burger.

I guess if you're a visitor to Houston you would want to have an extremely comfy place to rest up between meals....and spring and fall are not too bad, it's just that they only last about ten minutes.

But the food............

Camille

esperanza

Jul 21, 2005, 8:32 PM

Post #23 of 25 (2464 views)

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Re: [Camille] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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*sigh*

Food porn.

I want it all, and I want it now.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

song_of_joy

Jul 24, 2005, 7:04 PM

Post #24 of 25 (2424 views)

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Re: [maw7815] Let them cook it....in Mazatlan UPDATE

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Mmmm! What kind of cocktail sauce?

julietl

Jul 25, 2005, 8:00 AM

Post #25 of 25 (2408 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Bubba, are you moving to Houston?

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In Reply To

Well, OK. I admit it. I actually like Yuma. You should be aware that I also like other strange places such as:

Taft, CA (Perhaps the strangest place in 'Merica)

A part of my family lived/lives in Taft, so I had to go visit just about every summer when I was a kid. It is a very strange place, but it kinda grows on you, like a rash. Oil wells, roller skating and the Dairy Queen. I always felt like I had taken a time machine back to the fifties, especially the times I was there for the 4th of July.
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