What can I say? Lately, I have been having way too much fun to blog. A Gran Convite on Tuesday evening kicked off the festivities celebrating Oaxaca’s 486 birthday and inviting one and all to the previously mentioned, 2nd Encuentro de Cocineras Tradicionales de Oaxaca opening the following day. Beginning at the Cruz de la Piedra, the parade came to a sparkling climax in front of the Cathedral.
Wednesday began with an early morning ringing of the Cathedral’s bells (and several other churches, I’m pretty sure) and the booms and bangs of cohetes announcing Oaxaca’s official birthday. Then the event that I had been hungrily awaiting — the opening of the four-day gathering of Oaxaca’s traditional cooks at the Plaza de la Danza. It was worth the wait!
Mixtec ritual of Aromas y Sabores del Alma using basil and rosemary to open Encuentro de Cocineras Tradicionales de Oaxaca.
Machacado mixe, Caldo mixe from Santa María Tlahuitoltepec in the Sierra Norte.
Chileajo amarillo from Huayuapan de León in the Mixteca.
Ingredients on display by Carina Santiago of Tierra Antigua restaurant in Teotitlán del Valle, in Oaxaca’s Valles Centrales.
Cochino a la cubana from the Papaloapan region of Oaxaca being served by cocinera Rosario Cruz Cobos.
There is also an expo-venta of Oaxacan artesanía at the Palacio Municipal adjacent to the Plaza de la Danza.
Some of the best red clay pottery from San Marcos Tlapazola for sale.
I took yesterday off to do my volunteer gig at the Oaxaca Lending Library, but I’m returning to the Encuentro today, right after I post this. My stomach is already rumbling!
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
¡Que fabuloso! ¡Te envidio! Muchas gracias por compartir.
It was fabulous! I went 3 of the 4 days AND brought home two “para llevar” containers.
Fabulous! Everything is so colorful and you can almost smell and taste the delicious looking food! Love the photos.
Thank you, Barbra. It was bigger and even better than last year!
WOW! I am drooling on my keyboard…
Next year!!! 😉