Alvin Starkman received his Masters in Social Anthropology in 1978. After teaching for a few years he attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, thereafter embarking upon a career as a litigator until 2004. Alvin now resides in Oaxaca, where he writes, leads small group tours to the villages, markets, ruins and other sites, is a consultant to film production companies, and operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast. ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ) .
Alvin Starkman M.A., LL.B.
Internationally acclaimed Oaxacan chef Pilar Cabrera (NY Times, Bon Appetit) has expanded the roster at her well-known downtown Oaxaca cooking school, Casa de los Sabores (House of Flavors). Effective June, 2009, indigenous Zapotec chef Reyna Mendoza joins Pilar’s team, offering a new dimension to the already stellar selection of options available to intrigued foodies, those with a keen interest in Mexican cuisine, as well as chefs from around the globe seeking to add to their existing menus.
A native of Teotitlán del Valle, Reyna brings her knowledge, skill and experience to Casa de los Sabores. She specializes in the preparation of Zapotec dishes.
Reyna has worked with the likes of chefs Rick Bayless and Ricardo Muñoz. Accordingly, her pedigree is beyond reproach, combining technical aspects of the culinary sciences, with lifelong experience in the modest kitchens of her mother and her family’s other matriarchs of gastronome. And today, members of the Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast Association (http://www.oaxacabedandbreakfast.org) had an opportunity to learn for themselves.
Pilar invited colleagues from the association to attend her cooking school, so that owners and managers of small hotels and bed & breakfast guest houses in Oaxaca, would be able to experience for themselves what Reyna can add to the vacation of any visitor to the city and its central valleys. And for four hours, we grilled, chopped and filled, and finally indulged in the fruits of our labor, at this hands-on demonstration.
While we prepared a complete comida, we focused on the preparation of three distinctly different types of Zapotec-style tamales. The complete menu consisted of:
1) Tamales of mole amarillo with chicken, wrapped in large corn stalk leaf;
2) Tamales of mole negro with chicken, in banana leaf;
3) Tamales of mole negro with quesillo, in banana leaf;
4) Tamales of black bean, flavored with avocado leaf, wrapped in corn husk;
5) Salsa of tomatillo and dried Oaxacan chile
6) Salad of organic lettuce, locally grown tomato, avocado and scallion, with cilantro and chile poblano dressing;
7) Mango sherbet served with pecan cookie.
And of course, upon completing the preparation of the foregoing dishes, and throughout the comida, there were rounds of the requisite “salud,” while imbibing … Corona beer and village mezcal.
More than providing an opportunity for us to learn about Reyna and her ability to teach, and to experience for ourselves the exquisite flavor and ingredient combinations of Zapotec cuisine, it was one of those rare opportunities for members of the Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast Association to tell stories, laugh, and enjoy a day away from the office.
Classes for both traditional Oaxacan recipes with Pilar, and Zapotec cooking with Reyna, can be booked by contacting Pilar through her website, http://www.casadelossabores.com.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Cooking Classes With Nora Valencia in Oaxaca, Mexico
- La Casa De Los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca, Mexico
- Mezcal in Oaxaca
- Baseball at Its Best: the Guerreros of Oaxaca, in the Mexican League
- Traveling to Oaxaca With Children
- Temazcal in Oaxaca, Mexico
- Casa de los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca expands options for food enthusiasts
- Am I paying my staff too much? Improving profits and peace of mind: A case study from Oaxaca, Mexico
My Airfare Secrets Review
By: Chris Mason | 05/12/2009There is a lot of information about the airline ticketing system and the prices they charge, which a normal traveler doesn’t have access to. If you have correct information available to you, you can save a lot of money on your traveling, hotel stays and reservation.
Managing your Finances on your Barcelona Holiday
By: David Brydon | 04/12/2009Barcelona in Spain has cemented its place as a top destination for travellers coming far and wide, and retains its universal appeal for people of all ages. So how can you get the best out of your finances when visiting the Catalan Capital in such a current economic downturn? Here’s how.
Exploring the wilderness can be calming and enjoyable.But?
By: Paul Ingersole | 04/12/2009Always stay on marked trails. While it is appealing to go into territory that is untravelled, there is a reason such trails are marketed. In addition to your safety, it is to allow you a marker for finding your way back. Even seasoned explorers have found themselves lost once they ventured off the trail.
The survival skills you need depend on the elements of the area you will be in
By: Paul Ingersole | 04/12/2009The survival skills you need depend on the elements of the area you will be in. Desert survival training includes learning about the terrain, the environment, the need for water, heat complications, and desert hazards. Tropical survival includes knowing the weather, how to travel in the jungle, how to make food and water safe for consumption, and poisonous plants.
Being lost in the wilderness can be a person’s worst fear
By: Paul Ingersole | 04/12/2009If you find you are lost, size up the area around you. Use your common sense to mark your barrings. Listen to the sounds out there to try to determine the type of surroundings you are in. Remember, you are in someone else’s backyard now. If the animals in the area begin to sound strange, it is an indicator that an enemy is in the area.
Survival kits are recommended for everyone heading into the wilderness
By: Paul Ingersole | 04/12/2009Being prepared will make all the difference in the outcome for you and those traveling with you. Planning ahead will help ensure the safety of everyone. Do not venture out into the wilderness if you are not physically fit enough to do so. You don’t want the risk of potential major medical issues to deal with in this type of situation. Make sure everyone has up to date immunizations as well.
Surviving in the wilderness can be a life changing experience
By: Paul Ingersole | 04/12/2009If no surface water is found, dig a hole in damp soil. The water will settle and become clear. You can filter the water as much as possible. Start by punching small holes in the bottom of a container. As you pour the collected water in it, the large pieces of particles will stay in the container. While drinking such water is not recommended, it may be your only water source available.
The Great Sunshine Way
By: Zane Archer | 04/12/2009If you are planning a Sunshine Coast holiday then a great way to see the region is by car. Traveling by car you will see some of the most amazing sights that might otherwise go unnoticed on your trip to this region. There is currently a new tour route that you must check out. The route is called the Great Sunshine Way and is an exciting way to see the southern most region of the Queensland.
The Veria Network's sustainable living series, Under The Sun: Review of the Oaxaca episodes
By: Alvin Starkman | 23/11/2009 | Exotic LocationsThe Veria Network’s cable TV series entitled Under the Sun now includes two hour-long episodes about sustainable, healthy, holistic and environmentally friendly living and working in the central valleys of the State of Oaxaca. Follow adventurer Nathan LeRoy to ten different venues where he meets native Oaxacans who teach him about how they are contributing to a healthy Mexico through their craft production, cooking, and more.
La rubia negra: The erotic art of Gerardo Navarro Gómez
By: Alvin Starkman | 04/11/2009 | ArtThe art of Gerardo Navarro runs the gamut of imagery, ranging from representations of Mexican conservative Catholic religious beliefs, to erotic art which tests the sensibilities of the most liberal amongst us. He lives in an Eden-like tranquil village environment, with his mother and three sisters each of whom weaves fine cotton textiles using the ancient back strap looms. All of the incongruities are, however, explainable, through exploring the unique background
Seat belt, cell phone and speed limit laws enforced against drivers in Oaxaca
By: Alvin Starkman | 21/10/2009 | Travel TipsThe enforcement of highway traffic laws in Oaxaca, Mexico, is a recent phenomenon that will no doubt catch the unsuspecting expat driver to and in the city by surprise. Who would have thought that in southern Mexico there would ever be enforcement of seat belt, cell phone and speeding laws? More problematic, however, is the lack of driver rights and due process; you’re stopped, and you have to pay … if that’s all that you’re facing.
Am I paying my staff too much? Improving profits and peace of mind: A case study from Oaxaca, Mexico
By: Alvin Starkman | 12/10/2009 | Vacation RentalsThe difference in attitude towards paying staff in the service industry in Oaxaca, between Mexican and non-Mexican patrons, is explored in this exposé revealing daily pay rates in hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. Is paying the receptionist 100 pesos a day too much, or not enough? Would paying staff a minimum of 150 pesos a day improve bottom line and lead to a more fulfilling existence for hospitality industry business owners?
Oaxacan chef inadvertently sets City of Toronto ablaze, steals limelight from Clinton, Clooney
By: Alvin Starkman | 12/10/2009 | Restaurant ReviewsChef Pilar Cabrera is one of the best present-day ambassadors of Oaxacan cuisine. Her month-long visit to Toronto in September, 2009, was met with rave reviews by restaurant critics on national radio and television, in print media, as well as on a plethora of food blogs. She even overshadowed the like of personalities visiting the city, such as President Bill Clinton and actor George Clooney.
Canadian artist Fiona Dunnett: Images of self and death in Oaxaca are muted by comic style and collage
By: Alvin Starkman | 16/08/2009 | DestinationsCanadian artist Fiona Dunnett has adopted Oaxaca, Mexico as her permanent city of residence, for good reason. The cultural, social and political environment has provided her with a new-found inspiration, enabling her to combine her interest in the works of Klimt and Lichtenstein, with graffiti stencil art, comic style, and images of death and self.
Universal design and cohousing principles, as well as economic necessity, spur green housing project in Oaxaca, Mexico, for aging North Americans
By: Alvin Starkman | 13/07/2009 | Vacation RentalsA new home project is under way in Oaxaca, Mexico, combining the best attributes of collaborative housing, universal design and sustainable living. With Americans now aging without the nest egg they thought they had, and beginning to rethink the previously-held adage of “work until you drop,” considering a highly affordable change in lifestyle may be just what the doctor (and psychotherapist) ordered.
Casa de los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca expands options for food enthusiasts
By: Alvin Starkman | 17/06/2009 | Travel TipsThe addition of Reyna Menzoda to the staff of Casa de los Sabores Cooking School in Oaxaca, gives owner/chef Pilar Cabrera a whole new dimension she is able to offer to her students taking classes. While Pilar continues to teach traditional Oaxacan cuisine, Reyna specializes in indigenous Zapotec dishes. Reyna’s skill and experience was showcased at a recent event attended by members of the Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast Association, so as to enable them to recommend Casa de los Sabores to their guests