Education and Artisanal Mezcal Production in Oaxaca, Mexico

A characteristic of growth in the global wine industry for some decades is slowly creeping into artisanal mezcal production in the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca. That is, small producers are using their new-found disposable income to educate their children, with a view to increasing manufacture in a sustainable fashion while at the same time improving sales through tapping new markets.

Oaxaca is where most of Mexico’s mezcal, the typically high alcohol content agave-based spirit, is distilled. In the early years of this decade the state began to witness a dramatic increase in sales of mezcal, both in the domestic market and for export to the US and further abroad. Mezcal tourism was born. Visitors began to make a pilgrimage to primarily the state capital and its central valley production regions, coming to learn about artisanal production, to sample and buy for home consumption, to educate themselves and their staff with a view to attracting sales at bars and mezcalerías, and to consider a business plan for export to foreign and to non-Oaxacan Mexican markets. Continue reading “Education and Artisanal Mezcal Production in Oaxaca, Mexico”

What’s the Difference Between Nutrisystem’s Regular, Basic Program and Their Silver Program?

I was recently contacted by a 55 year old women asking me if there was any real differences between the Nutrisystem women’s basic plan and the silver plan. She was wondering if there was any advantage to her going with the silver plan, which is meant for older adults. I will tell you what I told her when I compared foods and cost in the following article.

Nutrisystem’s Silver Plan Is For Both Men And Women And It’s Designed For Dieters Over 65: This program is not just for women. There is a version of this for men too. And, there seems to be a perception that the plan for older folks is premium or costs extra, but it really doesn’t. The basic plan starts at $299 and the silver plan is no different. The pricing is the same.

The company’s literature states that the plan is meant for people over 65. However, I’m sure that you can use your own discretion and knowledge of your own situation to decide which is best for you. All of the women’s plans share some of the same foods. The main difference between these two is that one omits a few of the foods that the other contains, which I’ll discuss below. Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between Nutrisystem’s Regular, Basic Program and Their Silver Program?”

What’s Lurking Under Your Fingernails?

In the spring of 1997, I spent a wonderful day with Dr Omar Amin in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr Amin is one of the most respected and sought-after parasitologists in the world and runs the Parasitology Center Inc in Scottsdale, Arizona.

He gave me a copy of his paper ‘Understanding Parasites’ in which there was a sentence that has always stuck in my mind: “A recent inspection of an expensive restaurant in Los Angeles showed that 100% of all employees (not just servers) had fecal matter under their nails”.

Fecal matter and disease (particularly parasites) generally go together. With our cities offering cuisine from increasingly exotic regions of the world, this carries a higher incidence of parasite-borne diseases, especially if these regional foods are undercooked or even raw: Dutch herring, steak tartar, ceviche, sashimi, sushi for example. Tapeworm is high on the list of ‘residents’ in these foods as is the Anisakid Worm. Continue reading “What’s Lurking Under Your Fingernails?”

Travel Vs Vacation

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between travel and vacation? These two things seem pretty similar but I think there’s a big difference. I think that when someone is truly traveling they are experiencing a whole new culture not simply living at a resort for a week. When I say experiencing a whole new culture I mean truly experiencing the sites, the sounds, the taste the people, all of the things that make a culture what it is. I think this is the true essence of travel. How much of a culture can a person honestly experience if the simply go somewhere for a week and hang out at a hotel the whole time. It always saddens me when I hear people talking about the awesome vacation that they took or that their planning on taking. Not that I wouldn’t take a vacation it’s just not the same as traveling. Now don’t get me wrong I would never turn down a free vacation but I would much rather have someone foot the bill for me to go traveling. I think that vacation time is more of a time to relax and try to recharge your battery, where as traveling can be physically draining and tiring. Let’s look at some of the things that make travel so much different then vacation shall we. Continue reading “Travel Vs Vacation”

Interview With Machete Star Danny Trejo

The Danny Trejo Interview
(*Pre-Interview Note- Before starting the interview I tell Danny that I try to ask some different questions than he may be used to, to which he replies “that’s cool, but if I don’t like the questions…” and he picks up a knife on the table we were sitting at and makes stabbing gestures towards me. It was definitely done in a humorous way, but let’s be serious, this is Danny Trejo!!!! Even when he’s being funny he’s scary!)

TIS: After 25 years in the business, you’re still a completely humble guy. What do you attribute this too? Continue reading “Interview With Machete Star Danny Trejo”

Mexico’s Mezcal Receives Exhaustive Treatment in Holy Smoke: A Book Review

In less than a decade, mezcal, Mexico’s iconic spirit with a history dating back at least over 400 years, has emerged from the doldrums, finally garnering a reputation as a quality sipping spirit. Until now its history, nuances, regulation and innumerable incarnations has been essentially ignored in English language popular non-fiction literature, in favor of treatises focusing upon the more well-known other major agave based spirit, tequila. In Holy Smoke! It’s Mezcal! The Complete Guide from Agave to Zapotec (Mezcal PhD Publishing, 2014), John McEvoy does much more than distinguish the two Mexican spirits in a detailed and concise manner. He pays homage to mezcal, while at the same time provides both its aficionados and novices with a wealth of information in an entertaining and often light-hearted manner.

The chapters are titled and laid out in an organized easy to delineate fashion, allowing the reader to quickly find a selected area of interest. Despite this being the case, since Holy Smoke! is a fast read one is more apt to pick it up and not put it back down until finished. The photos, plates and illustrations are well placed and captioned so as to enhance one’s ability to use them as a tool in capturing the essence of the text’s minutiae and McEvoy’s message. Continue reading “Mexico’s Mezcal Receives Exhaustive Treatment in Holy Smoke: A Book Review”

Smart Drinking – Forget the Hangover

There is no doubt that everyone has heard several ways to prevent or cure hangovers, but who knows better than a college student. All the ins and outs of smart drinking come with a price; firstly someone has to buy the alcohol and, let us just say, it would save everyone some time if my employer just made my pay check payable to the local liquor store. I enjoy my party time and have spent a good amount of time researching it, both how to prevent and cure the ever dreaded hangover.

Let us start with the saying “Liquor before beer, you’re in the clear. Beer before liquor, never sicker.” I will admit that I never put much stock into that saying but some of that comes from age. We all know that toddlers bounce off walls like rubber balls seemingly unscathed. As we get older falling off our bike hurts more, getting out of bed hurts more, and who can deny that unlike whiskey, the hangovers get worse with age. I wold not classify myself as old, I am 22, but when I was a few years younger I could drink vodka like water and wake up the next morning ready to run a couple miles but it just seems that things don’t work the same anymore. Maybe those years of reckless behaviour are catching up with me, but maybe the saying is starting to hold some water. I recently found out, quite by accident, that it does in fact hold a bit of truth. At least for me it does.

Continue reading “Smart Drinking – Forget the Hangover”

The Chicken Tastes Like It Was BORN in the Sauce

When people ask me to think of my favorite restaurant off the top of my head, for some reason I inevitably think of Gardens of Taxco first. I don’t go there very often, really only for special meals, but my memory just won’t let go of all the colors and flavors this amazing West Hollywood spot has to offer.

Unfortunately I’m not the only one that adores Gardens of Taxco, so parking can be a bit messy. There is a small lot in front of the restaurant that is almost always full and street parking can be tricky in this neighborhood. Your best bet is to go ahead and pay the $4 for valet parking. I promise, it’s worth it.

Gardens of Taxco serves up the most incredible and filling five-course traditional Mexican meal you’ll ever have. The flavors are so delicate and unusual, it’s nothing like the watered down greasy nonsense you find at popular and flavorless chains. Even before your main course, they bring out appetizers of spicy pickled veggies and fresh tortilla chips with homemade salsa, a quesadilla with Oaxacan cheese and homemade guac, an enticing enchilada, and a spicy soup. And the dessert (banana creme pudding with cherries and a complimentary glass of sherry) is so rich that, even though you’ll be stuffed, you’ll make room for it. Continue reading “The Chicken Tastes Like It Was BORN in the Sauce”

Insurance for the Gum Industry? There’s Coverage Every Chomp of the Way!

“I chew gum because it distracts me from eating and helps curb my appetite.”

Those that think chewing gum can be used as an aid to dieting or to maintain proper food consumption, may have another thing coming to them. According to studies, the gains, made by the associated reduction of hunger, is mitigated by the resulting ingestion of less nutritious foods than non gum-chewers. Results of research in fact show that gum chewers are more prone to eat junk food, such as potato chips and candy. The junk food preference may well be the after-effects of the common gum mint flavor that causes fruit and vegetable to taste bitter.

Desperately need that stick of gum? Check out these suggestions to curb food cravings and relieve life’s stress; they may just be the perfect substitute! Continue reading “Insurance for the Gum Industry? There’s Coverage Every Chomp of the Way!”

Help, My Daughter Is Spending Too Much Time With Her Boyfriend

One of the most common calls I get is from a parent concerned her daughter is spending too much time with her boyfriend…”I keep telling her to spread out her time with her friends and school, but she ignores me.”

You know the scenario, your tween daughter comes to the breakfast table one morning and your realize that she has been kidnapped by aliens and replaced by this, this ‘woman’.

When did it happen? Where was I? Oh my gosh, by little princess is now a TEEN and she looks 20!

Yep, and she has her own identity and it’s not the one you gave her, It’s her version! What now? Continue reading “Help, My Daughter Is Spending Too Much Time With Her Boyfriend”