mexican soul food
“ your late you , ai, ….. you made me break my diet“….. it’s barely ten thirty five [10:25...11:05] and I feel like the worst person in the world : dona Elena invited us for picaditos at 10 ( a light meal.. or food for picking) last Thurs it’s now monday … and in my brilliance i said lets walk , the combies are stuck in traffic’ , it was a beautiful crisp day in Taxco but the streets were filled with mourners… students jumping about… and people getting on to work… so we walked and took the wrong path….. wich ended with us , after walking up hill, arriving at Pepe and Elena’s door late … sweaty… and wheezy
But after several puppy dog faces and pleas for forgiveness Elena forgives me, and starts to set out the sopes , {think corn tortillas with a hair lip} she sets them out white with red chilli salted cheese and fresh cream…. special blue corn sopes some with red chilli soe with red and green … and a few with extra salted cheese and cream [no chilli] for me….. and yes Pepe got out his guitar , and i find myself quite contented just to be sitting at the bar in dona Elena’s kitchen , after a point we’re joined by her grand-daughter , whose hair is exactly the same shade as mine comes in , and after a while she sits on my lap to listen to her grand pa sing ojos verdes ( green eyes) …
When the song finishes Elena fixes me more food , and I sip fresh, home-made lemon grass tea , perfect without even a drop of sugar,” cuando vas a regresar a casa?”( when are you coming back home) It takes a while but I realize what she’s asking and i look at her.. “ que? sabes que tienas un casa aqui“ ( what? you know you have a home here)
We’ve eaten together twice , worked in service together maybe twice , and in a month these people have become my family away from home ,(as I contemplate how soul food has really very little to do with food … so much more with the people and the place,) ‘ soon as I can, lo prometo’ ( I promise) she smiles and hands me another blue sope..”ok, puese tome otro” ( ok then have another) and I do.
Girl in the red sweater
live well–pj
